Loletta Parker

Through drawings and photography, Loletta Parker reflects on the importance of her relationships, past and present, and keeping her family and friends at the center of her life.

Loletta Parker. This is my Mama and me before church. She’s not my real Mama, but I call her my Mama because we’re so close.

Loletta Parker. This is my real Mama and the woman I call my Mama together.

Loletta Parker. This is my sister Ashley and my Cousin Nia. They are at my house all the time so I see them everyday. My house is the place where my whole family gathers. They live in different neighborhoods all over Detroit.

Loletta Parker. This is my brother Twan with his computer doing his school work. I wanted to take his photo because I never see him doing his school work. He does well in school, but likes to party a lot, so I wanted to catch him working on homework.

Loletta Parker. This is a t-shirt we had made in loving memory of my grandmother a year after she died. My grandmother raised me, so we were very close. She was from down south but moved here with my Grandfather when they got married.

Loletta Parker. I make a lot of drawings and write poetry and put them up in my room. I made this one last year for Damien Henderson. We were in a relationship, but now we’re best friends.

Loletta Parker. This is a photo of poems I write about relationships. "Embrace, Whole, Love, Keep", “I’m in Love”, and “Just a Simple Conversation”.

Loletta Parker. “Wish Upon a Star” is a poem I wrote about not giving up on your dreams in life.

Loletta Parker. This is a drawing I made for my best friend. It’s a Skittles thing. There’s a rainbow and skittles falling from that tree.

Loletta Parker. These are all symbols from the bible. A heart and the dove, the cross, and a protective shield.