There have been a lot of lessons for Noelle Ocen-Odoge, from growing up in Santee where hers was one of only a few Black families in the area, to being raised in a home that combined the cultures of Chicago with Uganda, to living abroad and connecting with the creative expression of photography and painting. She’s taken those lessons, using them to build up her own mental health and sharing what she’s learned with people who might have similar experiences.
Earlier this year, she founded two nonprofit organizations — Liberation Through Art and Social Lens Studio — which are focused on addressing social issues through art and mental health awareness. The first provides art and health-related programming for Black San Diegans, and the broader San Diego community, through partnerships with other organizations by hosting workshops where participants are taught to create art. The studio showcases art (rather than teaching it) as a way to practice activism and raise awareness of social issues. From 4 to 8 p.m. today, her own photography will be on display in “The Feast,” an exhibition featuring the work of local organizations that are focused on improving San Diego’s food system. This event is being held at Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center in National City for guests 21 and older, and will include food, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and a silent auction.
“A major reason why I did this exhibition was because of the cost of food with inflation right now. It is hard for many families to purchase food, and I wanted to bring awareness to everyday San Diegans that there are organizations trying to close the nutrition and meal gap in San Diego. No one should be going hungry or without a meal, especially our most vulnerable populations,” she says. “I’ve learned that creating change requires dedication, patience, and the willingness to face challenges head-on.”
Ocen-Odoge, 31, lives in Santee today and took some time to talk about how her experience has helped shape her, how she hopes “The Feast” and her organizations can help those around her, and something people are usually surprised to find out that she doesn’t like when it comes to food.
Q: You grew up in Santee. How would you describe the culture and the people there?
A: The culture of the people I grew up around was predominantly White and suburban, with a history of racism. Santee is also known as “Klantee,” and while some strides have been made to change that narrative, many San Diegans still see Santee as a hotbed for racism. When I tell people I’m from there, they often grimace and ask if I’m OK, to which I respond that I am, but there’s always a drastic reaction because I am a dark-skinned Black woman—it was all too familiar to see Confederate flags on people’s cars at my high school.
The stigma and characteristics of the town were tough for me as my family was one of two or three Black families in the area. While I was active at my school…and had friendships, I never really felt like I belonged. This feeling of otherness, dealing with gendered microaggressions, and the weird and unnerving cloaks of invisibility yet hypervisibility that my race gave me from the community was difficult. People touching my hair or asking ridiculous questions about it, such as how I wash it, or calling me an Oreo, or even making stereotypical assumptions about Black people, were common.
As I am now older, I realize that I was depressed for the majority of my upbringing, but was high-functioning. I just wasn’t able to articulate it. I kept quiet throughout my childhood and adolescence, being careful to make myself small to avoid further attention and not speak up. I minimized myself for mental safety, which I have since mostly unlearned and broken free from. While my experience outside home was disheartening, inside my home with my parents reminded me of my importance, regardless of what the outside world told me I was or should be. They encouraged me to get a proper education as they did and always reminded me I was beautiful inside and out.
What I love about Santee…
I love the mountains, specifically Mission Trails. They are absolutely gorgeous, especially during the spring, and I have found so much solace and comfort hiking there.
Q: You’ve mentioned experiencing healing and with your own mental health struggles through making art. Are you comfortable sharing a bit about what you were dealing with mentally at that time?
A: Yes, in 2021 to 2022, my mental health took a bad turn for multiple reasons, including dealing with coming back from being abroad for three years, the pandemic, acknowledging the truth about trauma that I endured throughout my life, and starting therapy, which brought up a lot of tough emotions in a very intense way. My mental health took such a bad turn that I contemplated taking my own life, but then I decided to seek treatment. While it was a really difficult decision, acknowledging where I was with my mental health allowed me to seek help and change my own narrative. I was able to get through that dark time through therapy and treatment.
Q: How would you describe your experience of using art to help with your mental health?
A: Joyful, extremely cathartic, and life-giving. Art was such a great vessel for me to express parts of myself when I didn’t have the words to understand. It also allowed me to use it as a meditative practice to slow down and ground myself.
Q: Your exhibition, “The Feast,” will feature photographs of two dozen local organizations working to improve San Diego’s food system. Why did you choose to focus on the work being done in our local food system?
A: Addressing basic needs is fundamental to me. While art is central to all my endeavors, a person can’t truly engage in art or any contemplative work if they are hungry and unable to put food on the table. Highlighting a basic need like food, which I believe is a human right, is crucial in my work. Additionally, I recognize that within my community, people often can’t even attempt art because their primary concern is where their next meal will come from. Food is a vital part of health, a core focus of Liberation Through Art.
This focus was also inspired by my creating a body of abstract work that my friends described as a “feast” due to the vibrant colors and shapes. This led me to think about feasts in of food, and then food in of community and its place in the art world. From there, I began ing individuals in the food system, which ultimately led to this exhibition. It was a dual process, driven both by community needs and my personal reflections.
Q: What do you hope people experience/learn from “The Feast”?
A: It’s not just an art exhibition, it is an invitation to reevaluate, reconnect, and rediscover the profound beauty and importance of food in the intricate tapestry of our lives. It gives thanks to organizations committed to making change in the food system, promoting local, sustainable, and impactful change. By encouraging viewers to reflect on what nourishes their souls and stomachs, I envision a reconnection with the profound significance of food in our everyday lives. By prompting viewers to question their relationship with food and consider its life-giving essence beyond marketing strategies, the exhibition aims to initiate a dialogue on our disconnection from the innate human process of food preparation. I urge a return to the hands-on, organic experience of tending to plants, harvesting, and preparing food.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Be of service to your community and do good things within your capacity. Many people believe that serving their community means offering everything they have, but in reality, it can be done in many ways and should be within your means. We all have busy lives and limited time to contribute. However, serving your local community doesn’t have to be grandiose. It can be as simple as picking up trash on your street when you see it, opening a listening ear to someone in need, or giving a bottle of water to a person who may need it. Small acts of kindness go a long way, more than people realize.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: One thing people might be surprised to find out about me is that while I love bringing awareness to food equity and learning about the food system and food in general, I don’t enjoy cooking at all. However, I absolutely love to eat! It’s a daily conundrum for me.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: It starts with waking up early and going on a nice hike at Mission Trails, my favorite place to hike. After that, I enjoy coffee or brunch with a friend, then head to Balboa Park to check out a new art exhibit and take a pleasant walk around the promenade. Finally, I would wrap up the day with dinner and drinks with friends in Hillcrest.
