Weho, Los Angeles
Devin Troy Strother
The Worst Witch
Shoot The Lobster“The worst witch” – what kind of witch is this? Rather than exchange harsh words and cast evil spells, this witch grips her broom and flies away like magic. Rather than duel with those she knows are beneath her gumption, this witch puts on airs but is amazingly still void of compromise. Rather than complete the harmonious compositional rule of three, this witch will leave you hanging on purpose…well, not really. Even the worst witch will never really leave you hanging because there is too much power wielded in being the bigger person; She gains power when she internalizes the enemy’s attempts to curse her, all the while never succumbing to martyrdom; She gains power when she loves herself and all of her witchiness – even when it makes her feel like an Other, like the worst of those who surround her. But the worst witch you could meet is never really the “worst” at all but rather, she is imbued with power. A power so strong it drips from her hair, skin, lips, and breasts. Being birthed with such power is not void of inconveniences. And as a result, her life is often spent harnessing her wisdom into a glowing scepter-like force field she carries with her at all times – filled with both mysticism and caution. Glow-on, witch, glow-on. Created by Devin Troy Strother Written by Mandy Harris Williams Directed & Edited by Alima Lee Devin Troy Strother, Mandy Harris Williams, Alima Lee, and Shoot The Lobster would like to thank: Baba Hill, Chapin Long, Sesalli Castillo, and Tamara Itzel Argueta Peralta. Devin Troy Strother (b. 1986, West Covina, CA) received his BFA from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA in 2009. He completed a residency at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine in 2010. Selected exhibitions include: Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA; Marlborough Chelsea, New York, NY; Bendixen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark; Anonymous Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico; and Galerie Division, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Mandy Harris Williams (b. 1988, New York, NY) received her MA in Urban Education from Harvard University, Cambridge MA. She is a theorist, multimedia conceptual artist, writer, educator, and internet/community academic. Selected presentations include: Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY; Navel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Knockdown Center, Queens, NY; and Women's Center for Creative Work, Los Angeles, CA. She has contributed to Dazed Magazine, MEL magazine, For Harriet, and The Grio. She lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Alima Lee (b. New York, NY) is a filmmaker, designer, artist, curator, and DJ. Her work explores themes of identity and intersectionality. She is Co-Founder and Art Director of Akashik Records music label, and Co-Host of a monthly show, "Rhythm Deep," on NTS. Selected film work presentations include: MOCA, Los Angeles, CA; Smithsonian African American Museum, Washington, DC; Gavin Brown's Enterprise, New York, NY; and ICA Boston, MA. She lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.