Artist Sunny Love Insists ‘The Art Must Go On’
Model: Sunshine Love | Image: Amir Curry
Not even a global crisis could distract Diedre Diggs from her mission to share original art with the Dallas community.
Diggs, affectionately known in the art industry as Sunshine Love - is a 31-year old Dallas native. Over the weekend the vibrant young woman successfully welcomed guests to the 4 the Culture Studio for her debut show It’s Always Sunny in Dallas.
Born in Lubbock and raised in Oak Cliff, Diggs has always been in the presence of creative thinkers. The 2007 Kimball High School graduate was accepted into four universities, ultimately deciding to attend Texas A&M College Station on a full ride scholarship. After two years there studying psychology, Diggs admitted to herself that she didn’t really want to pursue that career field, so she left college.
Since she was 12 years old, people paid her well to braid hair – so Diggs decided to return to the art form, but a bit more seriously.
“I got a license to braid hair and stared a mobile hair braiding business,” she recalls. “I did that for several years and business was booming with clients coming from out of state.”
But still, something was missing.
Today, Diggs currently sells insurance. Like so many entrepreneurs, the corporate position is funding the pursuit of her dream.
“I am a fine arts model,” she says emphatically. “I’m an Artistic Nude Model.”
Before Saturday night, many of Diggs’ supporters had only interacted with her online. While they were consistently exposed to her artistic creations and findings, few were prepared for a live show that took nearly two years of studying and intensive preparation. The self-described “fine arts model” wanted to add shock value to the experience.
“Please take me seriously, because I’m taking this seriously,” says Diggs. “I had a vision and to see it come to life made this night beautiful.”
In total - It’s Always Sunny in Dallas presented five different forms of art, including print work, canvases, sculptures, paintings and live art (models).
Bree Moore of Bree Moore Productions served as both host and coordinator of It’s Always Sunny in Dallas.
“When I reached out to Bree it was 2018,” says Diggs. “I told her that I wanted to do a solo art show. She asked if I had a venue.”
Diggs didn’t have a venue in mind at that moment, but instead of writing off the idea – Moore insisted Diggs share with her the idea for the show. Diggs wanted something really New York in style, where attendees would dress up and live music would set the tone. Moore took Diggs’ ideas written on paper, told her to find a venue and that she’d work with her to see that the show came to fruition.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing,” Diggs admits. “But I knew what I wanted.”
That meeting with Moore was in mid-2018. For the next year, Diggs would go on to create pieces that she wanted to specifically feature in the art show. She was happy with her current art, but not satisfied enough to display it. She would study her craft some more.
In early 2019, Diggs attended a show in which she enjoyed a very memorable performance by musician Blythe Dennis. The venue that evening was perfectly intimate and the environment was energetic. The cement, the brick, and the décor in general – everything was just so artistic.
“It felt like a place where an underground artist would be found,” Diggs recalls.
She took a picture of a flyer in the restroom. Soon after, Diggs would find herself speaking with a kind woman named Victoria, who happened to be the owner of 4 the Culture Studio in Downtown Dallas. Victoria would help Diggs secure the venue for her show.
“I contacted Bree (Moore) again in June 2019 and told her that I was ready to talk about that art show,” Diggs smiles. “We met and I told her everything. Most importantly I told her that I was ready.”
Saturday night, as attendees began to fill the room – Moore took a moment to sage the room, setting the tone for an evening of authentic and unapologetic art.
Models were positioned around the room in body suits - one in black and one in white. They did different poses throughout the night. Paintings and canvases were at every turn and in the middle of it all was an ecstatic Sunshine Love. Singer Blythe Dennis was also on hand for the show and she performed the entire night. All of the art was for sale. Miniature prints of canvases were also available for purchase.
“The night was great,” says Diggs. “It was everything I imagined it to be.”
Many of the audience members were beyond impressed that Diggs was able to accomplish something that she spoke so passionately about for so long. Throughout the evening, she was approached by many and reaffirmed that she has made the artistic community very proud. Some called her Diedre. Others greeted her as Sunshine. And then to many, she will always be Sunny Love.
This time next year, Diggs hopes to be traveling the world and doing art shows.
“Being a fine arts model is definitely my way of making a statement in Dallas,” she says. “I’m definitely doing something that I know is different for Dallas. It’s an experience.”
