It’s no mean feat to slow down Lo’Vonia Parks. She’s been EVERYWHERE in Charlotte this year, from helping create the Black Lives Matter Mural uptown to painting a “Rise Up” rocking chair inspired by Maya Angelou and making lots (and lots) of jewelry.

You may even have caught her zipping across the city on roller skates. Lo’Vonia has challenged herself to get out and skate every day during COVID-19. So, that’s a lot of skating.  

Lo’Vonia has lived in Charlotte since 1999. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Lo’Vonia is always creating something. She’s a well-established part of Charlotte’s caricature artist community, she wanted to expand and participated in Brand the Moth’s META Mural Residency Program for first-time muralists in 2019 along with Irisol Gonzales, Dari Calimari, Franklin Kernes and others. 

Most recently, she painted a window mural on the Spectrum Center for Mecklenburg County’s #CountOnMeCLT initiative, to encourage the public to wear masks, wash hands and socially distance to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Lo’Vonia is off and running. And, she’s found a creative community in Charlotte that’s willing to run with her. “[Charlotte’s] art scene is like sunshine: there’s enough for all of us,” she said.  

We weren’t able to get our skates on, but we just managed to catch up with Lo’Vonia to ask her 5 Ridiculous Questions:

I want to have a Lo’Vonia fashion make-over. Where do I go in Charlotte to shop for my clothes and get my hair done?

[Laughs.] Start with chaos with a side of joy, go to the nearest thrift store and wear your hair like you just don’t care. Or buy a wig. 

After your roller skating challenge is over, which would you rather do each day and why:  Luge, bungee jump, sing Karaoke or prancer-cize?

Prancer-cize! You gotta embrace your inner pretty unicorn while exercising. I’m a pretty pony.

Who do you think would be the most fun to take a road trip to California with … Queen Charlotte, Sir Purr or Mayor Vi Lyles? And what’s the first song you’d play on the radio?

Sir Purr all the way! First song is “Back in Black” with Sir Purr hanging out the hot pink Jeep with lime green rims playing a kazoo. Adventure awaits!  

If you could play with the Charlotte Roller Derby team, what would your code name be? Describe your costume.

Codename: “Squirrel.” My outfit would be a mix of Macho Man Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior. With a squirrel head. Don’t mess with my nuts, yo. 

Who is your “creative crush” in Charlotte? Whose work can you not get enough of … and you’re a little giddy around them?

Well I’m always giddy. Ha ha! I love all artists’ work here in Charlotte. But, I’m especially giddy about Georgie Nakima’s work. She makes my heart skip a beat! 

Okay, we know we’ve already shared Lo’Vonia’s five answers, but who’s counting? These two answers are too good not to share:

Have you ever had to talk your way out of a ticket? How’d you do it?

“I’m embarrassed to say I fake cried about a ticket with my college roommate in the passenger seat. She was trying to fake comfort me. Like a whole meltdown. It worked. I’m not proud about it now.”

If you had to eat one breakfast cereal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

“Lucky Charms because they are magically delicious.”

Get a Better Sketch of Lo’Vonia Parks

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Explore a Photo Gallery of Lo’Vonia’s #CountOnMeCLT Mural by Ernesto Moreno