Experience The Watermelon Couch
The Watermelon Couch is bigger than a roadtrip. Its now an eco-system of art and cultural programming for communities and institutions alike.
Art Installation
Experience the Watermelon Couch Road Trip from your phone? Through visual art and AR technology, you can experience live videos and animations appear on your screen.
Best for: schools, exhibits, and small events.
Couch Convos
Tell your story in person, with Creative Shields for on-site, in-depth conversations.
Best for: individuals, families, panels, and community gatherings that want the artist's voice and the couch's presence, without the kids' activation.
Bounce House
The kid-friendly activation that’s appropriate for all ages, on its own — no couch, no exhibit, just the fun.
Best for: family festivals, school fun days, block parties, and events that want energy and play without the full production.
Public Speaking + Workshops
Hear directly from the Watermelon Couch creator and participate in creative art activities.
Best for: professional development, career days, and small group settings.
Requests Programming
Tech- centered Art Exhibit
Can’t put your phone down? Good. Use it to enjoy an Augmented Reality (AR) art exhibit featuring fine art by Creative Shields combined with media and animations from the Watermelon Couch Road Trips. This means that a basic art display is now a mini movie and interactive experience that captures the attention and imagination of every viewer.
Learn more at BlackTerminus.com
Tell Your Story. Book a personal couch session.
Come through to the Creative Shields’ studio and sit down for a personal 1 hour interview where you can have your story recorded, edited, and uploaded to youtube.
Ali R. Rasheed, Activist and former Black Panther Party. Member
A bounce house designed to build culture through play.
This is a one-of-one, inlfatable art sculpture, inspired from 3 years of travel and research. A bounce house rental is viewed as “something for the kids” that’s delivered and put in a corner or more popularly “the kids’ zone”. The Watermelon Couch jumper is cultural enrichment and physical activity intended for all ages to enjoy solo, with groups, friends, and family. Bring back play through the celebration of culture and art.
Public Speaking + Workshops
I bring art workshops and talks to schools, organizations, festivals, and community spaces — sharing my own journey as an artist as a source of inspiration for people who need it, wherever they're starting from.
Whether it's a conversation, a classroom presentation, or a hands-on creative workshop, my goal is the same: to show people the real benefits of creativity, and to make space for them to find their own voice through it. I've developed original creative exercises appropriate for all age groups and maturity levels, with a proven track record of connecting with and centering youth in the creative process.
These sessions often draw directly from The Watermelon Couch — using storytelling, oral history, and public art as tools to talk about identity, migration, and community memory. Topics can be tailored to a group's focus, from art-making fundamentals to deeper conversations about culture, history, and creative entrepreneurship.
Past and available formats include:
Classroom presentations and school assemblies
Community workshops and public art activations
Panel talks and speaking engagements on creativity, migration, and Black storytelling
Custom sessions built around The Watermelon Couch's themes