Imani “YOKO” Bass, a thirty-year-old Imani “Uptown” New Orleans native, undertook an extraordinary voyage through the creative pathways of existence. Their artistic trajectory began in infancy when they established foundations in McGehee’s preschool program. Subsequently, they pursued their education at Lusher Charter School and Mandeville.
Imani, then six years old, attended the matrimonial nuptials of former mayor Marc Morial as a flower girl. The bride wore an exquisite silk satin ivory organza gown, which their grandfather, Harold Clarke, had designed. This occasion was significant to their family’s heritage. Imani, who preferred the pronouns they/them, was on occasion confronted with the pronoun “she” when well-intentioned relatives recounted their past. Demonstrating a diverse skill set, Imani “YOKO” Bass excelled in multiple artistic domains, including DJing, fashion design, and mural painting.
Imani Bass Obituary: Hit And Run Linked To Death
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Imani Bass, a dexterous DJ, and accomplished artist, met an untimely demise in a hit-and-run incident that has left New Orleans in a state of sorrow. Aimee Bass, the mother of Imani, detailed the tragic circumstances surrounding the incident that resulted in her daughter’s death. As they traveled that evening to Hotel St. Vincent for a DJ performance, Imani traversed the city’s congested streets in a blue Vespa.
Tragedy ensued when an individual, subsequently identified as Bryan C. Mitchell Sr., was speeding erratically in a pilfered SUV. The SUV then swerved left from the far lane and collided with Imani and her Vespa; the driver fled the scene without a second thought.
The subsequent day, Bryan C. Mitchell Sr. was apprehended while changing a tire near the Crowder Boulevard exit on Interstate 10 East, after the New Orleans police sprang into action. In the same way that the theft of the SUV he was operating was verified, Mitchell acknowledged his participation in the hit-and-run occurrence.
At this time, he is wanted on allegations of hit-and-run driving leading to death and unlawfully possessing a stolen vehicle; his bail has been set at a significant $300,000. Mitchell was found to have several outstanding arrest warrants, including charges of larceny and possession of stolen property, which further added to the tragedy.
Given the circumstances, Aimee Bass, the mother of Imani, is deeply perplexed as to how Mitchell, an individual notorious for endangering others and possessing a criminal record, was permitted to operate a stolen vehicle at an alarming rate of speed.
Imani Bass Was An “Anime Punk Fairy”
Nestled in the center of New Orleans, Imani Bass’s dynamic and diverse spirit manifested itself as a lasting artistic legacy. Imani’s artistic trajectory commenced during her formative years, during which she attended McGehee’s preschool program, Lusher Charter School, and Mandeville High School, all of which contributed to her uptown upbringing. Aimee, the mother of Imani, reminisces pleasantly over their limitless ingenuity.
Whether she was arranging models for a fashion show or nodding off by her grandfather Clarke’s sewing machine, Imani’s artistic spirit was palpable. In a similar vein, upon attaining the age of 30, their aptitude for various media flourished to the fullest, solidifying their positions as a DJ, fashion designers, muralists, and tattoo artists. Moreover, Imani’s apprenticeship with Jacci Gresham, proprietor of Aart Accent, the earliest tattoo parlor on Rampart Street in New Orleans, was a significant factor in shaping their trajectory.
Imani Bass established an unparalleled standing within the tattoo community by imbuing their creations with a distinctively punk, fantastical, and dreamlike aesthetic. As one affectionately referred to as an “Anime Punk Fairy,” Imani Bass imbued all that they touched with a dash of enchantment and whimsy. Their dynamic and inventive nature served as a beacon of inspiration within the realm of creativity that they occupied.
However, the untimely demise of Imani is an enormous loss, as she bequeathed a body of work that will perpetually captivate and inspire those who were fortunate enough to have witnessed their artistic prowess.
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