“Art isn't a mirror, but a window or lens for criticism, provoking sociocultural change within external and internal development.”
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Richmond Heights, Ohio 44143
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Richmond Heights, Ohio 44143
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A visual experience about the
African American condition
August 28, 2014 ~ October 3. 2014
This solo exhibition emphases the meaning, myth and stereotype of black culture through the aesthetic of exploitation, taboo and erotic forms of racial identities. This retrospective focuses on the isms that define, divide, examine, separate, and challenge today’s society.
Historically, around 1828, Thomas D. Rice blacked up, donned his Negro costume, and then performed "Jim Crow." That performance was of an ideal blackness never before seen on the American stage. From that moment, America's original art form, the minstrel show, flourished at home and abroad. Fueled by white male obsessions with defining African Americas as exotic and comically irrational fools, blackness was exploited for profit.
While entertaining, minstrel performers indirectly challenged traditional notions of authority, identity and status within America's social structure. Its mixture of music, burlesque routines and satirical skits that often parodied elitist Shakespearean masterpieces made it the most popular form of entertainment of its time.
Past fascinations with this interracial, cross-gender union can be compared to mid and late-twentieth century public reaction towards rock n roll and, most recently, the Hip Hop phenomenon.
African American performers blacked up and began to take center stage around the 1840s, an occurrence that has undoubtedly influenced the future of popular entertainment forever. Blacking up was once a prerequisite for performers and an unequivocal symbol of white dominance for African-Americans. Today its exploration can lead to new passages, which may offer greater insight into our collective blackness.
List of work exhibited:
Inappropriate Typical Romance Flower
Assemblage
13” x 24.5” x 12”
Materials: Mixed Media
The Ventures of Uncle Remus
Assemblage
13” x 23” x 12”
Materials: Mixed Media
Oversimplified antecedent clause.
Assemblage
23” x 34” x 12”
Materials: Mixed Media
For God and Country.
Assemblage
13.5” x 42” x 12.5”
Materials: Mixed Media
King Weasel
Assemblage
9.5” x 29” x 9.5”
Materials: Mixed Media
“The Pythagorist and Divine Right”
Assemblage
11” x 33” x 11”
Materials: Mixed Media
Bleached Appeasement
Assemblage
11” x 34” x 11”
Materials: Mixed Media
Homage to Hopeful Jones
Assemblage
16” x 25”
Materials: Mixed Media
The Beautiful People
Painting
46” x 50”
Materials: Acrylic on Canvas
Mint centrism
Mixed Media
24” x 24” x 2”
Materials: Acrylic and wood stain on Wood
Ethno Ideal Living
Mixed Media
24” x 24” x 2”
Materials: Acrylic and wood stain on Wood
Not Quite Preeminence
Mixed Media
24” x 24” x 2”
Materials: Acrylic and wood stain on Wood
Tribute to King Sow
Assemblage
9” x 24” x 9”
Materials: Mixed Media
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