Faith Ringgold’s Black Light Series #7 Ego Painting was created in 1969. Inspired by the textile designs of the Kuba Kingdom of Democratic Republic of the Congo, she addresses blackness as a color and an identity.
This is on exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago.
I watched Dave Chappelle this morning and I thought there is something in today’s circumstances that deeply affects us all. Chappelle did a short comedy show titled, 8:46 to speak to recent events of the death of George Floyd and the riots. The numbers signify the amount of time police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on the neck of George Floyd.
The comedian spoke through his pain and anger which was hardly funny but very true. It gave us a moment of new normal.
Chappelle pointed out that not everyone will respond to recent events the same way or at the same time. We have to give people space to process what is happening around us. We need to see the consequences of our neglect.
This art reflects the state of rage we are in. It is something that consumes us. How it is dealt with will determine if it is squelched or inflamed.
In celebration of African American freedom, we have to remember it was not an easy battle. In light of the protests this month that were centered around the brutal killing of George Floyd by police, this piece is called Protests.
A protester has been peppersprayed.
This is a reminder that during the month of June we will examine African American Art. This figure is referred to as Nkisi Nkondi. It was believed to be a spiritual image with empowered medicinal and magical ingredients. Nails were one of the first commodities Africans began to make trades with Europeans.
Ahmaud Arbery was shot by two white men and ran off by a truck when he went for a jog on February 23, 2020.
Breonna Taylor was an African American woman who was a first responder. She was killed March 13, 2020 when officers executed a search warrant in her home.
It is the month where we celebrate freedom of African Americans with Juneteenth. In light of the protests that have taken place around the country, this piece I titled Protests.
A protester has been peppersprayed.
In June we will do things that make us better. This month pray for the Supreme Court of the United States. Pray that they will do what is right and just and fair. Pray that everyone in the United States will also do the same.
UPP Creative Media 