Black Creativity

Last week I visited the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition within the Museum of Science and Industry. Below I will detail the pieces that stuck out to me the most. 

This can’t be the only way – Kaima Akarue 

This photo does not even come close to doing this piece justice. It is an acrylic painting glittered with a layer of crushed glass on top. When on display in the exhibit, the entire painting glints from the overhead lights which immediately catches the attention of all viewers in its vicinity, myself included. It came as no surprise to me that this painting was awarded Best in Show for this entire exhibit. This artist actually had 2 more paintings featured in this exhibition all done in the same artistic style and with the same medium. The painting itself features realistic looking depictions of what appear to be young Black boys or teens. I’m curious if this painting is based off of a historical picture that the artist then recreated. I tried to look up online if this was the case but I was unable to find a solid answer. I did visit Akarue’s instagram page and saw that some of her other paintings are based on real life people that are her muses so it is very possible that this painting could be of real people instead of based on a historical image. I think an important detail to note about this painting that is not featured in the image is that the edge of the canvas it is painted on is painted bright red. All of Akarue’s work within this style has a red colored frame which I believe serves to contrast with the darker colors of her painting and really draw the eye into the center of the canvas. 

A Toast to Jazz – Felix Maxwell                     

What immediately stood out to me about this painting is that it actually reminded me of a classic, well known painting. I instantly thought of “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat, although admittedly I did not know the name of this painting off the top of my head.

What I recognized as similar was a cohesive, collective group of people enjoying each other’s company and peacefully & joyously lounging outside. I identified similarities between the green coloring of nature and the brightly colored clothing and umbrellas used by the subjects of the paintings. I think this painting does a fantastic job of catching the beauty in an everyday moment of life. A snapshot is featured of people but of their culture as well and how jazz in this case serves as a unifying force in the Black community. Portraying another narrative of the Black experience can be especially powerful in combating stereotypes or stories featured in the media that lead to inaccurate perceptions of Black individuals. When I saw the similarities between this painting and the Sunday Afternoon painting, I was left with the thought of how “A Toast to Jazz” could become the classical, well known painting of this generation. 

Quarantine Birthday – Lindsay Johnson 

I was drawn to this painting because of the non-traditional materials used. The boy’s shirt is constructed with surgical face masks as used during the Covid pandemic while the stars surrounding him are cut out of colorful metallic foil. The smaller person glued on his shirt appears to be a first responder that is fully covered in PPE. Using the title of this piece and its materials as context clues, I came to the conclusion that this boy is celebrating his birthday during the pandemic but he is sick in the hospital so those that wish to celebrate with him must wear full protective gear. It is also possible that if he is isolated in the hospital, his own family would be barred from seeing him so he would be left celebrating with the health care workers on staff like the individual on his shirt. The anguish in the face of the boy as created by his scrunched eyebrows and the sucking of his thumb portrays an emotion that most viewers who lived through the pandemic can relate to. The overall sense of fear and loneliness felt in this painting resonates with viewers and draws in a broader, global, human audience. 

The Lover: Oshun – April Sunami 

I really enjoyed the 3D textures featured in this painting as a result of the use of necklaces, beads, buttons, and other objects. They also managed to glitter in the light and catch my attention. What’s interesting about this painting is that it portrays a Yoruba river goddess, Oshun, who is representative of “love, sensuality, and femininity” (Vox). Not only is this painting depicting Oshun, but the materials and colors that create her image are also symbolic of her. She is said to be represented by flowing water which is presented as the waves in the sky surrounding her as well as her hair. Seashells and a yellow, ambery color are also representative of her which explains why these details can also be seen in the hair of Oshun. I believe Sunami chose to paint Oshun because part of her legend is that Oshun helped humans repopulate and heal the damaged Earth. At this moment in time there are many crises plaguing our planet and faith in higher powers or belief in what they represent may provide hope to those that need it. 

While I could only touch on 4 pieces of art in this blog, there are so many more pieces within the exhibit that are worth seeing. I highly encourage you to visit the Museum of Science and Industry and see these pieces for yourself. Just walking through the exhibition and surrounding yourself with this art is powerful in itself. This exhibit closes April 23rd, so I hope you have the opportunity to see it before then.