The Passage Project

Reflecting on the Art of El Anatsui this Earth Day

One of the first things that came to my mind this Earth Day was the art of El Anatsui. I wrote about my visit to The Met to view the museum's acquisition of his piece Between Earth and Heaven and cannot get enough of his work. Born in Ghana and now living and teaching in Nigeria, he regularly uses found materials in his artwork but doesn't consider his method as recycling. In a statement I found on the website Ethnicarts.org, El Anatsui comments on his piece, Fading Cloth, which is made from the caps of liquer bottles:

"I don’t see what I do as recycling; I transform the caps into something else. If there is a direct link between the bottle tops and the fabric cloths, it is probably the fact that they all have names linked to events, people, historical or current issues. I don’t see what I do as recycling; I transform the caps into something else. If there is a direct link between the bottle tops and the fabric cloths, it is probably the fact that they all have names linked to events, people, historical or current issues. Take Ecomog gin: this refers to the regional military intervention force which brought the wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia to an end. The brandy called Ebeano (meaning ‘where we are now’) references a popular electioneering slogan from the last political polls in the state in which I live. Similarly kente cloths are given names like takpekpe le Anloga (conference at Anloga) or can be named after a personality. Fading cloth is more of a formalistic name, with the full blooded reds at the top and bottom of the cloth yielding to creams and other pale colours in the centre. Flattening and stitching the caps is laborious and repetitive – a very different process to my earlier work using power tools on wood. I have several assistants working with me, and we start with strips and eventually assemble them into the final composite results. The process of stitching, especially the repetitive aspect, slows down action and I believe makes thinking deeper. It’s like the effect of a good mantra on the mind. "

Happy, happy Earth Day.

The Art of Tintype Photography and Connections at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery

 

I purchased this antique tintype photo of a young man a few years ago.

I am a lover and very amateur collector of early photographic images of African Americans. It's an extremely expensive habit, therefore my collection is quite small.

To temporarily satisfy my obsession with the art form, my boyfriend and I jumped at the chance to have a tintype taken of ourselves by photographer Keliy Anderson-Staley last fall. I was curious about the behind-the-scenes side of tintype photography, as well as the daguerreotype and ambrotype. All were popular forms of photography from the mid to late 19th century. (Tintype photography continued into the 1950s.) I know it might sound strange, but I also was hoping that I might be able get a deeper understanding for those who sat for portraits when these styles of photography were at the height of their popularity. Maybe, gain more insight into time they were living in.

The sitting was definitely worth the trek to Newark, New Jersey's Aferro Gallery. Set in an unassuming storefront in downtown Newark, this smart, accessible gallery turned into Anderson-Staley's portrait studio for a weekend. Contrary to a typical 21st-century photography sitting, we used braces to prop up the back of our necks to maintain our posture and instructed not to smile (because of the amount of time needed for the exposure). We loved every moment of it, especially watching our portrait develop while hovering over the tray filled with chemicals (maybe staying so close to the tray was not the best idea) we saw our image come to life. 

One, of the most interesting parts of the sitting, was noticing that the longer exposure time (roughly 20 seconds) often made photos appear darker than the subjects were in reality. That's exactly what happened in the lovely portrait of me and my boyfriend (see below). Over the years, I've seen a few tintypes for sale that have been advertised as possibly being African American subjects. (Note: Tintype, ambrotype and daguerreotype photos of African Americans often sell for a very high price.)

The Jenkins Johnson Gallery currently has a show called Connections which tackles the subject of race in the age of Obama. The exhibiton also features the tintype of me and my boyfriend. From the press release:

In collaboration, owner Karen Jenkins-Johnson and independent curator Lisa Henry examine artists who boldly speak on topics of race, ethnicity, identity and gender in America. At a time of a historic political change CONNECTIONS presents: iconic and legendary black artists of the Harlem Renaissance; established mid-career artists that continue to strengthen the African American presence in the art world; and the significant emerging artists that not only transcend aesthetic boundaries but have created a powerful discourse around social condition, personal identity, and cultural heritage in America.

 

Image courtesy of Keliy Anderson Staley.

The long list of artists in the show are Anderson-Staley, Romare Bearden, Sheila Pree Bright, Elizabeth Catlett, Robert Colescott, Gerald Cyrus, Kira Lynn Harris, Deborah Jack, Jacob Lawrence, Sonya Lawyer, Glenn Ligon, Thomas McGovern, Felicia Megginson, Qiana Mestrich, Gordan Parks, Lorna Simpson, Hank Willis Thomas, George Tooker, James VanDerZee, Hiroshi Watanabe, Carrie Mae Weems, Carla Williams & Deirdre Visser, Philemona Williamson, John Wilson, lauren woods, Reggie Woolery, and Mark Wyse.

Connections is featured at both locations of the Jenkins Johnson Gallery. My boyfriend and I checked out the galley's New York show last weekend and it was wonderful to see so many accomplished and gifted artists in one space. (the two pieces by Carrie Mae Weems blew me away.) We are traveling to the gallery in San Francisco next Saturday. The show will continue through March 28.

Below, are some of my favorite books that discuss early photographic images of African Americans:

• Reflections in Black by Deborah Willis 
• The Black Female Body by Deborah Willis and Carla Williams
• Picturing Us: African American Identity in Photograhy edited by Deborah Willis
• African American Photographs by Ross J. Kelbaugh
• The Civil Contract of Photography by Ariella Azoulay

Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World at The Kennedy Center

On Monday, The Arabesque Festival opened at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The three-week program will present the latest in theater, dance, music, film, and more coming from the Arab World. Performers include outstanding Somali hop-hop artist K'NAAN and Heather Raffo performing The Sounds of Desire with Amir El Saffar, a jazz trumpeter and Iraqi santoor player. I saw Raffo's wonderful one person show 9 Parts of Desire about two years ago and definitely would love to see her perform along with a live musician.

And if you like to shop, visit the souk — marketplace — where you can purchase jewelry, handbags, and textiles.

Last night, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer profiled three artists living in Cairo who are participating in this years Arabesque Festival: modern dancer Karima Mansour, jewelry maker Azza Fayma, and Lebanese/Egyptian artist Lara Baladi.

To view a dance performance by Mansour, and to learn more about these three artists, visit NewsHour's website.

Notes From the Diaspora, 1/27: Medicine for Melancholy, Duke Ellington Commemorative Quarter, Johannesburg Int'l Mozart Fest, and African Textiles at Kim Sacks Gallery

This regular section of The Passage Project is the spot to find abbreviated notes on news and events throughout the African Diaspora.

Poster from Medicine for Melancholy courtesy of Strike Anywhere Films.

Film
Across the U.S.

Medicine for Melancholy opens this Friday. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, the award winning film has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, and is the winner of TK at Sundance
With San Francisco as it's backdrop, the film has been described as "a love story about a one-night stand told through two African-American twenty-somethings dealing with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco- a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American City." Wyatt Cenac  of The Daily Show and Tracey Heggins are the films two stars.

The movie opens in NYC January 30th, Detroit February 13th, Seattle February 20th, San Francisco and Los Angeles February 27th.

Check out the official website for music from the movie, two short-films by Jenkins called My Josephine and Little Brown Boy, a fierce T-shirt and a photo contest with a $1000 prize. Also, don't forget to look at the films Facebook page for the latest information.

Money
Washington D.C.

Image courtesy of The DCist.

Jazz legend Duke Ellington will grace the flip-side of commemorative quarters representing the District of Columbia. Today, the U.S. Mint released the coin as part of their 50 state quarter program (the Duke Ellington coin is the first to be issued in 2009). The quarter reads, "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DUKE ELLINGTON and JUSTICE FOR ALL".

Ellington was born in Washington D.C. April 29, 1899 and later moved to New York in 1923.

If you would like to get your hands on these, the wait to get them at your local bank could be a few weeks. Your best bet is to order directly from the U.S. Mint at 801 9th Street NW in D.C. or it's website.

Music
Johannesburg
Johannesburg International Mozart Festival continues through February 3rd. The festival will feature South African Violinist Zoe Beyers and German pianist Florian Uhlig. A series of workshops, master-classes, lectures and community based programs are also part of the festival.

Textile images courtesy of Kim Sacks Gallery.

Art
Johannesburg
The African textile exhibition Tranformed Fibres opens at The Kim Sacks Gallery January 31st and runs through February 28th. Kente, Dida, Indigo, Fante, Yuroba, Baule, Nupe, Kuba, Fulani, Mbuti, Ewe, Hausa and Bamileke will all be represented in the show. The space is located at 153 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood (27-11/447-5804).

Postcards from the Edge: A Benefit Brought to You by Visual AIDS

Image courtesy of Visual Aids.

Postcards from the Edge is back bigger than ever. This years for Visual AIDS will feature 1,600 works of art. A few years ago I had the opportunity to work behind the scenes processing postcards for the show. It was a wonderful experience seeing the project come to life and working with an incredible group of people.

Image courtesy of Visual Aids.

All postcards are $75. Think about it. You could have your very own Kara Walker, Jean Foos, Yoko Ono, Dirk Roundtree, John Waters, Catherine Opie, Carrie Ann Weems, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman and Kiki Smith. So worth it.

The benefit will take place at Metro Pictures located at 519 West 24th Street. The entrance fee for the preview party tomorrow night is $75 and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The actual sale is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a $5 suggested admission. For more information check out their website.

Notes From the Diaspora, 1/6

This regular section of The Passage Project is the spot to find abbreviated notes on news and events throughout the African Diaspora.

Art
Cape Town
The Association for Visaual Arts (AVA) will be opening three solo exhibitions Monday, January 19th with Lindile Magunya's Disgrace, Mawande Zenzile's Crawling Nation, and Kilmany-Jo Liversage's Symbol of Tribute through February 6th.

Artwork by Mawande Zenzile courtesy of AVA.

From the artist statement of Zenzile:
“I have experimented with the revival of Xhosa ‘art’ production, positioning myself and examining this culture in contemporary ways of art production inside Africa. In my work I challenge expectations, perception and misconception behind blackness and consciousness; through this I interrogate, history itself, subcultures, space, and time."

Image courtesy of Girls Write Now.

Literature
New York
Girls Write Now is spreading the word about the upcoming submission deadline for The Scholastic Art and Writing Award by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers January 13th. I've attended a reading organized by the Girls Write Now in the past and many of it's young writers have won the scholarship. For more details about the award and the program, visit the organizations website. Good luck! 

Film
New York
Healing Starts with Us: An Open Book will be screened January 15, from 7 to 9:30 p.m at Symphony Space. The film looks at the stigma of mental illness in the Black community and features interviews with Ruby Dee, Mo'Nique, Susan L. Taylor, Terry McMillian, among others. Author Terrie M. Williams will be there to discuss the topic with the audience and all those in attendance will receive a copy of her book Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting (2008).  Tickets are $25.

Designer Sheila Bridges and Harlem Toile de Jouy

I'm a bit behind in posting this, but better late than never.



Harlem Toile de Jouy by Sheila Bridges courtesy of Studioprintworks.

 
Harlem Toile featured in O at Home.

I've long been a fan of the romantic look of toile and designer Sheila Bridges created a new twist on the look with her "Harlem Toile" line of wallpaper and bedding. Bridges on her work: "Harlem Toile de Jouy tells a rich yet satirical story about African American life through the often distorted lens of the media. I designed it to remind people of many of the stereotypes that have historically been and continue to be associated with African Americans living in rural parts of the country as well as urban areas like Harlem."  The wallpaper line comes to life in different colors including Yellow, Dove, Vanilla, Turquoise, Pistachio and Cherry. and is part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

Harlem Toile featured in Ebony Magazine.

The Harlem-based designer decorated the uptown offices of former President Bill Clinton. Her other big name clients include P.Diddy, novelist Tom Clancey, and Princeton and Columbia University. Additionally, she has made appearances on NBC's Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and HDTV and her work has also been featured in Elle Decor, The New York Times, Ebony, Domino, Martha Stewart Living, O at Home, Essence and Travel and Leisure. Her design firm, Sheila Bridges Design, Inc., was founded in 1994.

Harlem Toile bedding will becoming out soon in new colors: red and white, and black and white.

Contemporary Art in New Orleans: L9 Center for the Arts & Prospect.1 New Orleans

Image courtesy of the L9 Center for the Arts.

Last night's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer featured a report by Jeffry Brown about art in today's New Orleans and after watching it, my boyfriend and I started thinking it would be a good idea to travel and check it out. 

 The show profiled artists such as New Orleans native Willie Birch and photographer Deborah Luster, in addition to the L9 Center for the Arts and the city-wide art exhibition Prospect.1.

 

Going Home by artist Willie Birch courtesy of the blog Newsgrist.

L9 Center for the Arts was started by artists Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick who have been documenting the city of New Orleans for 30 years through their work, according to NewsHour. In the report Calhoun said, "We see this space as a light for the community. What we're doing here in L9, as artists, we take in our space. We have art. We've got painters coming in. We have photographers, filmmakers, people who just want to come and help. So we're going to make sure that we have a space that's vibrant in the community."

Prospect.1 image courtesy of their website.

The phenomenal exhibition Prospect.1 is taking place at venues throughout the city including Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) The Edgar Degas Foundation, Hefler Warehouse and Common Ground Relief. The show features an impressive list of international artists such as Nari Ward, Wangechi Mutu, Jose Damasceno, Isaac Julien, Tatsuo Miyajima, Ghada Amer, Takashi Horisaki and one of my personal favorites El Anatsui.

Jessica Ann Peavy, Wayne Hodges and Joanna Malinowska at Smack Mellon

Image courtesy of Smack Mellon.

Be sure to check out Smack Mellon's latest offering. The Brooklyn gallery is showing three solo exhibitions: Jessica Ann Peavy's  new video installation Rituals of Consumption: Leviticus rowed the boat ashore examines the African-American woman by looking at food, sexuality, religion and West African and African-American traditions. The Original Comedy by Wayne Hodges uses a photograph of Bert Williams performing his signature piece Mr. Nobody along with an image of a costumed animal that appeared on stage while Williams performed the number to "reference larger issues of celebrity, representation and the ways in which we become defined by spectacle culture." Joanna Malinowska looks at pianist Piotr Anderszwski in her installation Les aventures dans le code § 120.45.

An interview with Peavy by the blog Contemporary Confections can be found at www.sweetcontemporary.blogspot.com. In it, Peavy discusses her show at Smack Mellon as she bakes sweet potato muffins with the writer. Yum.

All three shows run through January 4, 2009.

* By the way, Smack Mellon will be hosting an inaugural ball in honor of President-Elect Barack Obama January 20. Details coming soon.

Inspiration, Art and Barack Obama

 
Artwork courtesy of Philipp Kuecuekyan.

I's always a good sign when a politician can inspire artists. Well, Barack Obama is one of those politicians and his presence on the political scene has influenced artists throughout the world. One of my favorites is 01/20/09 by web and graphic designer Philipp Kuecuekyan (also my boyfriend).

The website ObamaArtReport.com features a rather large and diverse collection of artwork.