We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, art & history are entwined. This Juneteenth saw exhibitions, openings and talks grounded in history, all with an eye to the future, happening across the country.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin hosts some of the oldest Juneteenth celebrations in the country and
photographer Pat Robinson has photographed the event for decades. He was in conversation with Racine’s Mahogany Gallery owner Scott Terry. The twodiscussed the veteran photojournalist’s approach, favorite subjects and the influence of the photos in the iconic pictorial magazines like LifeandLookon his work. Mahogany Gallery exhibited some of his arresting photos, many of fathers and their children, as part of their Juneteenth Day - Retrospective.
PHOTOGRAPHER PAT ROBINSON IN RACINE
Photographer Pat Robinson in conversation with Scott Terry the owner of Mahogany Gallery in Racine
Work by Frank Schroeder at the newly opened Blackbird Gallery in Detroit.
Juneteenth weekendPamela Eatman opened her Blackbird Gallery in Detroit’s historic Fisher Building with an exciting global roster of artists. Her visionis toshowcase the work and contributions of Black artists without limits to geography, style, genre or medium. The Gallery’s name references the iconic Nina Simone anthem“Fly Blackbird.”
Ted Ellis has been an artistic chronicler of Juneteenth for decades
Congratulations to artist Ted Ellis, now the inaugural Museum Director at Southern University at New Orleans. An exhibition of his works, Juneteenth Champions, at the Houston Museum of African American Culture continues through this week.
All of us are feeling some kind of way about the Roe V. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court this week. If we take a long view of history we have to go back to the fateful nomination and ascension of Clarence Thomas to his lifetime appointment to the bench, spearheaded by then Judicial Committee Chair and current President Joe Biden. We saw the vilification of a Black woman, Anita Hill, as just another scorned lover. The current situation is one that should keep our President up at night, and bootstrapper is not the ‘boot analogy’ I’d apply to Thomas.
Artists are making their feelings known. Tawny Chatmon’s ‘Tired Post’ just made me well, tired! Paul Branton’s post was uplifting in that his art has always celebrated HER! And Gerald Griffin’s ‘Start A Riot’ postwas defiant. Nothing is ever settled until it’s settled, which is what we thought about this nearly 50 year old law. We are now required to fight for a right for our granddaughters that we thought we’d already won.
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Artist Tawny Chatmon says I'm Tired! Images below by Paul Branton and Gerald Griffin. Chicago's Sculpture Earth Moon and Star by Miro celebrates all that is female.
Miró’s Chicago is the most famous sculpture by Spanish artist Joan Miró. The piece, commissioned by Mayor Jane Byrne is named The Sun, The Moon and One Star is representative of the female form.
TO SEE . TO READ . TO DO
BLACK IMAGE CORPORATION
Theaster Gates on pivoting Black representation and the power of community action. Photo from Johnson Publishing archives.
