It has been very encouraging to receive a few blog awards lately and thanks to Nizy over at Nizy’s Life Compendium, Eunice at Living and Loving, Rynnie at Modest is the Hottest I received five “Blog of the Year 2012 Awards”.
Below are blogs I think deserve this award because of the inspiring content:
For thousands of years people of African descent have created wonderful pieces of visual art, most of which was stolen by “archaeologist” and is held in museums throughout the Western world. In spite of the classism and racism that is prevalent in the art world there are many Black artist who are continuing our creative tradition and pushing artistic boundaries. Though many of us know that we dominate music, dancing and singing it should also be noted that from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Kara Walker Black artist have and are currently making valuable contributions to the art world. Most often Black art is not just “art for art’s sake” but a visual call to justice. View these wonderful pieces of of art below:
The piece above is a powerful reflection on the destruction of the Black family that occurred during slavery, though uncomplicated it shows the terror of slavery. Instead of featuring the male slave master this piece shows the role white women played in slavery thus challenging the traditional slave narrative.
This piece by Suzanne Jackson is a beautiful reflection on the inner spirit of the Black woman.
This piece is a powerful and beautiful representation of the Black man. “Sleep” was featured in the 30 Americans’ exhibit at Washington’s Corcoran Gallery of Art. 30 Americans’ was an exhibition of Black male contemporary artist that focused on sexuality, racism and historical identity.
Rugged with a splash of red this piece gets straight to the point.
Black Contemporary Art on the web:
‘30 Americans’ Brings Work of Contemporary Black Artists Together in D.C. by Jorge Rivas
Deep, dark and bright all at the same time.
Love and hate coexist together.
How can passion turn into sorrow?
How can love turn into pain.
Who knows the interior of the heart,
When it is deceitful above all things.
Scarlet passion/scarlet hate,
A thin line between LOVE & HATE.
Photo by Scarlet Dee
I sense you,
but I can’t see you.
I know you,
but you are a “stranger”.
I follow you,
though I don’t know where you are going.
Our paths have crossed and are about to cross again.
Destiny’s date is with us.
We will recognize each other at the ordained time.
Until then I will Love, Laugh and Live,
in the knowledge of our coming joyous
love.
If I am lost will you help guide me,
and stand beside me,
even though I am not on the right path.
Sometimes I get lost because my compass
was stolen by those who were supposed to care for me.
If I am wandering aimlessly will you wander with me?
If you take the wrong turn with me,
maybe we can both turn around into our dreams.
I will keep writing,
I will keep pushing,
I will keep smiling,
I will keep laughing,
I will keep loving,
I will keep walking
Though I may face pain, rejection and rain.
I will keep on because so many have sacrificed for me.
I will press on because God has empowered me.
I will rejoice in a love that will last for eternity.
Sculpture created at Project Onward a gallery and studio for artist with developmental disabilities. -projectonward.org
Circular Darkness.
Deep within lies our soul’s container.
Our wombs hold our dreams and the cosmic artwork we will call forth.
Tied to the moon a cycle of death and rebirth occurs within us in intervals of 28.
We must love our womb and all that it can create.
The seat of our soul, the womb is eternity within our flesh.
Covered in dust and sweat he came to the end of another demeaning work day.
Smiling when he had every right to frown, laughing when the joke was on him.
His hands blistered from the hard labor and his heart callous as well.
Each day he felt their sickness towards him take root deeper and deeper into his soul.
As he arrived home and walked through the threshold he felt like he was crossing over
from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light-
her light, her smile a balm to his soul.
He worked so hard to shield her from scrubbing floors and tending children not her own.
As she welcomed him home it all seemed worth it.
After the children were all tucked in she read Hughes, Angelou and Baraka to him.
As they lay in bed with his arms wrapped around her,
she administered this poetic balm and he was healed to go on another day.
Taken at Chicago’s Lake Shore
The sun dances upon her skin,
engulfing her in a caress more passionate than any of her lovers,
a heated breeze
swirls around her,
she dances with the steel drum.
Her joy is apparent
to all who witness her worship.
A crowd gazes at her,
yet she hides in plain sight.
A calypso Queen-
the sun is her crown.
Created at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens by Isaiah Zagar
Created at Philadelphia’s Magic Garden by Isaiah Zagar
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