Black History Month Tribute: Olokun

As we come to a close on Black History Month as well as this year being a leap year I wanted to share a painting I did last year in honor of Juneteenth and specifically for a Juneteenth Celebration of which I was one of three exhibiting artists for the event.

Juneteenth is one of the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery here in the United States.  This celebration not only is meant to commemorate freedom of African Americans but also to highlight education and achievement.  So I felt only befitting the close of 2012 Black History Month to share some history about  my painting.

One of the things I really enjoy when painting is the research and incorporating lost stories, cultures, symbolisms, and ideologies into my work.  When I was contacted about doing a piece for this event, I had to research this Holiday all together.

Since Yoruba religion stems from many of the original religious beliefs of the Yoruba people and the roots of many other religions such as Voodoo and Sanataria originated, I started the research there. 


I was drawn to the orisha named Olokun.  Olokun is an androgynous orisha and is associated with the sea.  Olokun is considered the patron orisha of the African diaspora that were carried away during the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade. Olokun is also a protector of the living, dead, and the unborn.  Thus becoming a befitting tittle for the piece and my tribute to this month. 


This painting titled: 'Olokun' symbolized the present slaves looking forward to the future of the baby (future generations) being born free, shackles broken. While the essence of Olokun watching the past, present, and future.


Below is some nice drum music I remember my mom playing as a kid. 

Babatunde Olatunji

  

Some sites to check out:

History of Juneteenth
Olokun

Disclaimer: I am not a practitioner nor scholar on the religion of Yoruba, but open to all philosophies and cultures.  This is meant to be an interpretation of my research and art.

Olokun 5"x7" limited edition print.

Love Thy Neighbor

Last weekend was great!  This month is jam packed with things to do and prepare for.  I'm currently a resident artists in a very unique and small art community with our own three level gallery.  This month is our first resident only group show in over two year.  Since 2008 members have been taking on month to curate, collaborate, and produce shows.  Every third Saturday of the month we have a new show opening up.  The beauty and the pain of it is that each artist who chooses (from the prior year via a voting system) a month must come up with the concept for the event, what type of event, opening nights, workshops, as well as build promotional materials and printed marketing materials for that show as well.  It has given me the great opportunity to collaborate with not only other resident artists, but as well as other local artists.  For a listing of some of my exhibits as well as curated shows, click here.  This is also the centennial of my historic neighborhood of which I'm a bored member so there are events being planned there as well.

Our community has a few groups of volunteers for events, artists reviews, etc.  Its all resident artists run so  we work and learn through trial and error how to work together or not, and just build.  Thus far, its been an interesting ride, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Last year we have had over 45 events, workshops, art exhibits, screenings, and life drawings classes as well as food drives and fundraisers for both local and international non-profit groups.

For more info click here

Love Thy Neighbor is the group show that consists of 28 of the Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts resident visual and performing artists.  Three major chances to see the exhibit with an opening night, afternoon opening, and a closing.  There is also a food drived to collect canned and boxed goods to be donated to LifeNet4Families with a raffle for small works of art donated by a few of the resident artist.

Love Thy Neighbor in local Arts blog Arterpillar

Opening night went great, it was such great energy!   We had about three separate raffles opening night for visitors bringing three items or more.  Music by hubby DJ Onestar.

A LifeNet4Life volunteer at the drop of table.

Then Thursday Feb 23, three neighboring associations had a District 4 City Commissioner Candidate's Debate and had the reception at our gallery afterwards.  So it was a great opportunity for some of the locals areas to view the art as well as a light social with neighbors and some really good carrot cake.  

District 4 City Commissioner Candidates Romney Rogers and Jacquelyn at 1310 Gallery
 with Sailboat Bend, Riverside Park, Tarpon River presidents, artwork: Claudia Polzer

Sounds On the Bend

If you are local there are only two more chances to see the eclectic collection of art and installation.  Sunday Feb 26 1pm-4pm during the Sounds on the Bend free music concert, which is happening along with a SBCA Walking Tour.

So lots lots going on.  Join us!  

If you would like to keep up with events, exhibits, as well as updates about my art and design- please join my mailing list by clicking here.

Things to come

Son Marley who sometimes has to paint while Mommy is painting

I have a focused commitment to this blog and really have a lot of great ideas to share with whom ever may read this and get a value, share an interest, or explore - to expand more here.  Develop more posts, explore, and share a little bit here.  Maybe put in a few loony stories of my life as a Mom, Artist, and freelance Designer working from home.  Or life as a part of an artists community.

Feedback is crucial and I love hearing from you.  So if you have any ideas, questions, feel free to shoot me a line.

Right now, I am doing a few things:

• Taking care of my terrible two's, extra talkative sweetheart of a son Marley
• Co-planner of our first resident artists group show in over two years (excited!) 
• Painting like a Mad Hatter small new works exclusively for new Etsy shop
• Framing my artwork for our group show "Love Thy Neighbor" opening this Saturday.
• Reading and learning how to set up my Etsy the right way
• A couple of design projects
• Slowly refocusing and optimizing some of my personal sites
• Planning and developing some ideas and direction for this blog
• Cooking a few times a week a nice meal for me and my family
• Figuring out how to fit in some met time

Its always seems to be not enough hours in the day.

Things to come:

• Features- by fellow local artists, people who's work I admire, interesting stories, entreprenuers, and work from home Moms.
• New artwork
• History - some stories or inspirations behind some of my work
• Past and current events
• Art
• Photography 
• Design
• Some note worthy client work and some horror stories (names omitted of course ;-)

In general just continuing to share.  This is a personal blog so keep that in mind if I tend to be a bit all over the place :-).  but I also want to hear from you.

So stay tuned and connect!

New Painting: "Phone Home" - alien art on Etsy

Don Cornelius - wishing you peace

Photo taken from jackandjillpolitics.com

The irony of life.  Just as we are entering February a month dedicated to the various celebrations around the US in honor of Black History month, we lose a legend.  Don Cornelius who is attributed to spreading the music and culture of Black America to the masses.  Helping to make some people like Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye a household name, not to mention having one of the longest running syndicated shows in history- has taken his own life.  It fills me with so many mixed feelings like what was going on at 75 years old that he felt that was the answer and you really can't judge a smile and assume that means everything is okay.

I remember some of the episodes of Soul Train.  Everyone loved it and looked forward to that show.  Of course I was too young to identify it with history in the making and Black History in the making no less, but I would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't have a fond memory of that show.  The Soooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul Train!

I hope he is at peace now.  Rest in peace.  His contribution to music history, a lifestyle, and culture is legendary.  

Since I have been on this 'painting war path' with my new series of small works of art, I felt it only natural to paint my own small tribute to the Man of Soul.

Soul: My tribute to Don Cornelius on Etsy

My heart goes out to his family.  This Black History Month is starting off bitter/sweet.  Cornelius touched the world!

Black History tidbit:

“Don Cornelius was a pioneer, an innovator, and a trailblazer. He was the first African-American to create, produce, host and more importantly OWN his own television show.  (Taken from vibe.com)

Looking back:

Update - what a tribute!:

February 5 2012, new York

"Soul Train" flash mob tribute to Don Cornelius - New York