In June 2020 we put plywood panels up over our windows and doors after rioters had soiled peaceful protests in Uptown Greenville. We discussed how to turn these wooden panels into a platform for Black artists and artists of color to express their thoughts on our nation’s current events surrounding the protests. The imagery painted is steeped in symbolism and history.
Check out our Flickr to see more photos of the artist at work.
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Raymond Henderson
Title: Embrace "In the piece I wanted to express the couple embracing each other during a pivotal time in America and how unity is needed to improve the lives in this country." Instagram: @raymondgarfield |
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Raymond Henderson
Title: Years of Reflection "In the piece I wanted to display stories from previous history to the present through the sunglasses. The two piece is split down the middle displaying an older person on the left and young person the right. I incorporated BLM stories in the glasses to represent time/era." Instagram: @raymondgarfield |
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Raymond Henderson
Title: Peonage "In 1866 certain states began to lease out convicts for labor. This made businesses of arresting Black men very lucrative, which is why hundreds of White men were hired by certain states as police officers. Once arrested the Blacks (women, men, and children) were leased to plantations, some of which were railroad companies. The owners of these businesses would pay the state for every prisoner who worked for them (prison labor)." Instagram: @raymondgarfield |
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Richard Wilson
Title: Jack Johnson Jack Johnson is a part of Mr. Wilson's shadow series. This piece depicts a young boy in over-sized boxing gloves gazing upward at a punching bag with the news article about Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world. The little boy is inspired to be great like Jack Johnson. Prints available at: www.richardwilsonart.com Instagram: @richardwilsonart Facebook: Richard Wilson Fine Arts & Graphics, Inc. |
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Richard Wilson
Title: What the Future Holds
“What the Future Holds is an inspirational painting that I created as part of my fine art fundraiser for a youth organization. This painting has a lot of powerful symbolism. The hand uplifting the youth represents God, family & community. Each one of the students are holding signs that says “if you can imagine, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it”. Each one of the students can be anything they desire to be. The young girl in the front has on tennis shoes so she can be an athlete, a PE teacher, or a trainer, etc. The little boy behind her has on business pants, therefore he can be a businessman or an attorney, etc. I deliberately left the taller young boy uniform unknown, because he can be representing any profession. The little girl behind him has a stethoscope around her neck, so therefore she can be anything in the medical field, such as a doctor, nurse, etc. The wind blowing the youths tassels and graduation stoles, represents obstacles we face in life, but we have to keep moving forward to achieve our dreams. Many people ask me why the little girl’s sign upside down. It is because she is smaller and the journey seems heavier to her but she’s not letting go of her dreams. They are all standing above the clouds, because the sky is not the limit. Prints available at: www.richardwilsonart.com Instagram: @richardwilsonart Facebook: Richard Wilson Fine Arts & Graphics, Inc. |
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Richard Wilson
Title: 44th
"I, Richard Wilson, created this painting 44th to commemorate President Barack Obama's first inauguration.... I wanted to create a unique painting reflecting the perspective of the many unsung heroes who paved the way for the first African-American President. My neighbor, Reverend Isaac J. Robinson, Jr., ... experienced first-hand the transient struggles of sacrificing school to work with his father on Southern farms. Reverend Robinson honorably served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. As a self-educated itinerant preacher, for years he preached as a revivalist in many small churches from Connecticut to South Carolina. His life’s work embodies the countless numbers of persons of color whose names will never appear in the elite halls of history, but have given much sweat equity and community service for the betterment of our democracy. In the portrait, Reverend Robinson sits pondering the pride of having lived long enough to see the first African American President of the United States. As he sits holding a NC ticket to the inauguration of the 44th President, he gives thanks to God for allowing him to see the fruit of the struggle finally paying off. Like so many others, Reverend Robinson offers thanks God for this momentous occasion but also thinks ahead asking God for His divine protection and direction of the President." Prints available at: www.richardwilsonart.com Instagram: @richardwilsonart Facebook: Richard Wilson Fine Arts & Graphics, Inc. |
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Rakia Jackson
"My art has always been a grounding force for me and everything I create is emptied from a part of my heart and soul. These pieces were created with intentions to evoke an emotion of pure bliss. During these times it’s more important than ever to keep our peace of mind and treasure our happiness." Instagram: @theblackpeace_ |
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Jacinda Aytch
www.jacindaaytchillustration.com Facebook: @TheArtofAytch Instagram: @theartofaytch |
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Jamil Silva de Vasconcelos "Junior" "The first painting I painted was to bring color and hope to the situation. Also, being a person with mixed ethnicity and from Brazil, I wanted to participate because I had the opportunity to do so. The painting in the alley was to extend the idea but create a statement piece. The flowers being different colors represent different races and that we are all connected in this world. The piece stands for more than just race though. It represents differences amongst us and the connectivity of humanity."Facebook: @JunSVasconcelos Instagram: @junsvasconcelos |
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Paula J. Jordan-Mayo
Facebook: @neapaulata
Instagram: @neapaulata
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Kevin Gonzalez & Nataly Monter
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