AKG Newsworthy NOLA

2023 #2

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Black history is American history. Black History Month in February provides an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the role Black Americans have played in shaping the United States.

I am proud to represent four exceptional Black Artists who draw inspiration and guidance from the past, and through that inspiration, have created art that educates, stimulates and inspires all who have the good fortune

to experience it.

Woodrow Nash

Artist of spiritually charged, colorful, alive sculptures of African origin, blending different influences from the vast continent.

Tajah Olson

Born in Malawi, Africa, celebrates the strength and beauty of tribal African women in the photos of her performance art.

Clifton Webb

Creating sculptures and paintings that illustrate the royalty and sacredness of what is is to be an African American.

Shaka Zulu

A leading cultural ambassador of the New Orleans Black Masking Indian Tradition. His suits, stilt dancing, drumming and ritual honor his lineage of the Indigenous people and those enslaved from Africa.

While this dedicated time provides an opportunity to make connections with the past, it is a reminder of the importance of providing full and inclusive civics and history education not just for a month but as an integrated part of everyone's historical understanding.

Enjoy the work of these talented artists.

Peace and Harmony,

-Angela

CURRENT

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

WOODROW NASH

Woodrow Nash builds a sense of mystery and charisma into each of his sculptures. Through his pieces, Nash achieves his goal of integrating expression, complex symbolism and sophisticated aesthetics to yield striking embodiments of the human soul and sensuality.

Since 2019, the women-led Summit Suffrage Centennial Committee has been working to realize the Sojourner Truth Project-Akron. The committee has partnered with local artist Woodrow Nash, who has constructed a prototype of the sculpture which will be life size and bronze.

Nash with maquette Sojourner Truth sculpture in the studio

Painting : Sojourner Truth

Truth was a prominent abolitionist, suffragist and women’s rights activist who delivered her iconic “Ain’t I a Woman” speech at the site of the former Old Stone Church on May 29, 1851. Her impact will soon be realized in a public space meant to bring people together, beyond gender and race, in the heart of the city of Akron.

This statue will serve as an ongoing opportunity to educate the public on the progress made over the last 100 years and honor the fight for voting rights for all women — especially many women of color who were excluded from voting until the 1960s.

TAJAH OLSON

Tajah with Kanyoni Village Children outside the city of Lilongwe, Malawi 2022

Tajah Olson was born in Lilongwe, the capital of the African country of Malawi. “My artwork is inspired by my memories of home and my maternal grandmother Aswesi: strong, tough, yet kind-hearted,” says Olson. “Most of all, my art celebrates the strength and beauty of tribal African women.”

Observations from her recent trip to Malawi in her own words:

I then focused on some children from the same village who were visiting me every day. I noticed their curiosity to do art with me when they watched me paint some murals in the compound.

I gave them a few weeks of tutorials on painting a mural and they did their first mural. It was beautiful to watch as they had never touched a brush or painted before, so they were so excited and amazed at themselves as I was.

After seeing their excitement and enthusiasm and how important this experience was for them, I am now raising money to

bring art supplies so more kids from the village can come and explore

and be creative as much as they want.

CLIFTON WEBB

Inspired by African culture, artist Clifton Webb creates abstract sculpture and paintings with a visual message of positive change.

As an arts educator and professional, fine artist represented in museum collections and galleries around the country, Webb's goal is to identify what is meaningful to him. Then rephrase it using sculpture and paintings to translate it into a message of positivity more people can “hear” and see.

His work is inspired by being a part of a creative tradition with Africa at its core. Webb assimilates modern and contemporary European notions, creating mixed-media works of wood, medal, stone and fabric/fiber.

"This is in the hope that their piqued interest will lead

them on a journey of increased knowledge

and appreciation for the noble underpinnings of my culture."

-Clifton Webb

Into the Blue, 2022, 51” x 41”, m/m on arches

BIG CHIEF SHAKA ZULU

Big Chief Shaka Zulu drumming on New Year's Eve 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania 2022/2023

A consummate teacher and culture bearer, Zulu has conducted workshops on masking, drumming, and stilt dancing nationally and internationally. On trips to Tanzania in 2009, 2019, 2022 and 2023 he engaged with the Masai and Meru communities about the connection between the African and New Orleans African American traditions.