Freedom
Freedom – an artistic exposé for Black history and Women’s history months, was a group exhibition curated by Yeefah Thurman. The exhibit was on display from February through March 2023 at the Evanston Public Library. The artist’s work on this page was represented in the exhibit. The artworks questions what freedom post slavery really means for Black, mixed race and indigenous people. Do they have the right to decide their financial legacy, have self determination, to decide the names one is called or the language one chooses to speak?
wood, raw cotton, paper, glass, pyrography, metal chain
40×40
wood, paper and metal chain
15×15
*Important note: the public slave auction noted in the poster, took place on the day the artist was born 140 years later – May 18, 1969
Asset: property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies.
Capital: accumulated possessions calculated to bring in income.
Equity: equity is an ownership interest in property that may be offset by debts or other liabilities
The following artworks developed from an investigation into the beliefs, of those in the third generation post the Civil Rights movement and the use of the N’word. The artist wanted to understand if being two generations removed from the movement and six generations removed from slavery made a difference in how, when and why they used the N’word. Freedom to claim or choose the words they use and the language they speak are important to them. These works are from two of the ten interviews the artist conducted.
wood, paper, pyrography, metal chain
24 x 23
wood, paper, pyrography, metal chain
15 x 10
If you would not have been classified as a negro then you are not “My Nigga” This word that was once used to degrade and oppress we have reclaimed and made our own. This country has tried to strip us of everything. Yet we have successfully cultivated a culture in the midst of chaos that ironically has become the epitome of cool. You can not be included in our culture especially after fighting for decades to exclude us from everything.
Christopher
Saturday, March 7th 2020
wood, paper, pyrography, metal chain
29 x 18
wood, paper, pyrography, metal chain
15 x 10
As humans, our use of language has immense power and meaning. So, use of historically derogatory words like the N-word can be shaped and issued in so many ways and in so many context. Language can be a very empowering tool for establishing and reclaiming identity. I believe this is true for marginalized peoples across the board. So for all of us it becomes important for us to use language, not in the “right” way, but with intention and with the understanding of its significance. The significance should be understood on both a personal level and in its context within a broader human experience.
Toni Villaseñor-Marchal
01/28/2020