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10/31/2005: "Cargo: The Middle Passage"
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to see an exhibit of paintings by artist Tom Feelings at The King Arts Complex, which I found extremely moving. The paintings were in a series depicting the “Middle Passage”. Each piece, painted in black and white gouache, took on a dreamlike ghostly appearance.
Humans were chained and packed like sardines in a wooden hull. These ships were living tombs for some of the Africans enslaved. In my mind I wondered how any human could be so blinded by hate and greed that they lost their compassion.
After viewing this exhibit I felt inspired to make a statement of my own. One of the things that people are drawn to in my work is the size of my paintings. Viewers of my paintings feel a part of the action or the event. They often feel as if they are a part of the drama unfolding or could step into the canvas.
I did not feel that I could make the statement about human suffering much stronger than artist Tom Feelings had in his own work. I could however create a work of art on a large scale where you could live in the moment. That became my goal as I began to create my triptych entitled “Cargo”.
The four feet in height of the paintings illustrates the amount of body space in the confined space the slaves were packed into. I painted in a cool palette, so you could sense the despair of being in a dark, damp, cold lifeless tomb. The rays of light that pass through various parts of the ship give hope when there appears to be none.
I hope that you are affected by the images the way I was when I first saw the illustrations of artist Tom Feelings. Maybe then, you will want to make a statement of your own.
My artwork is included in the new interactive educational installation "Cargo: The Middle Passage". This permanent exhibit is housed in the King Arts Complex in Columbus, Ohio. Visit www.thekingartscomplex.com for more information.
Posted by: Ron Anderson
Replies: 7 Comments
on Thursday, November 10th, jordan ballard said
two thumbs up!!! thins that excited you at 14: http://www.panasonic.com , thins that excited you at 14 , substances that cure you
on Wednesday, November 2nd, David G. Wilson said
Ron,
I am impressed with your work, its size and subject matter. I am at pain to think that an artist of African descent would spend his time splashing paint and calling himself an abstract artist, but on the other hand, such is the beauty of freedom of expression.
As artists of African descent we have a long story to tell. It may be deemed illustration by critics who have their agenda for the advancement of contemporary art who dismiss figurative art as illustration and kitch. My last visit to MOMA in New York City was most depressing. I was surfeited with meaningless installations all over the museum that left me more depressed than uplifted. My only consolation was that I visited on a Friday evening and did not have to pay $20.00 to see so much depressing crap.
I choose to express the history of African slavery in my own peculiar way. By juxtaposing commonplace inanimate objects in a strategic and plausible mannner to create an alternate reality, I seek to depict the cruel equation of our ancestors to merchandise, thereby showing the degree of dehumanization to which slavery subjected African people. I call my style Anthropomorhic Perception because inspite of the fact that they were reduced to the status of merchandise, their humanity was unmistakeably evident. Thanks for sharing your work and "righton" with that subject matter.
on Tuesday, November 1st, BM said
Wonderful Ron!
To Hyacinthe:
"Basically there is no excuse for not learning to draw, especially when it comes to the figure. There are too many good books out there that make it easy. I have three published and they are so effective even the blind have learned to draw."
Absurd remark you make! Could it be that some artists CHOOSE not to draw the human figure? Could it be that some artists express and DO express an inspired story? Promote your books, why not. Please don't imply "inequality" if an artist doesn't draw the figure.
on Tuesday, November 1st, walterking said
Ron, I am always humbled by your work. And no matter what the subject matter there is always a celebratory aspect that is uplifting. Great stuff.
on Tuesday, November 1st, walterking said
Ron, I am always humbled by your work. And no matter what the subject matter there is always a celebratory aspect that is uplifting. Great stuff.
on Monday, October 31st, gabriella said
Ron; What a contrast with my own experience of coming to the New World via ocean-going vessels.
My family came to Canada in 1956 on a small Italian liner that was organized to bring refugees overseas to begin their new life. We children had the complete run of the vessel, could play above decks and escape from the opressive and limiting interior spaces. Food was plentiful, as were travelling comforts. And, importantly, we were journeying toward a new life filled with hope and opportunity.
Not so for the thousands of people who were forcibly uprooted from their lives and families in Africa, forced into unbearable conditions while they were in transit, and having to endure their confusion and fear of the unknown at the end of their journey. Giving visible form to such outrageous sufferings via art, as you have done here, reminds all of us to not be self-congratulatory in percieving ourselves to be free of actions of brutality toward each other.
The power of art is to reflect back to us all the actions and beliefs about ourselves that are often unsavoury to accept.
on Monday, October 31st, Hyacinthe Baron said
BRAVO! At last an artist who has the skill and technical ability to draw the human figure and imply movement in order to express an inspired story.
Congratulations.
I always say to my students that it is wonderful to be able to express feelings and ideas but that unless an artist has truly evolved a "style" through technical respect for drawing and rendering the human form, the art will not be effective and therefore have no value to be appreciated or sold no matter how inspired.
Basically there is no excuse for not learning to draw, especially when it comes to the figure. There are too many good books out there that make it easy. I have three published and they are so effective even the blind have learned to draw.
My message is a positive one. Elation at seeing this work, expectation of seeing more wonderful works from artists who have crossed the imaginary line between amateur and professional and excitement at seeing more interesting and amazing art works submitted for inclusion in the annual ART AND HUMAN NATURE COLLECTION Literary and Art Book to be published in March, 2006. Details on http://www.barongallery.com
