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LIVING WITH THE ART OF ONE'S HERITAGE
The works of art in African Art: the Diaspora and Beyond were photographed in two residences. The first, a three story renovated Victorian greystone converted into a six-thousand square foot duplex with a two-story, twenty-five foot-high ceiling living room overlooked by a balconied art gallery. The second residence is a thirty-two hundred square foot, two level condominium. The art took on a different character in the new environment, largely because of the smaller areas that dictated the placement of each object. The living room exudes the historical memory of African Art and the Art of the Diaspora. Colorful patterns and geometrics found in the Yoruba throne and chest are balanced with the oval and round shapes of the African masks, which in turn are reflected in the Diaspora Art.
Living with art in this room is a cheerful and comfortable experience because the color, texture, form and proportion are in balance. Art may be hung on walls, placed on the floor or against a wall, OR DISPLAYED ON PEDESTALS OR OTHER SURFACES. It is the harmonious relationship between one work of art and another, as well as the balance of line, color and texture that makes a space inviting. The cozy library is a sanctum sanctorum for reading, writing, and contemplation where one may retreat yet not become isolated. In fact, the better part of this book was written here. The Ghanaian carved chief's chair in the foreground welcomes one into this intimate African-inspired setting. A parachute fan hovers above the black-lacquered Chinese table, lending an air of modernity to the room, while the deep gold-hued walls contribute to a sense of intimate privacy.
THE BLACK AESTHETIC
Veteran artist, Robert L. Smith, employs diverse artistic expressions that come together to form a unique Black Aesthetic. In Nina and Her Sister, Smith uses an array of bold-colored oil and acrylic paints, dramatized by a white T-shirt, antique doilies and a carved braid of hair made of artist's clay - all recognizable objects - to create this most eclectic three-dimensional work. Proceeding down the hall, a visitor is greeted by a hand-painted, porcelain Chinese horse and Benin bronze bust resting atop an oval-shaped marble commode. The golden wall serves as an excellent background for Robert Smith's Nina and Her Sister. EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING A well-designed room is a work of art, and like art, should evoke emotions. It is my sincere hope that you will be sufficiently touched by the art that you view on the pages of African Art: The Diaspora and Beyond, to embrace and celebrate the art of the people of African descent. Perhaps this book will encourage and motivate you to bring African and Diaspora Art into both your home and work environment to discover the joy of living and working with art. |
