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shauntrice is the daughter of shauntee who was the daughter of gladys who was the daughter of willie b. who was the daughter of beadie who was the daughter of lillie who was the daughter of rena. this exhibit is an extension of her legacy. "something in the water" blends styles, techniques, and concepts the same way her bloodline blended hustles, tribulations, triumphs.shauntrice's work is a post modern expression of her journey to reach the other side of the barrier that has kept black artists trapped and inextricably connected to white supremacy. "something in the water" celebrates the flow of time that brought us here in this space. much like the bok chitto, if we can traverse these waters, we will emerge freer on the other wide.
Order of
EVENTS
L I BAT I ONS In an original performance choreographed by Harlina Trumbo, African & Choctaw performers will illustrate our transition through the middle passage and the trail of tears.
ART
UNVE I L I NG
&
RE F RE S HME NT S
These five works by Shauntrice are the culmination of an eye-opening 9-month residency. Guests will have an opportunity to vie each piece and network with creatives from a little Black book.
ART I S T
T AL K
Special guests Dr. Jabani Bennett, Andre Kimo Stone Guess, Nubia Bennett, and Hannah Drake will join Shauntrice for a conversation about the collection.
AF T E R
HOURS
Join the artist for a VIP after hours experience with Chahta Noir
CHAHTA NOIR
BAPTIZED IN THE BOK CHITTO
IJÓ EYO
(DANCE OF THE ORISHA EYO)
2021 Mixed Media (acrylic, textile, marker, colored pencil, beads, copper, cowry shell, yarn)
This piece celebrates the Eyo festival in Nigeria—a Yoruba tradition that venerates those highly respected souls who have passed on. Eyo dress in all white during Adamu Orisha Play.
In Mississippi, the Bok Chitto River separated a plantation from sovereign Indigenous land. If an enslaved person crossed, they would be free. The image of a Black woman reaching up to be saved by a Choctaw woman represents our hope for a radical imagination of collective resistance.
OKA NAHULLO
(Something Holy in the Water)
2021 Mixed Media (acrylic, textile, colored pencil, beads, copper, feathers, wood)
This place of worship is a celebration of water protectors and the preservation of our most vital resource. This piece includes sketches of 16th century Yoruba altar rings and a prayer inspired by Yemoja.
NA FONI AIOWA
(THE BONE PICKER)
2021 Mixed Media (acrylic, textile, marker, colored pencil, beads, copper, cowry shell, feathers)
There isn't much written work about the bone pickers. In Choctaw cultures, bone pickers organized wakes & created public alters for mourning. They had distinguished tattoos, but there are no records of the art.
eht ni gnihtemoS
This autobiographical portrait blends Native and African elements to amplify the significance of water in both cultures. The gold and mahogany tones represent those in my lineage whose names are forever lost due to the middle passage and the trail of tears.
2021 3D printed sculpture painted with acrylic, adorned with blessed found materials)
RETAW
2021 Mixed Media (cowry shells, sticks, hair, acrylic, textile, marker, colored pencil, beads, copper)
A LITTLE BLACK BOOK OVER THE YEARS I'VE HEARD COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS CLAIM THAT THEY JUST CAN'T FIND ANY BLACK ARTISTS TO WORK WITH. If nothing else, my position as the inaugural artist-inresidence at with the Speed Art Museum has been a wake up call to Louisville. Black artists are here and we are ready to work. So pay us! The little Black book is a keepsake. Let it represent your commitment to hire Black artists and pay them well. This list includes Black artists across a wide variety of styles and genres. This list is not exhaustive, but it includes Black artists who I've had the pleasure of working with since starting my residency. CHECK OUT THEIR WORK. SHARE THEIR WORK. PURCHASE THEIR WORK.
Something in the Water