Join us tonight, as together, we explore the work of Jammie Holmes - a self-taught painter from Thibodaux, Louisiana, whose work tells the story of contemporary life for many Black families in the Deep South.
Through portraiture and tableaux, Holmes depicts stories of the celebrations and struggles of everyday life, with particular attention paid to a profound sense of place. Growing up 20 minutes from the Mississippi River, Holmes was surrounded by the social and economic consequences of America’s past, situated within a deep pocket of the Sun Belt, where reminders of slavery exist alongside labor union conflicts that have fluctuated in intensity since the Thibodaux Massacre of 1887.
Despite the circumstances of its setting, Holmes’ work is characterized by the moments he captures where family, ritual, and tradition are celebrated. His presentation of simple moments of togetherness and joy within the Black population that nurtures the culture of Louisiana has made him an advocate for this community. Holmes’ paintings fall somewhere between realistic depiction and raw abstraction, incorporating text, symbols, and objects rendered in an uncut style that mirrors an abrupt transition from memory to canvas. He often references photographs from home but also draws heavily on his own recollection of moments and scenes and works quickly to translate his emotions to paint.
Register HERE for your FREE e-TICKET
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/158634954419We look forward to welcoming you later.
All my best,
Matt
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About your facilitator: mark (they/them) develops and produces access platforms, programming and communities with a view toward activating art as a tool for positive political, economic and social change. To date, their work has informed cultural strategy at Arts Council UK, the British Broadcasting Corporation (History, Learning and Radio), the Beaney Museum, Canterbury City Council,
GOV.UK, Kent County Council, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Tate Galleries (Modern and Britain), Artists Space, Bureau of General Services Queer Division, The LGBT Community Center NYC, MAPP International, The New School, The New York Public Library, Village Alliance Inc, Volta Art Fair, International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020/21 Olympic and Paralympic Games. mark is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and an advocate for the transformative power of art and culture for all.