LOST AND FOUND
A Retrospective of 20TH Century American Racism (2020-2021)
This is a three dimensional 4’ by 8’ pastel drawing that has been destroyed
and then put back together again to rebuild the composition over a bed
of 544 corks on a grid of steel wire surrounded in a wood frame. This piece
is a visual interpretation of Racism in this country, and the 400 years of
languishing hopes and dreams. In the piece I am attempting to once again—
both literally and figuratively—resurrect the Equal Rights Amendment and to be sure
of its Ratification in every state. It to illustrates the consistent pattern of
inconsistency in this discussion and the long lapses of humane and just equal rights
in this country. There are questions that sill remain in relation to equity,
opportunity, health research, land ownership and Mortgage/Education opportunities
and so much more.
It is about the disproportionate number of
black men in jail. It is about the history of violence and inequality towards
black individuals by police officers and devices like ‘Stop & Frisk’ and ‘Broken
Windows’ implemented by police administrations throughout the US.
It is about Hope, and the efforts by some to end the systemic Racist
inequality that has been with our nation since the first pilgrims arrived.
It is an effort to show that we are all in fact more the same than we are
different. That despite the variation in the color of our skin-the human
race comes from the four same basic elements: AGCT, these elements make
up the human genome for every human being on the planet. That information
for me, is evidence of a single race of human beings, that are only different
in their convoluted perception of each other, intended or not RACISM is the
greatest injustice ever perpetrated on a group of people to obtain social
dominance and financial gain. It is time for Restitution and Reparation, and to
stop division in this country wherever it ignites.
The construction of this piece—which was fully documented —covered a period of
1.2 years, and encompassed the planning, diagraming, collecting of materials, cutting, drilling,
drawing and finally assemblage and construction. It is a piece that is visually impressive from both
the front and back of the work.