Written by Ann Pearlman

​My mass incarceration sculpture, Juliet Seignious’ chalkline paintings, andour collaborative art were displayed in a pop-up show Re/Viewing Oppression at the Ann Arbor Art Center.  At the same tiime period, a show with emphasis on protest art was displayed and a panel of activists engaged the community. Both the show and panel were invigorating as we witnessed the power of posters, signs
and slogans and explored changes in our politics.  At our Re/Viewing Oppression’s closing reception, gallery visitors pulled up chairs, snacked on grapes, cheese, pizzelles as we discussed images on imprisonment, and the killing of unarmed black men and women by police.    


All art, especially novels, where we make up our own images, and films where we fold into the image, narrative and sound of someone else’s invention, have the potentiality to carry us away from our customary identities. Visual art enlarges our understanding and redefines it as we experience someone else’s images, someone else’s visual interpretation of our shared world.  With visual art, we can appreciate our world in a new way. Andy Warhol redefined commercial products and the shades of human flesh; Basquiat unveiled the beauty of urban streets, Picasso displayed changing interpretations of forms and faces inspired by a new love.

I never considered art as an agent of change, but as an expression of images that fascinated me–beautiful or ugly or distressing or glorious. But always compelling as displays of new visual imagination. I had not thought of art as a catalyst for political, societal exploration, transformation, and insight. And yet, the group at the reception made it clear that art eased sharing and increased understanding.  Just like a novel or film can carry us into someone else’s experience, so can art.  The dialogue at the closing reception proved visual art can be a bridge between people to discuss issues and feelings. Yes, art can provoke. And yes art can make it easier to explore issues. 

When we display images, we can be confronted with problems yet to solve; we are reminded of history that can stagger again to reemerge. Issues of oppression do not vanish by themselves.
Art is a gateway allowing us to discuss, share, explore. And as Juliet says, “….bring it into our consciousness. And this is how art can be really valuable.”

​

 On March 22, I was invited to a strolling dinner reception and a talk by Yvonne Rainer, an
American avant-garde dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker, whose work in these disciplines is regarded as challenging and experimental: Wikipedia (for more information.)
 
The event took place at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, to a packed diverse audience.  The talk was an essay written by Ms. Rainer from the point of view of the Sun God Apollo, sometimes political, sometimes humorous, sometimes sad as we struggle to find our humanity.
 
I was honor to meet her for her courage to be whom you are, her contributions to the dance world, as well as her philosophy of live and let live.

Photo: Juliet, Yvonne Rainer, (also guest from Athens) Katerina Stefanidaki and Zafos Xagoraris)
 

​On March 15 thru April 5, I am sharing an art exhibition with my friend Ann Pearlman that I met here in Ann Arbor, MI who is a visual artist, sculptress and writer at the Ann Arbor Arts Center.   The overall exhibition is called “Re/Viewing Oppression. Ann is featuring her sculptured series called “Mass Incarceration” dealing with the over population of African American males in prison and I on the other hand am exhibiting my “Requiem in Color.” This series focuses on the abnormal amount of police shootings of unarmed African American males and females.
 
A few months ago we decided that it would be very interesting to do collaborative pieces.
It would be a first for me, although Ann has done other collaborative work with other artists.  I enjoy venturing into the unknown, and this was certainly one of those times.  No talking, and no judgment of what the other contributed allowing us to freely move into the paintings. For this exhibition we will be showing two of the pieces.  We titled them “Black Bars,” and “Prison Jammed.”
 
My artwork also includes events of unrest, protest marches, citizen grievances and injustices, so often recognized for short periods of time and then forgotten. Archived as cold cases, to gather dust, distort our history leaving growth in a dark and forgotten place because we can’t remember, we don’t remember, and as is often quoted, “if we don’t remember the past, we are domed to repeat it.”
 
‘Forgetting’ is illustrated how easily our society can be molded in the most effective way
to not understand what has happened before, is happening now, and will probably continue in the future.

So I use art as a vehicle to remember our grievances of the past, the present and
for the sake of our future, I ask are we domed. To repeat those things which are not good for our Humanity?  Perhaps we can have Art help us to remember.

 
 On April 4, between the hours of 5-7 pm
there will be an informal conversation for the public to meet both of us and to learn more
about our work.  Light refreshments and seating will be provided.
 
Let us remember our children and fellow adults, including Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Jordan Edwards and the men and women whose lives also ended too soon, such as Oscar Grant, Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown and many others, past and present. Let’s say - never forget, and remember we can do better.
 
Juliet Seignious
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I was asked 3 questions for this exhibition that I am sharing with you.
​
Question # 1: What does being a woman mean to you?
Answer: ​
As a woman it has always been important for me to grow,
as a mother and a career woman. 
 
To be a free thinker; to be an independent thinker;
to be aware of influences that causes negativity in my being.
 
As a woman I am grateful that I can be loving, strong,
intelligent, kind, understanding, and vulnerable.
 
As a woman I do not have to judge myself for being humane or caring.
Unfortunately this isn’t always allowed for men. 
 
As a woman I can cry, feel my emotions, allowing the rivers to flow
in my being, without judgment, unfortunately, again not always for men.

I enjoy being a woman, because I can be a Yin and a Yang.

Question #2: How has being a woman shaped your work?
Answer:
As a woman artist I have learned over time to let my inner voice take the lead.
It has guided me, so far, to deal with social issues, to especially not forget the
past, as it is always following us.

My womanhood carries certain qualities useful to my art, such as
my emotions, to care, to be concerned, and to act through my work.

Question #3: Is there anything you'd like to say to past, present, or future women?
Answer:
To woman of the past who suffered in any way, my heart goes out to you for all that you endured to survive. I thank you for all that you have given and the knowledge you passed on. 

To women of the present, remember you are both Yin and Yang,
Know yourself and love it, without judgment.
 
To women of the future, may you have learned from woman of the past/present and assessed how important and needed you are on this planet. 
 

A little late posting, but my Facebook friends like to hear what's going on, and I truly appreciate that.
https://pulp.aadl.org/node/370978 

​Over/Come(ing)  Blog 7

Introduction
 
The images I bring to you were inspired by John Lewis’ graphic novel series “March” (the third installment of which was just released recently accompanying its national book award), I wanted to send out some images from my new series “Over/come(ing).”  This series of paintings was initially conceived in reflection about current marches and their connection to marches in the past – mostly the famous march, the march in 1965 the walk from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.  Within this work, I seek to explore the power/complexity/hopefulness of social movement (s), the most powerful of human creations, for improving the world, appropriately, I will post a part of a painting from the series each day for the month of March, which we should now think of not just as a month or as a way to mark time but also as a call to action and freedom.
 
 
Commentary # 7
​
It was a couple of years after my trip to Charleston, S.C. I encountered my second
experience with racism.  I had gone on a retreat in upstate New York with the Girl
Scouts.  The retreat included many girl scouts from the New York area.
 
A friend and I (also African American) were sitting by a brook feeling the peacefulness of being out of the city, having the opportunity of listening to the water flowing, hearing birds singing, and trees waving from the slight breeze.  Along come a couple of Caucasian girls both dressed in their Girl Scout uniforms, as were we. I said hello, but received no response.  Out of one of the girl’s mouth I hear, “I don’t speak to chocolate cookies.”  “What?” I said.  It took me a few seconds to figure out what she was talking about, and suddenly I found myself saying, “I rather be a chocolate cookie, then a white cracker. Chocolate cookies are sweet and delicious, crackers are dry and tasteless.” I didn’t want this encounter, because my friend and I were really having a good time.
 
The next thing I knew we were pulling at each other’s uniform and had slipped into the edge of the brook and fell into the shallow area.  We both realized that ruining your uniform was a big no-no.  We were wet and disheveled, we had broken the rules of how a girl scout should behave and represent.  I was angry because I knew I didn’t start it, and we had to return to the main cottage for lunch.
 
Entering the main cottage the other girl scouts looked at us with disgust. It was Miss Ursula who was in charge, and took the four of us to another cottage where her office and sleeping quarters were.  She explained to us girl scouts didn’t call each other names or fight with each other. Girl Scouts respected and helped each other. She made us shake hands, and that was that. I don’t know if that girl changed her mind, but I certainly appreciate Miss Ursula’s speech, and I enjoyed the Girl Scouts in my neighbor, especially completing projects and getting badges for my efforts.  I wasn’t about to let that girl ruin that for me. 

To see all images from this blog series go to this link.
To see all images from the painting series go to this link.

 Over/Come/(ing) Blog 6
 
 
Introduction
 
The images I bring to you were inspired by John Lewis’ graphic novel series “March” (the third installment of which was just released recently accompanying its national book award), I wanted to send out some images from my new series “Over/come(ing).”  This series of paintings was initially conceived in reflection about current marches and their connection to marches in the past – mostly the famous march, the march in 1965 the walk from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.  Within this work, I seek to explore the power/complexity/hopefulness of social movement (s), the most powerful of human creations, for improving the world, appropriately, I will post a part of a painting from the series each day for the month of March, which we should now think of not just as a month or as a way to mark time but also as a call to action and freedom.
 
 
I had made the commitment to post portions of the “Over/Come(ing)” series everyday for the month of March, but life has a way of doing what it wants to do.  We had a tremendous wind storm here on Wednesday last week that cause a power outage, it lasted in my area for six days.  I stubbornly decided to stay put in the house hoping the lights would be turned by Sunday at 11:30 pm.  It was cold and my bones and muscles were becoming stiff, but I felt you could handle this.  If the people in the march could handle what they had to handle, I could do this. By Sunday the electricity was still not on and the temperature dropped to below freezing. With two down blankets and a near frozen face, the images of the march began to fade, the reality of how cold I was, made all thoughts to fade.
 
I managed to rid myself of doubt, jealousy, lack of confidence, and a few others of those self-destructive attitudes, but found that stubbornness was still lurking. No I can stay in the house, bear the cold, and not go to a friend’s house for warmth.
 
Come Monday along with the icy weather it snowed and my body said time to go to my son’s colleague’s house and warm this ice cube of a body. You know how you can have the body of a senior citizen, but the mind of a younger person and the two just don’t seem to coordinate with each other, that was my dilemma.
 
As my body warmed up at their house the “Over/Come(ing)” series came back to life reminding me that I had not posted for 5 days, so now I am back home warm and on the computer to post again, yes stubbornness is taking a trip along with those other loser attitudes and placed inside a balloon to drift off into the sky, never to be seen again, amen.
 
 
 

​ 
Over/Come/(ing) Blog 5
 
 
Introduction
 
The images I bring to you were inspired by John Lewis’ graphic novel series “March” (the third installment of which was just released recently accompanying its national book award), I wanted to send out some images from my new series “Over/come(ing).”  This series of paintings was initially conceived in reflection about current marches and their connection to marches in the past – mostly the famous march, the march in 1965 the walk from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.  Within this work, I seek to explore the power/complexity/hopefulness of social movement (s), the most powerful of human creations, for improving the world, appropriately, I will post a part of a painting from the series each day for the month of March, which we should now think of not just as a month or as a way to mark time but also as a call to action and freedom.
 
 
 
When I returned home my aunt told my mom about my behavior down south.  My mom said, “you could have been killed drinking from a white fountain. You could have been lynched.”  “Lynched? What is lynched?”  “Hanging your puny ass from a tree. Those white people are crazy down there.”  Being killed because I drank from a fountain, I thought, yeah that is crazy.