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P. 329
P Patron Profle
Years ago I read advice from an older woman who
wisely encouraged young people to “choose substance
over style.” My relationship with Black art is an
expression of that choice. For me, Black art captures
the substance of our culture and its complexities. Not
only does it refect the style of the time, but it also tells
stories, captures snapshots of our souls, and provides
opportunities for refection. Through it, artists challenge
the status quo by demanding inclusion and representation
on their terms. They afrm our value as a diverse people.
They invite us into non-verbal conversations about the
meanings of Blackness, the richness of our experiences,
the signifcance of our relationships and the possibilities
that can be imagined. Black art provides an avenue
through which we can choose substance over style.
Thankfully, I grew up with October Gallery. I remember
the early days, when we propped pictures up with
styrofoam cups in the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Those were
the days when I fell in love with the diversity of the Black
women captured in Cal Massey’s Basic Black series.
I remember the joy I felt when I convinced my mom that
I needed to own Basic Black 4 because it somehow
reminded me of me.
Wandering through the Gallery also connected me to
my history. Sam Byrd’s Legacy and Heritage captured
images of our ancestors with a richness that helped them
come alive in my heart and my historical imagination.
And as I grew up, Brenda Joysmith’s images of
childhood brought me back to my younger years while
Annie Lee refected signs of the time. I am thankful to
October Gallery, to my Uncle Mercer and Aunt Evelyn for
understanding what a positive diference it makes for a
people to see themselves in art created by people who
look like them. I am so proud that they had the courage
and wisdom to make that opportunity available to others.
Thank you for planting such rich seeds of community
while reminding us of the beauty of the harvest.
Shauna Brown
Educator
Laurel, MD
Study for View from the Upper Room by John T. Biggers
328 329
329
Years ago I read advice from an older woman who
wisely encouraged young people to “choose substance
over style.” My relationship with Black art is an
expression of that choice. For me, Black art captures
the substance of our culture and its complexities. Not
only does it refect the style of the time, but it also tells
stories, captures snapshots of our souls, and provides
opportunities for refection. Through it, artists challenge
the status quo by demanding inclusion and representation
on their terms. They afrm our value as a diverse people.
They invite us into non-verbal conversations about the
meanings of Blackness, the richness of our experiences,
the signifcance of our relationships and the possibilities
that can be imagined. Black art provides an avenue
through which we can choose substance over style.
Thankfully, I grew up with October Gallery. I remember
the early days, when we propped pictures up with
styrofoam cups in the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Those were
the days when I fell in love with the diversity of the Black
women captured in Cal Massey’s Basic Black series.
I remember the joy I felt when I convinced my mom that
I needed to own Basic Black 4 because it somehow
reminded me of me.
Wandering through the Gallery also connected me to
my history. Sam Byrd’s Legacy and Heritage captured
images of our ancestors with a richness that helped them
come alive in my heart and my historical imagination.
And as I grew up, Brenda Joysmith’s images of
childhood brought me back to my younger years while
Annie Lee refected signs of the time. I am thankful to
October Gallery, to my Uncle Mercer and Aunt Evelyn for
understanding what a positive diference it makes for a
people to see themselves in art created by people who
look like them. I am so proud that they had the courage
and wisdom to make that opportunity available to others.
Thank you for planting such rich seeds of community
while reminding us of the beauty of the harvest.
Shauna Brown
Educator
Laurel, MD
Study for View from the Upper Room by John T. Biggers
328 329
329
