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Opening Reception for Threads of a Story: History Inspiring Art

Presented by Nashville Public Library at Nashville Public Library - Main Library

June 18, 2011

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Artist Charlotta Janssen will be at the library to talk about her powerful portraits. Film clips about the Freedom Riders will begin at 2:00pm, followed by the artist’s reflections on the paintings. Sponsors: Nashville Public Library Foundation, Friends of Nashville Public Library

These heroic portraits of courage are from mug shots (normally a sign of shame and criminality) of Freedom Riders arrested in the spring and summer of 1961.

 

Standing up against the injustice of segregation and institutionalized racism, that moment in 1961 there was no way of knowing what prison in Mississippi had in store, so these portraits are about facing an oppressive system with non violence and a deep mix of emotions, each in their own way: fear, joy, anger and innocence.

Critical details such as disheveled collars, skinny ties, bows on ruffled collars still suggestive of the fifties and loud patterns that were announcing a more modern time are crucial parts too. Carefully recorded by a sovereignty commission their purpose was to ostracise those who stood up to segregation, certainly not intended for art.

Meeting many of these Freedom Riders ( the first being Charles Jones in 2009 of Charlotte NC with whom I had a good cry in) and activists who planned this out and hearing details of their stories and the dangers they faced moved me to retell them through oil, acrylic, rust and collage, to take the observer back into that moment. These are extraordinary humans who didn't stand by idle. Freedom Rides are a miracle to me that we all need to know about and build on what they started: the beloved community.

The work will be on display at the downtown public library through October 6 2011.

Location: Special Collections Center and Courtyard Gallery

Image by Charlotta Janssen