Thursday, 8 January 2015

Representing African Heritage: Genius Reinvented

Owen Gordon has worked with Mokonde wood carvers from Africa in a cultural exchange program in Jamaica.  He has developed an internationally recognizable form of unique, elongated, carved wooden figures.

Owen's first one-man exhibition of sculpture was held at the Creative Arts Centre. U.W.I., St. Andrew, Jamaica.  His paintings and sculpture have been exhibited in several international art shows in England and the U.S.

Representing African Heritage featured many of Owen's vivid paintings and sculpture.  Owen also created 7 black pedestals to display his work, 3 long and tall, and 4 shorter and wider.  These pedestals were made to perfection, with the highest level of craftsmanship.



The aim of Representing African Heritage in Contemporary Art was to show that the genius of Africa continually reinvents itself, while retaining the vibrant palette, the ease of geometry, the mastery of abstraction, the sense of great energy in containment that are the unique properties of African art.  Its aim was to excite your eyes and kindle your imagination.




Here is one last, long, look at a powerful assemblage of Owen's sculptures on their pedestals.  His work filled most of one of the three galleries that took up one entire floor at 80 Spadina for this historic exhibit, the first of its kind in Toronto to celebrate Black History Month, in February 1995



I produced all aspects of Representing African Heritage in Contemporary Art with the partnership of Hollis Baptiste aka Awalay.  This historic show paved the way for all future corporate-sponsored art exhibits later assembled to honour Black History Month.  Similarly inspired exhibitions now occur with regularity every February.

Be sure to watch for these this coming month, Black History Month, February 2015

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