As far back as I can remember (please read that in your Goodfellas voice), I have been surrounded by art. Only when I became older did I realize that it taught me how to “feel”. See, if you grew up in a Black family, you likely had a few key pieces on your walls that you probably can’t find anymore. They may have included a cross (IYKYK), lots of paintings of Jesus at the last supper (Black or otherwise), some pieces that looked like an Ernie Barnes chef- d’oeuvre, (you know, the ‘Good Times’ portrait… again, IYKYK), and then all of the traditional family portraits, or moments in time, as I like to call them.
You see, long before we understood that art (in its many mediums) was a form of therapy and was around to evoke feelings, our parents and grandparents were using art as their therapy and a means to tell their story (so please don’t throw out Mom’s art). As times changed and we grew older, these pieces got lost and new forms of art rolled in. Black Jesus was eventually replaced with posters for some and diplomas for others. Art from big box stores took up real estate in many homes, and family pictures always remained intact. Thankfully.
And now, in the year of our Lord 2022, art has made a great resurgence, with many new and emerging artists selling out faster than ever. Some of our old, beloved artists (Ernie Barnes, Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kwame Brathewaite, to name a few) are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. I am seeing more and more people diving in and buying art, and I absolutely LOVE it! Collecting art has been something that I have been instilling in my family and clients for as long as I can remember, and to see more people embrace it sparks so much joy in me. Of course, as with anything, some people are having a hard time navigating the world of art, and I feel it’s my personal duty to help them navigate these waters.
One of the things I love most about art & design (really, creativity in general) is the intentionality behind it. An artist creates with the intention of allowing YOU, the beholder, to see the beauty in what they’ve created, but to also FEEL the feeling that they’ve poured into it. Whether it be joy, pain, nostalgia, or heartache, the artist creates with any of these as their driving force. Please keep this in mind when you see, hear, or feel an artist’s work. Now, armed with this knowledge, I have two quick thoughts. First, we need to address the elephant in the room.
ART IS SUBJECTIVE!!!!!
What does that mean, you ask? If a form of art makes YOU feel something, then it is for you. If you look at it and can see its beauty, it is for you. If you look at, listen to, touch it, and feel an intense feeling of happiness, joy, peace, or any other feeling, then it just very well might be for you. But, it will not always be understood by someone else that is not YOU, so please do not set out looking for the approval of someone that hasn’t spent any time in your shoes. If you purchase any piece of art with the idea that “I should buy this because everyone else is buying from this hot artist”, then you are buying for investment (which isn’t a bad thing, but I will talk about this more in my newsletter). However, you will never fully appreciate the artist’s reasoning for creating it… and that is to feel.
Secondly, the collecting part. My collection started as a child when I collected comic books. Yes, that too, is a form of art. I loved them. I loved Archie comic books and the Calvin & Hobbes clips from the Sunday newspaper the most. I would cut them out and save them. I love the little stories they told and how the artists created the characters. Little did I know, I was collecting art. As I grew older, I would continue to collect things that sparked similar emotions, and I would just buy things that I loved. My current collection started primarily with books and YES, books on art, fashion, and music can all be part of your collection as well. I would attend exhibits and save the cool posters they used to give out (now they sell them) at each show. There is no limit to what you can collect because what brings YOU joy should be what you hold on to. I own sculptures or unique pieces from every place I’ve ever traveled. Acquiring and possessing a form of artistry from each place helps me to remember the time I spent there, and I truly love every single piece that I own. Keep all of this in mind as you begin to curate your own personal collection.
Many of you might be new to art, and I am so glad that you’ve found my journal. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your favorite rapper or ball player is talking about art and you’ve suddenly taken an interest. Or maybe you have blank walls staring at you every single day and you are looking to fill them up, but you just don’t know where to start. I’m writing this for you, in hopes that you will allow me to take you on a deeper understanding of the arts (visual, music, film, tv, fashion, etc..) and the ways it is meant to make you feel. While experiencing the art you collect through the feelings it evokes, you must also be intentional in raising your kids (or sharing with loved ones) to see themselves reflected in all of its beauty and giving them a peace (that’s not a typo) of therapy.
Living with art is therapy, let me be your therapist.
Take this therapeutic trip with me as I dive deeper into the arts and the many mediums of its therapy in our lives. On this journey, I am going to dispel a myth surrounding collecting art. And yes, I am looking at you “sayers” that posit that in order for a work to be “valuable” you have to spend a lot of money on it. Tsk. Tsk. After all, what is value? One’s judgment of what is important. Not the cost of it, but what it means to you.
If this interests you, I am starting a monthly newsletter. In it, I will talk about the many mediums of art, the feelings that they create, curating a collection that is authentically and intentionally you, how we are all meant to be the gatekeepers of our cultures, and so much more. And to be clear, I did NOT go to school to write about artists and the work that they create. There are MANY, MANY talented writers that already do this (Kendra Walker is a great one) and a lot of great publications that showcase this (Sugarcane Magazine is Wonderful). My newsletter is more of an “Art as Therapy” and “Where do I begin or go?” approach. I will also share artists of different mediums, upcoming exhibits/shows, great books, and several other helpful resources in this newsletter. If you’re interested, hit me up in the comments section and I will get things rolling.
As you begin your art collecting journey, I NEED you to understand ONE thing. As you collect, the most important reminder is that YOU are the beholder of the beauty that art holds.
Namaste Friends. Xx
I’m interested in STARTING to collect art!!