The Harriet Tubman Byway
This new series of works documents the recently established highway named in her honor. Not only will it feature the route and its surroundings, but as an art endeavor it will reflect her humanity and our shared vision of America in visual terms.
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and one of the founders and chief architect of the underground railroad. As escaped slave, Tubman spent years rescuing numerous members of her family from the grips of slavery. She made 13 trips, freeing 90 family members. Each of her trips to the south put her life in peril. If she was caught, as an escaped slave, she would be executed. Tubman was also a Civil War spy, well respected by many Union generals. She spent a lot of time in the barrier islands of Georgia and South Carolina. Tubman is a true American hero. Her life and exploits have been documented (in what many believe will be the most accurate portrayal of her life) in the film “HARRIET”. Her life and legacy are a testament to the concept that once person can make a difference.
Artist Statement
The Harriet Tubman Highway is not just a place; it is a state of mind.
The Harriet Tubman Byway may be the newest iconic highway. Its historical significance as part of the underground railroad makes it an essential part of American history. This is in anticipation of the release of the new twenty-dollar bill which will feature her likeness.
My work will document and showcase the newly named highway. Many unique attractions have already started to spring up on the route. These are a testament to the American spirit. This series uses The Harriet Tubman Byway as a point of departure. So much of American life has been and continues to revolve around our mobility, highways, and their effect on our lives. These themes have always been essential to my work. My work is about remembrance and recollection. It's about our human need to capture a space in time, and preserve it.
My artwork has been at the forefront of mixing digital and traditional media. The imagery and map elements are created using a monotype form of digital printmaking. The images are worked into with graphite to alter and refine the imagery as well as adding value. The application of graphite creates the mood and atmosphere. The three-dimensional elements are collected on site or within a short distance of the scene. While many of the items sometimes have a kitsch quality to them, they are not meant to have a condescending tone, but are really celebrations of our uniquely American zeal for collecting, bringing back souvenirs from our travels and vacations. These items directly relate to the imagery and maps adding additional components or layers of meaning to the work. The souvenir and local artifacts (or elements) augment the images giving a more complete sense of place. In addition, they provide an editorial or narrative component to the work and are also another means for viewers to be able to engage the work. The pieces are displayed in shadowbox frames that are large enough to hold both the two and three-dimensional elements in a confined and unified space.
Photorealistic graphite renderings and monoprints are developed from site sketches and photographs; which are evocative of the sense of place and of the local industry. The images are combined with maps, a metaphor for the journey, and found objects from the area. Some of the maps used in the series are traditional street maps while others are star charts. The multi-dimensional elements form a complex layer with the rendered images. Within a discreet, unified space they provide an editorial, or narrative component and are a means to engage the viewer.
Activity Significance
The Harriet Tubman Byway may be little known, but is fast becoming is one of the most iconic highways in American history. Between the recent biopic and the anticipation of her likeness on the twenty-dollar bill there has been a resurgence of interested in this American hero. The road reflects a part of the underground railroad, a route to freedom for many enslaved people. While it may be tucked out of the mainstream, it is fast becoming a magnet to those interested in this seminal part of our history.
My work documents the newly named highway and what the route is becoming. This renewal of a once marginal area is a testament to the American spirit. This series uses Harriet Tubman Byway as a point of departure. So much of American life has been and continues to revolve around our mobility, highways, and their effect on our lives. These themes are essential to my work. My work is about remembrance and recollection. It's about our human need to capture a space in time, a fleeting moment and preserve it.
My artwork has been at the forefront of mixing digital and traditional media. The imagery and map elements are created using a monotype form of digital printmaking. The images are worked into with graphite to alter and refine the imagery as well as adding value. The application of graphite creates the mood and atmosphere. The three-dimensional elements are collected on site or within a short distance of the scene. While many of the items have a kitsch quality to them, they are not meant to have a condescending tone, but are really celebrations of our uniquely American zeal for collecting, bringing back souvenirs from our travels and vacations. These items directly relate to the imagery and maps adding additional components or layers of meaning to the work. The souvenir and local artifacts (or elements) augment the images giving a more complete sense of place. In addition, they provide an editorial or narrative component to the work and are also another means for viewers to be able to engage the work. The pieces are displayed in shadowbox frames that are large enough to hold both the two and three-dimensional elements in a confined and unified space.