Barbara Jones-Hogu and AfriCOBRA. Joel Elgin Athraigh Studio

 

 

In 1968, printmaker Barbara Jones-Hogu was a founding member of the Chicago group, African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AfriCOBRA). The artists of AfriCOBRA made visual, the central ideas of the Black Power movement—self-determination, unity, and black pride.  They agreed to embrace a style that emphasized strong bold colors, flat shape, rhythm, and text to highlight the heroic and beautiful qualities of black lives in America.

 

https://americanart.si.edu/education/oh-freedom/barbara-jones-hogu

 

 

The prints created by Barbara Jones-Hogu, stand as brilliant works of art and at the same time reveal a glimpse into America’s history of embedded racism and the importance of protest.

Land Where My Father Died

Color screenprint on gold-colored Japanese-style laid paper. 1968,

 

“…I feel that racism and fascism played a great deal in my father being successful or not successful in his life, so some of these prints’ ideas and content deal with the fact that we and he were not really free to do whatever we and he really wanted to do and could do due to radical oppression and suppression…”

https://never-the-same.org/interviews/barbara-jones-hogu/

 

 

Nation Time

Color screenprint on gold-colored paper, 1970,

 

“…In Nation Time, a dominant figure leads a black ensemble to rise up against the American flag background. Closer looking reveals that the American flag’s stars are Ku Klux Klan members. In this way, the composition acknowledges how racism is deeply embedded in America, while also inspiring hope of overcoming that truth…”

https://blantonmuseum.org/2020/03/womens-history-month-2020-5womenartists-from-the-blanton-collection/

 

 

 

Be Your Brother's Keeper

Color screenprint, 1971

“…The guns and the lights on them and various actions against and between the military and the protesters caused me to think that we should be our brothers’ keeper…”

https://never-the-same.org/interviews/barbara-jones-hogu/

 

 

Unite (AfriCOBRA)

Color screenprint on ivory wove paper    1971

 

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For further information on Barbara Jones-Hogu and AfriCOBRA:

 

https://never-the-same.org/interviews/barbara-jones-hogu/

 

https://www.blackartinamerica.com/index.php/2017/11/16/barbara-jones-hogu-one-of-americas-greatest-artists-has-passed/

 

 

 

Joel Elgin Art Sites:

 

https://www.joelelginathraighprintstudio.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/joel.elgin.athraighprintstudio/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/athraigh

Ernest Crichlow: Cinque Gallery. Joel Elgin Athraigh Printmaking Studio

Athraigh Printmaking Studio’s series of small exhibitions continue today with its series of exhibits of African-American printmakers. The issues addressed by these artists are still current. I had not learned of many of these amazing printmakers in school and therefore, sadly, I did not expose my students to them. I hope that by bringing these artists to you now, you might have a better understanding of the long battle against racism, artists of color have fought and continue to fight today.

 

The Cinque Gallery was founded in 1969 by artists Romare Bearden (1911–1988), Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005), and Norman Lewis (1909–1979) to exhibit the work of both new and established African–American artists, and to provide community educational programs. The gallery was named after Joseph Cinqué, the leader of the Amistad slaveship mutiny of the 1830s. For more than three decades, Cinque sponsored more than 300 exhibitions in a number of New York City venues, as well as regional travelling exhibitions before closing in 2004.

https://www.aaa.si.edu/exhibitions/expanding-the-legacy-new-collections-on-african-american-art/cinque-gallery-records

 

 

1. Cinque Gallery brochure

Date: 1959-1981

Rendering of the Amistad, slave ship on which Joseph Cinqué led the historical uprising.

Cinque Gallery. Cinque Gallery brochure, 1959-1981. Cinque Gallery records, 1959-2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

 

Today’s exhibit will feature Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005) who describes his art:

“… I think I know now that this is valid and this is me and this is all that really counts. As I say, the styles will go by and I will hope that I'll have a place and that is all you can do…”

https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-ernest-crichlow-11459

 

2. Untitled,

oil on masonite, circa 1942

 

3. Lovers

lithograph, 1938

…interior scene with Ku Klux Klansman struggling with African American woman in a bedroom.

 

  

4. Untitled

aquatint, 1988

5. Waiting

lithograph, 1965

…a lone child peering through a barbed wire fence.

 

For more on Ernest Crichlow, please go to:

 

https://beardenfoundation.org/cinque-artists-program/

 

https://www.aaa.si.edu/exhibitions/expanding-the-legacy-new-collections-on-african-american-art/cinque-gallery-records

 

https://pffcollection.com/artists/ernest-crichlow/

 

If you wish to view higher res images of this or any of the past articles please visit the Athraigh Print Studio:

https://www.joelelginathraighprintstudio.com/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/athraigh

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/joel.elgin.athraighprintstudio/

 

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