In honor of Black History month, I am taking a different approach this year. Hello to all my regular readers. Thank you for continuing to follow my blog. We are close to the 20,000 mark!
A special hello to new Notesong/Carpenoctum readers and followers in Ireland, Poland, Croatia, Denmark, Pakistan, Croatia, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Today I present to you San Diego award winning artist, community elder, and teacher: Brenda De Flanders.
A special hello to new Notesong/Carpenoctum readers and followers in Ireland, Poland, Croatia, Denmark, Pakistan, Croatia, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Today I present to you San Diego award winning artist, community elder, and teacher: Brenda De Flanders.
Brenda De Flanders
We met as background scene workers,
decorating the Malcolm X Library's main event room for a private auction
benefit/fundraiser sponsored by the Friends of Malcolm X Library,
community members dedicated to library outreach, cultural, and
educational support. Brenda De Flanders has deep wisdom, knowledge,
insight, and life experiences to share.
She creates figurative works with pencil, charcoal, and other mediums, and is noted for her abstract works. She is also celebrated for creation of memorial masks http://articles.latimes.com/1990-02-02/entertainment/ca-1196_1_african-american-artists. Below are two memorial masks for beloved choreographer Danny Scarborough. http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/scarborough-danny-1947-1989 The mask is 48" from crown to Raffia
Memorial mask for Danny Scarborough
Memorial mask for Danny Scarborough
A Southeast San Diego community elder, active cultural participant https://www.workers.org/2017/09/21/ilyasah-al-shabazz-in-san-diego-tours-malcolm-x-library-named-for-her-father/
and a member of the city of San Diego's artistic vanguard, Brenda De Flanders seems to posses a unique creative energy.
Brenda De Flanders Bio and Artist Statement
Originally from Gulfport, Mississippi, De Flanders has lived
in San Diego since 1964. She completed course work in Speech Communications
from San Diego State University, and completed courses in Graphic Communications
and Sereography. Her work has been displayed at KPBS and KGTV’s televised
specials, and Villa Montezuma Museum, the “Women of Courage” photographic
exhibition, the San Diego Art Institute, the Hyde Gallery, the Social Movement
Gallery (Nashville, Tennessee) and the Brushwork Gallery, and many other
places.
“De Flanders has served as the Resident Artist for C. O.V.A.
(Combined Organizations for the Visual Arts), the San Diego City School’s
Young at Art Program, Carlsbad Elementary Program for Deaf Students, and the
Art Director and founding partner for Baobab Publication and Mixed Media Art
Studio and Gallery.”
I approach my canvas from a
philosophical perspective. Artist draw upon the energy forces in our immediate environment, our larger society and the greater
universe in order to create the works that sometimes makes us living legends. Therefore, to maintain the balance in all these life forces, we must give something back to
life - to society. I am a multimedia artist, I work in twelve mediums. And in addressing
my responsibility to society, I set goals in approaching each project beyond
that of merely achieving aesthetic balance in my use of shape, form, space, color, and
composition.
Sometimes I attempt to entertain, and sometimes to educate; sometimes to share feelings of sorrow, and
sometimes to share feelings of joy; I sometimes reflect on times past and sometimes project into the future; and I often present my interpretation of current
times. Above all I strive to be honest with my audience about my gut thoughts and emotions
about what ever subject I present.
“MAMA IS
BAD!”
“MAMA IS BAD!” was completed in 1983. It is a
tribute to all black mothers, who have survived hardships, pain, sorrow, and feelings
of helplessness watching their men, sons and daughters unlawfully beaten; railroaded through our Judicial system,
and public murdered by the
very people that is supposed to be protecting them - just like their fathers
before them -during and continuing after slavery. The black mother has
exhibited such strength in light of all adversities her family endures, she
been the backbone of the family.
“SOUTH AFRICAN FREEDOM SERIES”
The tragedy of Apartheid is evident in my South
African Freedom Series, a collection of two paper collages and eight pencil
sketches. The intent of these works was to increase public awareness of the
plight of black Africans under the system of Apartheid in South Africa.
Concerned about Apartheid, I struggled with my own conscious about what could I
do as an individual. After listening to Representative Ron Dellum speak about
Apartheid, I decided to use my art work to protest. It was a quiet protest
because I wanted to deal with the intellect. I didn’t want to incite, but to excite to action – I wanted to see people using their heads, guided
by their hearts.
"Intoxication Escape From Supplication" by Brenda De Flanders
"Servant On Call" by Brenda De Flanders
“In
the Mix”
The work, “In
the Mix”, depicts the level of control I had over life in my household,
despite raising my seven year old son, while also caring for my mother
suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease. ( I cared for her for eleven years), and my
baby brother, the last five years of those eleven years.
“Things Fall Apart”
Everything just worked for schedule, family life, and my
stress was at a moderate level. The work “Things Fall Apart” addresses what my response to what life for me
had become, once my brother’s health began to decline. My mother, knew what was
happening, even though her brain was like cottage cheese, this being her ninth year with Alzheimer’s. She never saw
his body, nor did I talk about him in her presence, yet she knew, and tears
started flowing down her face and she stopped eating and would not take fluids.
I had a difficult time dealing with my emotions, and physically having to deal
with caring for both my young son along with my brother and mother (I cared for
them alone). My baby brother died first – Jun 9, 1994(in two months he would
have been thirty five years.) I verbally fought with my mother trying to get
her to eat or drink, when I told her that I wasn’t ready to loss her and Ron at
the same time. I told her that daddy fought with every inch of his life (he had
cancer); I stated that I loved her, and that I needed her in my life NOW; that
I wasn’t ready to lose her.
This argument made the difference; she immediately
began eating and drinking fluids. Mom lived two more years; she passed December
1, 1996. Both of them died in my arms, as did my father.
"Things Fall Apart" by Brenda De Flanders
Additionally, in her words, this is a slimmed down version of my bio
sketch and artist statements, it is more than what you requested. In actuality,
I have eight different artist statements, depending on the subject. "A good deal of this information is for you to get a feel for who I am as
an artist. This is only one fourth of what I have done and been a part
of, as a.San Diego California artist.
Delores Fisher
Celebrating one month among many and an artists among too few.
Happy Black History month,
Delores Fisher
Comments
Post a Comment