EXPRESSIONS OF EXCELLENCE 1981

It’s hard to believe these photographs were taken 45 years ago. As a budding artist, I found the 1981 Expressions of Excellence exhibition a rare event that heightened my awareness of Black arts in Pittsburgh. The exhibition was held in the old Allegheny Post Office in Allegheny Square, now part of the Children’s Museum. Following my sister Barbara Jean’s footsteps, I was fortunate to participate in the 1982 Expressions of Excellence show in Harrisburg. In my videos, I repurpose drawings and photographs, many of which I created years ago. It’s like making a collage, except everything is moving. Beyond video, I use a range of art media and styles. I’d describe my work as urban realism that highlights the social realities of city life, usually drawn from memories of Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District. Even so, I respect the corporations responsible for the mass destruction, still supporting the arts as they did back then, cutting down culture with one hand and handing out hope with the other. cfp