#emmaamos

#BlackResistance

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) summarizes this year’s theme “Black Resistance” as follows: "African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms... These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond the United States political jurisdiction… This is a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces, where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected. "

By resisting, Black people have achieved triumphs, successes, and progress. Black artists, along with other creatives, employ various media to tell stories and create change.

Here is another stack of books that celebrate Black artists whose work resists the status quo, challenges the system, and calls for awareness of the myriad of issues affecting Black people’s lives.

Barkley L. Hendricks : works on paper. HOLLIS: 99155235696303941

Barkley L. Hendricks : basketball. HOLLIS: 99155776869903941

Howardena Pindell : paintings, 1974-1980. HOLLIS: 990145322360203941

Kerry James Marshall : history of painting. HOLLIS: 99153829093703941

Emma Amos : color odyssey. HOLLIS: 99155279216703941

Jack Whitten : five decades of painting HOLLIS: 990145227350203941

Black artists in America : from the Great Depression to civil rights. HOLLIS: 99155993050103941

Roy DeCarava, a retrospective. HOLLIS: 990067852100203941

Gordon Parks : the Flávio story HOLLIS: 99153691397803941

3 Ladies, Emma Amos, 1970, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Endowment for Prints Size: composition (irreg.): 59 7/16 × 36 13/16" (151 × 93.5 cm); sheet (overall): 62 1/2 × 39 3/8" (158.8 × 100 cm) Medium: Screenprint and relief-printed etching in five parts

Happy Birthday to Emma Amos (1937–2020) who was born on this day in 1937!

Amos is known for her bold and colorful mixed media figurative works that incorporate painting, printmaking, textile, and photo collage. Her works often depict women flying or falling, athletes running, and Black figures, whether historical or contemporary. Deeply charged with feminist politics and focusing on racial and cultural fabrics, Amos challenged sexism and racism in our society.

Amos said that her interest in figuration came from a growing awareness of “of black people and that black is beautiful and there’s nothing wrong with it; and that it’s something to remark upon and to make a record of.” (from her 1968 interview with Al Murray.)

Image 1: Front cover with “Tightrope” Acrylic on canvas with African fabric borders and photo transfer, 1994

Image 2: Front end papers showing photographs of the artist and her works

Image 3: Left: Emma Amos, ca. 1990s, photo by Becket Logan, Right: Emma Amos in Bond St. studio, ca. 1993

American Girl from Impressions: Our World, Volume I, Emma Amos, 1974, MoMA: Drawings and Prints

Purchase Size: plate: 15 13/16 × 19 13/16" (40.1 × 50.4 cm); sheet: 22 3/8 × 30" (56.8 × 76.2 cm) Medium: Etching and aquatint from a portfolio of seven etchings (five with aquatint, two with embossing)