This blog post shares my third year art residency at Fredericton Region Museum in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Thank You to the staff and board of the Fredericton Region Museum for their support, encouragement and accommodating my creative needs.

 

Artist Statement

Mind, Body, Spirit of the Enslaved

This is my third year as Artist in Residence at the Fredericton Region Museum. This year I was asked for a creative perspective from the new exhibit “Our Black Heritage”. Upon entering the exhibit

which is the St. Peters Church, the first desegrated church, the story unfolds of the history of Slaves/Enslaved/Freed Slaves in the York Sudbury Region.

My inspiration jumping off point came from the familiarity of the church which is where my

family and I were members of the St. Peters Congregation. The church and the York Sudbury Region has a rich Black History that continues to be discovered.

Mind, Body, Spirit of the Enslaved unfolded as I listened to the stories incorporated within the exhibit. It became important to create what the slaves were about and not the who.

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that the slaves were born HUMAN BEINGS before multiple labels were adhered to them throughout the dark and tumultuous times of Slavery. There is no way around Oppression that is heavy, limiting, controlling and dark.

When a culture is underestimated by powers that be there is no way out. This body of art work, a three piece series encourages the viewer to really look through the slaves’ oppression of their mind, body and spirit. It addresses their resilience by turning up the light on those who consistently underestimated slaves based on the the color of their skin.

Mind…….The Four R’s

The Four R’S unfolded from a place of empowerment. Before capture many of the enslaved were educated in the three R’s in their lands of origin. Upon capture it became known very quickly to embrace a “know nothing” demeanor as it could save one’s life.

The three R’S were encouraged, taught and learned among themselves, from children to

seniors, in the dark of the night away from the powers that be.

The Mistresses from the big house would often teach the three r’s to the house slaves. This was carried out in secret

The fourth R – Run, was important to acknowledge the level of awareness, insight and intelligence among the enslaved to organize the many to freedom. Reading maps, literature, knowing the land and trails, and hidden messages in the music sung were a few of the knowings.

In the left hand corner of the shadowbox is $5.41 which the freed slaves would earn per month in predominantly manual or domestic jobs totaling $65.00 per year in wages.

 

Body…….Root Medicine

The Body – Root Medicine is contained within a vintage suitcase. This piece was created to tell the story of healthcare for and by the slaves.

Women Slaves called grannies, slave doctors, slave healers and medicine women tended to the medical needs of their own.

Plants and herbs found locally were made into tinctures, salves and remedies. Many of the slave healers were highly skilled and knowledgeable in diverse illnesses and pant lore. This was learned and passed down in the black women generations. Medicine patch gardens were common and not far from the slave quarters. These gardens were filled with native plants imported from the slaves’ own lands origin. Seeds were put in women’s hair and seedlings stuffed in their clothing.

The native plants and seeds travelled far, most successfully, to new lands where they were carefully tended to. Local plants would also become familiar to the slave healers taught by the masters healers. These would be used in different ways to treat aliments. A healing salve was a common medicine and was used consistently for the treatment of the whipped beatings the slaves received.

The inside of the suitcase shows the Big House in its majestic beauty with a large hanging tree behind the house. The white picket fence was a clear division between the master and the slaves.

Inside the slave healer’s living quarters, the fireplace was central as it was for heating and cooking. Many herbs and plants were hung to dry in preparation to be made into medicine. Bottles of tinctures were on shelves or on the mantle. The slave healer’s cabin was a living space but also a work space and ever-changing apothecary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirit…….”Gimme That Old Time Religion”

Everything familiar and known to the slaves was striped from them in mind, body and spirit.

Nothing was sacred or honored as they were not seen as humans. They were considered to be robots that were to be reprogrammed via oppression to meet all needs of the powers that be.

New religions were imposed upon them regardless of where the slaves came from. However the Slaves would practice, interact and worship in song mainly via their hymns during their long work days. Messages, support, love and encouragement came through song on a daily basis and could be heard throughout the lands. This was their religion.

This art piece on the outside is limited and constrained with the nails around the edges. The mirror is a combination of being lost and found in the broken fragments as well as reflection .The feminine Divine looks down on the hands raised in prayer. A belief is inside you regardless of the outside circumstances.