A blue rectangle on the left with constellation-like dots is aligned with a blue square on the …

Afro Blue Matter

Artist Sonya Clark (American, born 1967)

Publisher Brandywine Workshop and Archives (American, founded 1972)

Date2017

MediumColor lithograph; collage; laser cutting on Revere paper

DimensionsSheet: 22 1/8 × 30 × 1 1/2 inches (56.2 × 76.2 × 3.8 cm)
Matted: 32 × 40 inches (81.3 × 101.6 cm)
Framed: 33 × 41 15/16 × 1 7/8 inches (83.8 × 106.5 × 4.8 cm)

MarkingsWatermark on the bottom right corner: "Revere"

Credit LineMuseum purchase in honor of Courtney McNeil with Telfair Museum of Art acquisitions endowment funds.

Object number2021.7.3

On View

Not on view

Copyright© Sonja Clark. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextSonya Clark’s mixed media works use everyday objects to address tangled histories, cultural heritage, and identity. In Afro Blue Matter, she transforms the ordinary comb into a cultural signifier, stating that: "[The work] Honors the great Mongo Santamaria, [John] Coltrane, BLM [Black Lives Matter], and the legacy of racial injustice that led to the movement, the dark matter that makes up the majority of the universe, and [our] ancestors’ DNA in our hair. It is about space. The space of the universe, the space between the teeth of the comb. The space between musical notes. Comb through space and you find our essence and the roots of culture." Clark continues to create installations and collaborations that focus on conversations about racial injustice and historical imbalances in the United States. Her works also frequently reference constellations and outer space, alluding the Underground Railroad, her ancestors, and Black spiritual traditions. Text written for 'Contemporary Spotlight: New Acquisitions from the Brandywine Workshop' on view February 4 - May 1, 2022.

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