“Oya 23” by Rosesharon Oates
I found that jurying was challenging, as I saw positive attributes and sincerity in all of the entries. I want to congratulate all of the entrants for their beautiful work.
After a great deal of consideration, I selected the following:
Winning Prize
Oya 23
Rosesharon Oates
This work, by Rosesharon Oates, depicts a beautiful, skillfully crafted image of a goddess of the people of West Africa, symbolizing strength and a warrior spirit.
The first impression that I felt was one of uplift and motion. The central figure looks skyward, wielding palm fronds. Her skirt swirls about her and the viewer also sees she is surrounded by feathers. Beautiful clouds surround her, and between the inclusion of feathers and clouds, and a falcon rising above her, one gets a feeling of wind and air. Her posture is one of strength and confidence.
The artist used wood burning and alcohol markers, an interesting and uncommon media combination. This gives it a warmth, as well as some beautiful mixtures of colors. The passionate red and swirls of the goddess’ skirt lead the viewer’s eye through the composition to the central focus of the figure. All of this, together with the intricate patterns offeathers, textile decor, clouds and flowers, invite the viewer to take in all of the beautiful details.
Maferefun Oya, the goddess in the image, represents winds, storms, and change, and is a Yoruba deity originating in West Africa. This work captures the winds associated with the goddess. I viewed this work as metaphor for the strength of African American Women during these current difficult times, and and throughout history, recognizing their perseverance through the cruelty of slavery and Jim Crow. The goddess can bring to all of us hope for change, to a world of peace, love and harmony.
~ Sandi Yagi
Comments on the Honorable Mentions for Artists of Color (BIPOC)
1. Remembrance Shrine by Na Omi Shintani
This glowing cage is a heartfelt and beautiful tribute to those who were incarcerated during WWII during the imprisonment of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. Shintani’s work makes history tangible and personal. The stories that the viewer can read behind each of the little cage doors are by individuals who were imprisoned without due process based solely on race. It happened more than once in US history, and sadly is happening again. Despite the cold cruelty dealt by society, represented by the cage, there is a warm glow representing the resilient humanity of the imprisoned souls within.
2. Recognizing a Wall by Shari Bryant
An African American woman shows strength and calm even in the face of fierce looking wolves. The woman in this work does not shrink away in fear – her nonchalance despite a close threat encourages all of us to hold our own against the regime. This artist is an expert in the art of drawing, and both of her entries showed a great deal of technical skill and depiction of form.
3. As Above So Below by Andie Yao
I loved the classical feeling in this work, the symbols incorporated, and how it represents our travels through this existence. The incorporation of planets in the background and images of nature shows our intertwined existence and connection to the universe.
4. The Crossing of the Ancestors by Bernadette Robertson
This work is a beautiful tribute to all of our ancestors who made difficult journeys. The artist used used copies of historical documents to construct the work, adding to its depth of meaning.