![]() While I typically think that art should speak for itself - and certainly much of Cleveland’s does just that - in this case, I think the written pieces mostly worked when looking at the collection as a whole. She had some poems and longer narrative descriptions hanging amongst the art. In addition to painting, Cleveland is also a writer. Serenity Stanton Orengo Serenity Stanton Orengo Cleveland clearly has something to say about the Black American experience, and she is able to effectively say it through her art. The second painting, Strange Fruit, is a perversion of the tree of life: the unborn babies in the ground grow up to be the bodies hanging from the tree branches, with more Black faces looking on with visible sadness. The above painting, with its checkered dance floor, successfully conveys joy and movement as you imagine the bodies moving around a dance floor. Both feature multiple faceless Black bodies. Take the above and below paintings for instance. Serenity Stanton OrengoĬleveland’s work depicts “landscapes, real and imagined characters, and Black American life.” The tone of the pictures varies greatly. ![]() As I viewed Cleveland’s art, it occurred to me that it should always be viewed in this type of community setting.Ĭontent warning: This article features artwork that depicts violence against Black bodies, including lynching, which may be triggering or distressing to some readers. It was my first time at IMC, and I was immediately overcome with a real sense of community. ![]() I went to view her exhibited works on a Saturday, and there were people chatting sitting on folding chairs while watching a soccer match that was projected on a large screen, kids playing ball in one room, other kids drawing in another. Some of Cleveland’s work is currently on display at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center for her show My Soul Doesn’t Cast a Shadow. When I learned her choice of media included popcorn and bottle caps, I was intrigued, to say the least. During her 82 years of life so far, Marilynn Dean Cleveland has created more than 1700 pieces of art. ![]()
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