Hey Friends,
I’ve been putting off posting these photos for 15 months. I struggle with blog posts that I feel deserve a lot more time and energy than I have to give; so, they ultimately end up getting put on the back burner. This is one of those posts.
The art work of Hank Willis Thomas. Words cannot adequately express how I feel about it.
I was first introduced to his work my senior year in college, in an art history course called “Looking Forward, Looking Black” that was life-altering. I am so moved by, and in love with, Thomas’s work that I don’t know where to begin.
In a meeting today, one of my (awesome) professors mentioned Hank Willis Thomas and I thought to myself, ‘just post the damned pictures at least!’
Thomas’s exhibition “All Things Being Equal” was shown at the Portland Art Museum between October 2019 and January 2020.
The very last day of the exhibit was actually on my birthday, which is when I went. I almost missed it, but it was meant for me to go. My son Nile, who is a football player, was unexpectedly home from school. I was elated that I got to take him with me, because Thomas’s work addresses political and social themes related to the black athlete and sports. I was so emotional about having the opportunity to share his important work with my son. It was a birthday I will never forget!
I wish I could give you commentary about some of the photos I’ve included in the post. But, the time-constraints of PhD student life just won’t let me. If you are at all intrigued, I encourage you to PLEASE look up his work, follow him on Instagram, and read more about the exhibition that we saw here.
Chat soon, 🙂
HLJ
xoxo
