Join us in this EcoJustice Radio episode discussion with artist Mark Steven Greenfield, whose work delves into the African American experience, historical stereotypes, and social justice. Discover his two thought-provoking series, HALO and Black Madonna, which re-imagine influential Black figures as saintly icons and challenge the narratives of white supremacy.
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Visualizing Justice: Black Madonnas and the African Diaspora
In the realm of art, few creators manage to weave as intricate a tapestry of history, spirituality, and social justice as Mark Steven Greenfield. His latest exhibition, Auras, featuring the series Halo and Black Madonna, is a testament to his profound exploration of the African American experience and the complexities of racial identity. Through these works, Greenfield not only re-imagines influential black figures as saintly icons but also challenges the enduring narratives of white supremacy.
We present a discussion between Greenfield and Los Angeles Art Critic Shana Nys Dambrot, discussing his exhibition from the Ronald Silverman Gallery at Cal State LA, recorded by L.A. Art Documents. We also feature Yoruba DUNDUN Talking drum ensemble, and an excerpt from a PBS show featuring Greenfield called “Craft in America.”
HALO and Black Madonna Series
The HALO series presents a striking collection of portraits, each surrounded by the opulence of gold leaf, depicting figures from the African diaspora. From revered saints to folk heroes and even a few scoundrels, these icons are recontextualized within a spiritual framework that both honors their legacy and critiques the socio-political landscape that shaped their lives. Greenfield’s art serves as a visual narrative, preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten and ensuring that their impact endures.
The Black Madonna series, on the other hand, delves into the spiritual realm, juxtaposing the sacred and the secular. These paintings feature a beatific ebony Madonna and child, set against a backdrop where white supremacist symbols are vanquished. This series not only reclaims the Black Madonna as a symbol within African American culture but also confronts the historical erasure perpetrated by colonialism and religious dogma.
The podcast discussion explores the motivations behind Greenfield’s work, his meditative practices, and the stories that inspire his paintings. From the legendary Gullah Jack to the revolutionary Carlota of Cuba, Greenfield’s art brings to light the heroism and resilience of figures often overlooked in mainstream narratives.
Carlota of Cuba
Another striking painting from the Halo series is Carlota of Cuba, cradling an AK-47 in her arms in a relaxed pose before a fort. Carlota of Cuba, also known as Carlota Lucumi, was born free in the kingdom of Benin, West Africa, a descendant of the Yoruba people of present day Nigeria. Carla was kidnapped, taken to Matanzas, Cuba, around age ten, and became a slave on the Triunvirato sugar plantation. Although Haiti did away with slavery in 1803, and Latin America and the British Empire were abolishing it, Cuba continued the practice with brutal Spaniard plantation owners.
In 1843, Carlota and another enslaved woman named Fermina began to plot a general slave rebellion. Fermina was caught distributing plans among the neighboring plantations and was beaten and imprisoned. Carlota then employed music as coded conversation to spread the plans with talking drums. That November, she and other tribal leaders initiated the Triunvirato Rebellion. They freed the prisoners, burned down the house where people had been tortured, and then destroyed five other plantations, killing any white person they came across. The uprising sparked an international response from the U.S. military. Armed with only machetes and farm tools, the rebels were no match for a professional army, as many were massacred at the San Rafael Estate. Carlota was captured, tied to four horses until her limbs dislocated and her body quartered. She remains a symbol of resistance in Cuba.
Gullah Jack – the Conjurer
Gullah Jack caught my attention — first because of my interest in the Gullah Geechee culture on the South Carolina Coast, and the word ‘Conjurer’ in orange, as mirrored backwards, Jack Pritchard, Gullah Jack, born in Angola in the 18th century, captured and taken to the Island of Zanzibar in 1805. Sold to Zephania Kingsley, transported to Eastern Florida, then sold to a shipbuilder in Charleston, South Carolina. He was described as a conjurer or a performer of evocation. He could summon spirits and supernatural agents that caused people in the African American community to treat him with respect. His leadership role in the Methodist Church and as an African priest, his understanding of numerous African dialects gave him greater influence. He met Denmark Vesey, a wealthy former slave also with influence in the community who approached him with plans for a general slave rebellion in 1821, convincing him to act as a recruiter.
Jack used his spiritual powers to formulate initiation rituals for recruits. They planned to poison Charleston’s water supply, seize weapons at the state armory, take control of the city, commandeer ships in the harbor, and set sail for Haiti. However, they were betrayed to the authorities. They evaded arrest for three weeks, but eventually were captured and sentenced to death along with 34 other conspirators. Denying his guilt, Gullah jack was hanged on July !2, 1822. The Denmark Vesey Rebellion is considered the largest slave conspiracy in North American history.
As Greenfield shares, “Even though you can ban a book, it’s a lot more difficult to ban an image.” His art becomes a powerful tool for education and reflection, inviting viewers to engage with the past and envision a future where justice prevails. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a history buff, this episode offers a compelling exploration of how art can transcend time and challenge societal constructs.
STORY: Dream of a New World: Art’s Role in Societal Change
For an extended interview and other benefits, become an EcoJustice Radio patron at https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio
Check out the discussion to experience the transformative power of Mark Steven Greenfield’s art and the stories that shape our understanding of identity and justice. Through a rich tapestry of stories and imagery, he invites us to explore the transcendental divinity within every black face. Listen as he shares his journey of using art to deconstruct stereotypes, preserve history, and inspire change.
Resources/Articles:
L.A. Art Documents YouTube: https://youtu.be/IMFtfhAdJM4?si=gcXNAZfIYh38QStd
PBS Craft in America: https://www.pbs.org/video/mark-steven-greenfield-his-work-qakt1c/
Yoruba DUNDUN Talking Drum Ensemble: https://youtu.be/F0L2fhqFzKU?si=xFJMJ9axI-p9nV7V
Mark Steven Greenfield is an African American visual artist from Los Angeles [https://www.markstevengreenfield.com/]. His work deals primarily with the African American experience and in recent years has focused on the effects of stereotypes on U.S. culture stimulating much-needed and long overdue dialog on issues of race. He has been exhibited extensively throughout the United States as well as internationally. He has served on multiple arts and community boards and received a long list of awards, accolades, and residencies over the years.
Shana Nys Dambrot features a weekly substack called 13Things LA [https://hijinxarts.substack.com/]. She has been Arts Editor for the L.A. Weekly, and a contributor to the Village Voice, Flaunt, Artillery, and other culture publications. She studied Art History at Vassar College, and is the recipient of the 2022 and 2024 Mozaik Future Art Writers Prize, the 2022 Rabkin Prize for Art Criticism, and the LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Critic of the Year award for 2022. Her surrealist novel Zen Psychosis (Published by Griffith Moon) was released in 2020. Her personal substack is https://substack.com/@shananys
Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He writes a column on PBS SoCal called High & Dry [https://www.pbssocal.org/people/high-dry]. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://wilderutopia.com], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs.
Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/
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Executive Producer and Host: Jack Eidt
Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats
Episode 238
Photo credit: Detail of Mark Steven Greenfield painting “The French Solution” from the Black Madonna Series
28 December 2024
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