Podcast Summary: All Of It – Episode Featuring Artist Alison Genae Hamilton's New Solo Show in Chelsea
Podcast Information:
- Title: All Of It
- Host/Author: WNYC
- Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in discussions about the what and why of their work. The show fosters a community that celebrates diverse perspectives, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of New York City.
- Episode Title: Artist Alison Genae Hamilton's New Solo Show in Chelsea
- Release Date: February 19, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart welcomes New York-based visual artist Alison Genae Hamilton to discuss her latest solo exhibition titled Celestine, showcased at the Marianne Boeschi Gallery in Chelsea. The conversation delves into Hamilton’s artistic inspirations, the significance of her Southern heritage, the integration of family history into her work, and the various themes explored in her new show.
Exploring the Show: Celestine
Celestine is a multifaceted exhibition that intertwines celestial imagery with profound reflections on land, heritage, and contemporary issues. Hamilton describes the genesis of the show's title and theme:
"I wanted to take the landscapes that I've been working with for years in my work and sort of look upward, look skyward and consider the night sky as fodder for this exploration of land." [01:28]
The exhibition features a 12-minute time-lapse video of the night sky in Hamilton’s home state, accompanied by the haunting vocals of soprano Candice Hoyes performing "Florida Storm", a hymn composed in 1928.
Southern Heritage and Artistic Practice
Hamilton emphasizes the pivotal role her Southern roots play in her artistic endeavors. Born in Kentucky, raised in Florida, and with connections to Tennessee, she identifies as a "pan Southerner." This diverse Southern heritage informs her portrayal of landscapes not merely as backdrops but as "main characters" in her work.
"The landscapes from each of those locations really center in my work. I consider the landscape as not this background element that's sort of secondary, but it's a main character in my work." [01:55]
Her Southern upbringing instills a deep appreciation for land, entwined with rich histories and contemporary dialogues, which she seeks to unravel through her art.
Family Heritage and Archival Influences
Hamilton discusses her connection to family history and how it influences her art. She began collecting family photographs, especially those of the women in her lineage, which span seven generations. This collection serves as a foundation for exploring Black womanhood and its intricate relationship with land and nature.
"When I was pregnant with my daughter... I felt it was important to find an image of the oldest living ancestor... So now in my art studio, I have seven generations of women, of mothers and daughters." [03:54]
Black Womanhood and the Land
A significant theme in Hamilton’s work is the intersection of Black womanhood and the natural environment. She portrays land as a multifaceted entity—both a place of refuge and a site of labor. Her grandmother and aunts, who were avid outdoors women, inspire her depiction of Black women’s enduring connection to nature.
"My experience of black girlhood and then eventually black womanhood is really tied up with land and all of its complicated meanings... I try to make it expansive and really explore the different cultural continuities throughout the years and generations." [05:02]
Urban Life and Maintaining Connection to the Land
Despite residing in New York City, Hamilton maintains a strong bond with her Southern roots by spending considerable time in her hometown, particularly during winter. Her filmmaking projects often reflect this duality, merging urban dynamics with the serene landscapes of the South.
"I spend a lot of time at home... I make a lot of my films there. Pretty much all of my films are made in the South." [06:23]
In-Depth Look at Celestine
Celestine is a comprehensive showcase of Hamilton’s exploration of celestial themes intertwined with historical and environmental narratives.
Masks with African American History
One of the standout elements in Celestine is the collection of fencing masks, each imbued with African American history. Initially inspired by an image of Black American soldiers fencing during World War II, Hamilton began collecting and embellishing these masks, transforming them into sculptural artworks.
"They are embellished with anything from upholstery tacks to wood flowers to alabaster, grapes, feathers, all kinds of things." [12:16]
For this exhibition, she casts the original masks in bronze, adding a timeless and enduring quality to the pieces.
Serpentine Mirror: Homage to Mary Ann Carroll
Another notable piece is a serpentine mirror inscribed with "brilliant sky" five times. This artwork honors Mary Ann Carroll, the only female artist among the Florida Highwaymen, a collective of Black American landscape painters.
"The snakes... sort of in this Ouroboros fashion... is an homage to Mary and Carol and all the other black women who have really been deeply invested in land." [14:11]
The Ouroboros symbolism—a serpent eating its own tail—reflects themes of eternity and cyclical nature, resonating with Carroll’s legacy and the ongoing relationship Black women have with the land.
Plastered Hands and Personal Connections
Hamilton incorporates plaster casts of hands belonging to friends and family members, such as Shawanda Roundtree, Deb Willis, and filmmaker Amalas Morgan. These hands symbolize labor, creation, and the collaborative spirit within the art community.
"They're an expression of thinking through... labor and creation and craft in this other type of a way." [16:13]
Ambiguous Large Paintings
The exhibition also features three large paintings that invite open interpretation. Hamilton intentionally leaves these pieces flexible for viewers to project their own meanings—be it crosses, graveyards, stars, or other natural phenomena.
"I like them to be able to explore and see what they're seeing in a certain piece... I love talking to people about what they're seeing in the artwork." [17:24]
Symbolism of Colors: Red, White, and Blue
During the discussion, Hamilton touches upon the use of red, white, and blue in her paintings, referencing recent cultural conversations surrounding these colors as seen in works by artists like Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé. For Hamilton, these colors represent the complexities of American identity and history, especially within the context of Florida’s diverse landscapes.
"I'm situating this as, you know, a personal story, but also a very, you know, squarely American story... exploring today’s conversations and the history of the country from the perspective of the environment and the land." [18:38]
Audience Engagement and Impact
Hamilton hopes that visitors leaving her exhibition Celestine will feel inspired to explore their own relationships with the natural world and engage in conversations about the environment, climate, and land ownership.
"I would hope that they would walk away with... a new nugget of interest of something to sort of explore more of their relationship to the natural world." [19:58]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a reminder to the audience to visit Alison Genae Hamilton's Celestine exhibition at the Marianne Boeschi Gallery in Chelsea, running through March 8th. Hamilton leaves listeners with an invitation to engage deeply with the art, encouraging personal reflection and community dialogue.
"You should go see Alison Genae Hamilton's work at the Marian Boesky Gallery. The show is called Celestine. It is through March 8th." [20:27]
Key Takeaways:
- Alison Genae Hamilton integrates her Southern heritage and family history into her art, emphasizing the significance of land and landscapes.
- Celestine explores celestial themes, Black womanhood, historical narratives, and environmental issues through diverse mediums including sculpture, film, and painting.
- The exhibition encourages viewer interaction and personal interpretation, fostering a deeper connection with art and its cultural implications.
- Hamilton aspires for her work to inspire audiences to reflect on their own relationships with nature and participate in environmental discourse.
For more insights into Alison Genae Hamilton's work and to experience Celestine firsthand, visit the Marianne Boeschi Gallery in Chelsea before March 8th.