Danielle Scott: Kinfolk, Response to the Gallery Show

Danielle Scott: Kinfolk, Response to the Gallery Show

As someone who didn’t start exploring and connecting to my ancestral background until the start of my college career, seeing Danielle Scott’s work was eye opening. To hear Scott discuss her work so passionately definitely inspired me to further learn more about myself and my background. The work in this exhibition shows viewers the beauty of blackness while reminding us what these people have suffered and gone through and how these effects still linger in today’s modern society. However, as McCall writes Scott never “resort[s] to martyrdom,” and respectfully treats these people and doesn’t diminish them to only being victims.

Queen of Angels, 2020

        The first art work of Scott’s that resonated with me was Queen of Angels, 2020, which is an artwork that is a mixed media assemblage. Before Scott’s artist talk, I had no idea who the person in the artwork was. However, what caught my eye in this piece were two things: the fact that this artwork was on an ironing board and the photograph of the figure, and how she is in the middle of striding towards something. Through Scott’s artist talk, it’s revealed that this woman is her artist mentor and that this piece, Queen of Angels is a tribute to her mentor. Above her mentor’s crown is a spout and this spout symbolizes all the knowledge and support that her mentor had provided Scott with. The halo above her mentor’s head is filled with sunflowers which is a reference to the sunflowers that Scott would give her mentor on her birthday. In the blouse of her mentor, is a collage of photographs of her mentor’s children and husband. This part showcases the other sides of her mentor’s life, like being a mother but it informs the viewer this is just a small piece of her mentor.
        Scott mentioned during her artist talk, that her main medium is painting. I thought it was impressive that she stepped out of her typical comfort zone and experimented with mixed media assemblage. It’s interesting that Scott chose a photograph of her mentor for this piece over creating a painting of her instead. I was reminded of Susan Sontag, when she stated the following “To photograph is to appropriate the thing photographed. It means putting oneself into a certain relation to the world that feels like knowledge and therefore like power.” I don’t believe this art piece would have had as strong of an impact on me if it were to be a painting. For Scott, I believe it was a conscious decision that a photo of her mentor could leave the viewer interpreting her in various ways while a painting may have limited viewers to seeing her only from Scott’s point of view.

Celia and Bazile Churchill, 2022

        The second piece that caught my eye was Celia and Bazile Churchill which is an artwork that is a mixed media assemblage covered in resin. The faces of the mother and child are grainy black and white photos, but they are dressed in fancy patterned clothing. The little girl’s outfit consists of this black lace dress with pearls that run along the collar and also the bottom of the dress. The mother is in a gold skirt that has this red flower pattern and she wears this crown with the focal point being this red gemstone. As McCall writes,“We can make ourselves pretty, these characters seem to be saying, but the context in which we must operate is abominable.” To see the sweet smile on the little girl’s face, but then see the mother’s tired and pained smile serves as a grim reminder to the struggles that these two likely endured.
        In the Bell Hooks reading it mentioned that, “Conventional representations of black women have done violence to the image. Responding to this assault, many black women spectators shut out the image, looked the other way… (120).” Scott does justice to the mother and daughter in this piece. She elevates them by having them wear these beautiful outfits and gives this new representation to the mother and daughter.

        Overall, it was a privilege to have the opportunity to listen to Danielle Scott discuss her work. Hearing how she visited plantations to learn more about her ancestral background even on her birthday was jaw-dropping but seeing her art work gave me a clearer understanding of why she did it. The dedication to learning about all aspects of her ancestral background provides strength and a strong base to build these pieces.

Selfie Inspired by Danielle Scott's Work

American Beauty, 2023

Being a first generation American and having Mexican parents who immigrated here influenced my image. This photo is of me when I was 4 years old, celebrating Independence Day. I hadn’t yet started school and at this age I still loved all sides of myself. When I was a young girl, my town wasn’t very diverse, it was predominantly white. As I grew up, I became hesitant in taking pride in my cultural background. Thankfully, as an adult, I am learning to love all sides of myself.
    In this background I have an edit of the American and Mexican flags fused together. I also have the phrases “No tengo que asimilarme a nada,” and “Tengo mi propia historia,” which translate to “I don’t have to assimilate to anything and, “I have my own story.” On top of my head I have this crown made from marigolds, which in the village where my family is from, marigolds are said to have healing properties that can cure physical and emotional pain. Finally, the center of the image is of a 4 year old me wearing a shirt with the phrase “American Beauty,” the title of this piece. Americans aren’t defined by their physical attributes. We all have our unique stories and background and I hope as a society we move forward in accepting all.