There’s a bronze sculpture by artist Thomas J. Price entitled Grounded in the Stars, that has caused some sort of controversy on some social media, but we know why that is. That’s not why we’re here. Times Square Arts presents this 12-foot-tall figurative bronze sculpture was made to confront preconceived notions of identity and representation. With Grounded in the Stars, Price reimagines both the monument and monumentality in Times Square, one of the world’s most iconic public spaces. The artist is stated as saying “The intention of my public works is to become part of the place they inhabit and its physical, material history, as well as the visitors that pass through and around the location, no matter how fleeting. I hope Grounded in the Stars and Man Series will instigate meaningful connections and bind intimate emotional states that allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.” A fictionalized character constructed from images, observations, and open calls spanning between Los Angeles and London, the young woman depicted in Grounded in the Stars carries familiar qualities, from her stance and countenance to her everyday clothing. The woman in Grounded in the Stars cuts a stark contrast to the pedestaled permanent monuments — both white, both men — which bookend Duffy Square, while embodying a quiet gravity. Grounded in the Stars is accessible by wheelchair via a ramp. The bronze sculpture faces North towards 47th Street and the ramp is located on the East side of the sculpture. It has been on display since April 29th, and will be until June 14th.
Black History 365 | # 234 Jockey Oliver Lewis
Oliver Lewis was born December 22, 1856 in Fayette County, Kentucky to parents Elanora and Goodson. He had at least four siblings: Lena, Hattie, Mattie, and John. Lewis got his start when he gained employment McGrathiana Stables along with 21 other African Americans at the time. The stables were on the land where the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Farm is currently located. In 1875, at nineteen years old, Lewis rode in the very first Kentucky Derby aboard the horse Aristides. An African American trainer Ansel Williamson trained Aristides. McGrath intended for Lewis and Aristides to simply set the pace for Chesapeake, another of his horses. But Lewis was too fast, and created such a lead that he and Aristides won by two lengths. On the day of the Derby about 10,000 spectators watched Lewis and Aristides blaze through the competition. Success continued as the dynamic duo won three races at the Louisville Jockey Club that season. Scored second place in the Belmont Stakes. Later known as part of the Triple Crown. A series of races for three-year-old thoroughbreds. Consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Lewis never rode in the Kentucky Derby again. We should all wonder why. African Americans excelled in racing and horse training in the late 1800s. After retirement from racing, Lewis wrote handicapping charts and facilitated horse bets as a bookmaker. He was married with several children and passed away in 1924. Salute for taking a once in a lifetime opportunity and turning it all the way up!
Black History 365 | # 233 Lewis Hayden
Lewis Hayden is a figure in history we should all know about. His life and story is fascinating, tragic, but ultimately a testimony to the unbreakable spirits under a system meant to break spirits. Let’s start with Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin interviewed Lewis Hayden in Boston, documenting his life in bondage. In this interview he was quoted as saying “When [the enslaver] was going to leave Kentucky for Pennsylvania, he sold all my brothers and sisters at auction. I stood by and saw them sold. When I was just going up on the block, he swapped me off for a pair of carriage horses...It was commonly reported that my master had said in the pulpit that there was no more harm in separating a family of slaves than a litter of pigs...” Later, Lewis Hayden married Esther Harvey and the couple had two children. Then Henry Clay, a prominent stateman, purchased Esther and one child. Later Clay sold them and Hayden never saw his wife and child again. Hayden’s other child died in Kentucky. After Hayden’s father was sold at this auction his mother became mentally ill as the result of abuse and his enslaver sold off Hayden’s siblings. Later, Lewis Hayden married Esther Harvey and the couple had two children. Then Henry Clay, a prominent stateman, purchased Esther and one child. Later Clay sold them and Hayden never saw his wife and child again. Hayden’s other child died in Kentucky. In time he remarried, but the threat of separation still loomed over his family. Hayden and his wife, Harriet, found the courage to risk their lives, and that of their son, for the chance to live as a family in the safety of freedom. With the help of abolitionists Delia Ann Webster and Calvin Fairbank, Hayden, Harriet, and their son escaped. The Hayden’s later settled in Boston in 1846, where Hayden established a successful clothing store. Hayden gained some degree of wealth and raised $650 to purchase his freedom and to help Fairbank get out of prison. This is where Lewis Hayden’s story gets so dope. He barricaded his home and booby trapped it. Preventing slave catchers from entering it without fatal consequences. His home struck fear in the hearts of many slave catchers — it was a fortress and was the whole operation behind the Underground Railroad. He became a prominent figure in Boston’s Underground Railroad network. Salute!
Black History 365 | # 232 Augusta Savage
The career of Augusta Savage was fostered by the climate of the Harlem Renaissance. During the 1930s, she was well known in Harlem as a sculptor, art teacher, and community art program director. Savage was considered to be one of the leading artists of the Harlem Renaissance, a preeminent African American literary and artistic movement of the 1920s and '30s. Born Augusta Christine Fells in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on February 29, 1892, she was the seventh of fourteen children of Cornelia and Edward Fells. Iin 1932, Savage established the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts and became an influential teacher in Harlem. After a failed attempt to establish herself as a sculptor in Jacksonville, Florida, Savage moved to New York City in the early 1920s. Although she struggled financially throughout her life, she was admitted to study art at Cooper Union, which did not charge tuition. Before long, the school gave her a scholarship to help with living expenses as well. Savage excelled, finishing her course work in three years instead of the usual four. In 1934 she became the first African-American member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. In 1937 Savage's career took a pivotal turn. She was appointed the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center and was commissioned by the New York World's Fair of 1939 to create a sculpture symbolizing the musical contributions of African Americans. Negro spirituals and hymns were the forms Savage decided to symbolize in The Harp.Inspired by the lyrics of James Weldon Johnson's poem Lift Every Voice and Sing,The Harp was Savage's largest work and her last major commission. Her medium was clay, plaster, and bronze and she is a master of her craft. She experienced many ups and downs throughout her career, but we are thankful for her perseverance. Thank you for your contributions. (1892-1962)
Black History 365 | # 231 The Bellville Three
Shoutout to the creators of Techno music. Made up of three friends from Detroit Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson — The Belleville Three. Named after the high school they all attended, these three producers are credited with creating the sound and style of Techno music. How fresh is that? The teens shared a common interest in musical acts like Kraftwerk, Parliament and the B-52's. Juan Atkins was the first to purchase a synthesizer and later taught the other two how to DJ. Atkins and May began to DJ in Detroit clubs under then name Deep Space Soundworks. By 1981, Detroit radio personality The Electrifying Mojo was playing mixes that the three had recorded. Juan Atkins began his career in the early 1980s, producing music under the pseudonym Model 500, as well as in the group Cybotron. His early tracks, which blended elements of electro, funk, and Chicago house, were instrumental in defining the sound of techno. In 1985, he released No UFOs, a track that would become one of the genre’s most enduring classics. Derrick May’s contributions to the techno scene cannot be overstated. As a producer, he was known for his innovative use of technology and his ability to craft complex, layered tracks that were both danceable and emotionally resonant. His signature sound combined elements of funk, electro, and Chicago house, resulting in a futuristic and distinctive style that set him apart from his peers. Kevin Saunderson’s influence comes from his ability to combine technical proficiency with emotional depth. His tracks are known for their complex and intricate arrangements, but they also possess a soulful quality that sets them apart from the work of many other producers. This unique combination of technical skill and emotional resonance has made Saunderson one of the most respected and admired producers in the world of electronic music. Yes yes y’all. Techno music is black music, made for the world to enjoy.