The Soultown! Volume III: Issue 2 FEBRUARY 2019 | Page 8
WHAT’S REALLY GOOD?
Being Aware that Image Matters
© 2017
Digital & Print Magazine
CONNECTING OUR CULTURE TO
OUR CYBER & CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES
CHAVEEVAH
FERGUSON
Photo by Chaveevah Ferguson
WATERLOO - I can’t remember the exact age I was
when I first became aware of the importance of image;
but I was quite young -- a little girl. I learned early that,
when you see positive reflections of yourself in your
environment, it has a positive effect on how you see
yourself, others, and the world. The reverse is true of
absent or negative reflections: seeing only negative
reflections of yourself -- or none at all -- will have a
negative effect on how you see yourself and your
environment.
I recall instances of seeing both negative and positive
images of Black people and Black culture, and I
remember how each made me feel. Positive images
included; good neighbors, successful business
people, dedicated leaders, upstanding teachers,
talented entertainers, and uplifting publications, art,
etc., wherein I saw myself. Seeing these, I felt like
a valuable part of the society in which I lived and
I also felt that the best of what I saw reflected the
best of what I could be. Negative images included
stereotypical movie and television characters; racially
biased stories in magazines and newspapers; and
false, unflattering images. These images made me
feel sad, because they were not reflections of the
best in my culture and community, and they made
me angry because I knew they weren’t accurate.
Like practically everyone else, I grew up being
exposed to both positive and negative images of what
it is to be Black in America. I will always appreciate
my parents because they monitored and limited my
siblings’ and my exposure to negative images while
doing their best to expand our exposure to images
that were good, beautiful, uplifting and inspiring.
Their emphasis on the best and brightest of what
we have definitely influenced me as an artist, and it
shaped the kind of art I choose to create.
As an artist, I am very deliberate about the images I
put out there for viewing by an audience. To be clear:
art is the result of inspiration, and I follow my creative
impulses when working on a piece of art; but I am
always careful to present images that I believe are
beautiful, portray positive images of Black people,
and reflect what I believe are accurate portrayals of
Black culture. While people of other ethnicities are
present in my work, my focus is scenes from Black
life.
I like to draw crowds, such as family gatherings,
parties, or club scenes because they provide
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an opportunity to portray the variety of physical
characteristics among Black people: different skin
tones, facial features, hair textures, body shapes, and
sizes. Crowds or group scenes can also convey a
strong sense of community and interconnectedness
and joy. I also like to portray culturally specific
activities like certain dances or paint my subjects
dressed in African inspired clothing. Whatever the
theme of a given painting, my subjects are always
portrayed with beauty, dignity, grace, and joy. Why?
Because I want any child who views my art to see
beauty, dignity, grace, and joy -- and I want any Black
child who views my art to see positive images of
themselves. Image matters!
I am Chaveevah Ferguson, with What’s Really
Good? in The Soultown, we thank our people
for having SOUL! ,
See what’s happening in thesoultown.com!
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FEBRUARY 2019 • CELEBRATING 2 YEARS OF CONNECTING OUR CULTURE TO OUR CYBER & CONSCIOUS COMMUNITIES • THESOULTOWN.COM