Creating for Creation Sake
You could not be an aspiring artist in Detroit and not know about the artist Al Loving. I was introduced to his works first at the Detroit Institute of Arts. I cannot remember the exact piece, but I do remember how it made me feel to see music in a physical form.
That is how I experienced Al Loving collage work. The curves, color and layers. I recall walking around this particular piece from one side of the wall to the other – trying to see how it was put together, how it became to be. After fifteen minutes of examining, I looked to the left of the image to find the name of the artist.
How exuberant it was to find that this artist lived, breathed and grew up in my hood. I literally lived only blocks from the high school he attended. How joyful to know that being Black and being an artist did not mean using my art to tell the Black story. Al Loving made it okay for me to paint, draw and create what I wanted.
A week ago, a friend loaned me a book on the history of African American Art. I open the book and there stood a piece from Al Loving. I became genuinely happy to see his work again and to remember the day I was introduced to his creations. I also recognized what I have taken from Al. Color and curves. I have embraced both. I will embrace more.
I want to move into Al Loving’s 3-d world one day. I think the day is coming soon. My friend loaning me the book was the universe replanting the seed, reconnecting me and Al Loving.
For more on Mr. Loving, please visit read his biography. If you are ever in Detroit, Chicago or New York, visit the N’Namdi Gallery which shows some wonderful abstract art.