DOCUMENTING THE KEEPERS OF OUR CULTURE

In the spirit of love and history, we invited an all-Black male cohort to fill the pages of the February Black History Month edition of Black Canvas. For the Letter from the Editor section, we welcome Seattle-based practicing artist and documentarian barry johnson to fill this page. Take it away barry!

I began documenting the work that artists were doing across the community years ago to address the shortage of arts documentation. We're all working together to sculpt the fabric of the city, yet we're often left with only a couple of cellphone shots at the end of a project. This documentary series (example shared below) provides a space for artists to speak freely and in depth about their work.  

Damon Brown is a staple figure in the region. After contracting an illness that took away his ability to walk and move freely for a year, he continued to persevere and keep producing. He is the living embodiment of Black power, and I wanted to give him the space to speak to how he's progressing. I'm happy to celebrate him during this critical month honoring Black History, and I look forward to the work he continues to produce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6h3e5EkTNo

ABOUT BARRY JOHNSON

barry johnson is a painter and videographer based in Washington State, whose work explores the figure and its relationship to space. Through his art, he strives to address the historical erasure of Black figures in art and bring visibility to underrepresented communities.

His focus on the figure allows him to capture the human experience and emotions, while space serves as a backdrop for the narrative. For the past decade, Johnson has engaged in a unique studio practice where he devotes a year to exploring a specific theme. This theme could focus on a particular medium, narrative, or color. At the end of the year, he departs from the series and begins something new.

Through his art, barry hopes to inspire conversations and promote social change. As a Black artist, he is committed to using his platform to amplify marginalized voices and tell stories that have been neglected in the art world. His art is a reflection of his personal experiences and those of the people around him.

barry's art has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Edwin T. Pratt Award, the smART Ventures Award, and the GAP Award. He was a finalist for Seattle Art Museum's Betty Bowen Award and the Cornish School of the Arts' Neddy Award. His work has been exhibited and collected across the United States, including the State Department collection in Washington D.C. Johnson has participated in residencies at Amazon, Facebook, and BASE Experimental Space, and he has created multiple public artworks across the Pacific Northwest.

johnson is represented by Winston Wachter.