Rhonda “Shakur” Carter said she finds inspiration from family, community and history. “I have this piece that looks like Harriet Tubman and she’s running to freedom. It kind of feels like we’re still fighting for freedom and to be heard,” Shakur said. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – Black art is the great connector – of humanity, of Black history, of family, culture and a vision of life’s value and purpose, according to several Arizona artists who paint, sculpt and create visual works.
“Well, it’s just a fight for freedom it seems we keep having to do,” said Rhonda Carter, known as Shakur, whose works – whether of Harriet Tubman or of a Black woman with a wondrous, adorned Afro – portrays history and the present.
Rhonda “Shakur” Carter said personal struggles and joy influenced her artwork – she’s been homeless and in and out of foster homes. “That’s my love is creating art and that inspired me to keep going,” Shakur said. “In my earlier years my daughter inspired everything. I got shot at 17 and didn’t think I could have babies but here she came along. I called her my gift.” (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Rhonda “Shakur” Carter is creating an art piece of a Black woman with an Afro made out of miscellaneous items such as buttons and beads. Shakur said Black History Month “means to me that people get the chance to be more ethnically aware. It puts an enthusiasm on everything we have contributed to America and other places around the world.”
Rhonda “Shakur” Carter works on her latest piece of art. Shakur said she loves her Blackness and touches on the healing property of art. “It allows me to put my emotions on paper instead of carrying it around mentally like baggage or something,” Shakur said. (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Left: Rhonda “Shakur” Carter is creating an art piece of a Black woman with an Afro made out of miscellaneous items such as buttons and beads. Shakur said Black History Month “means to me that people get the chance to be more ethnically aware. It puts an enthusiasm on everything we have contributed to America and other places around the world.” Right: Rhonda “Shakur” Carter works on her latest piece of art. Shakur said she loves her Blackness and touches on the healing property of art. “It allows me to put my emotions on paper instead of carrying it around mentally like baggage or something,” Shakur said. (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Shakur, who lives and works in Avondale, is among Black artists who were featured at the Arts HQ Gallery in Surprise during Black History Month.
Gedion Nyanhongo, a sculptor who was born in Zimbabwe, Africa, says his art reflects his culture.
Gedion Nyanhongo said he sculpted a mother and their baby to reflect birth, the experience that connects all of humanity. “I wanted to reflect the beauty of being a mama to a baby and remind everyone out there that we’ve all been kids in mama’s hands, no matter who we are,” Nyanhongo said. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
“Gedion’s Sculptures offer the viewer endearing elements of his Shona Sculpture – the traditional values of the importance of community, positive and respectful human relationships, the sacredness of life – with the intention to seek, evoke and inspire these same values in their own family and cultures,” Gedion Nyanhongo said.
“This is one family of cranes. It reminds you that life is not only for humans, it is for animals as well. That’s why I want to be the ambassador for them because they cannot tell us as people,” sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo said. (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Left: “Gedion’s Sculptures offer the viewer endearing elements of his Shona Sculpture – the traditional values of the importance of community, positive and respectful human relationships, the sacredness of life – with the intention to seek, evoke and inspire these same values in their own family and cultures,” Gedion Nyanhongo said. Right: “This is one family of cranes. It reminds you that life is not only for humans, it is for animals as well. That’s why I want to be the ambassador for them because they cannot tell us as people,” sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo said. (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
“I would like to say this is a universal language which connects us all, it connects all cultures together,” said Nyanhongo, who has participated in the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale for 17 years.
Aaron Marner, a mixed-media artist, painter and muralist, wields acrylics, oil and spray paint to tell stories. Marner travels often from his studio in Scottsdale to California.
“I definitely put my emotions and everything I’m dealing with into my work,” Marner said.
Aaron Allen is a mixed-media artist, muralist and painter. His paintings, including his latest series of work, often center around one or two figures that symbolize him. “They were all reflectant of me and the relationship I had with my mom and my family,” Marner said.
Aaron Marner’s painting, “Beloved,” was inspired by the passing of his mother. “A lot of my pieces are about my journey with my mother and my family.” (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Left: Aaron Allen is a mixed-media artist, muralist and painter. His paintings, including his latest series of work, often center around one or two figures that symbolize him. “They were all reflectant of me and the relationship I had with my mom and my family,” Marner said. Right: Aaron Marner’s painting, “Beloved,” was inspired by the passing of his mother. “A lot of my pieces are about my journey with my mother and my family.” (Photos by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
His latest artwork was inspired by his mother and his journey to reconcile with her death.
“Right before Christmas my mother passed away and it left me in a weird space and this is what I created after that. It’s kind of like a tribute to her,” Marner said.
Aaron Marner touches on his piece “Redemption Song”: “It was the first thing I painted out of this series. It’s a piece about really starting again and starting a different life. I’ve been on the path with art for a while so it’s about that journey I’ve been on,” Marner said. (Photo by Sierra Alvarez/Cronkite News)
Creatives and researchers have studied the ability of art to help heal those who create it or engage with it.
Phillip Collins, who founded the platform Good Black Art to connect emerging artists to buyers, found “collecting art was healing and transformative,” according to a February article by Folasade Ologundudu in the journal Untapped.
Sierra Alvarez expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Alvarez is assigned to Cronkite News this semester.