Unto a space of new possibility 2020

Editor: Lanise Howard's "Unto a space of new possibility," created in 2020 using oil paint, strikes me as incredibly tender. There's something really vulnerable about the figures embracing in this vast landscape. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The figures’ embrace is interesting. Considering Howard’s broader exploration of Black identity and experiences within art history, what do you make of the subtle grid patterns imposed on parts of the scene? They almost seem to fragment aspects of the figures. Editor: I hadn’t really thought about the grids in that way. I saw them as an abstract geometric composition adding visual interest to the background, in contrast to the natural landscape. You think they're speaking to Black identity? Curator: Yes, in my opinion. The grids may symbolize societal structures that confine or attempt to define identity, particularly racial identity, but also think about who has historically been able to represent themselves in a portrait and the artistic license claimed for white subjects vs. Black ones. The landscape behind them suggests openness, a ‘new possibility’ as the title states, but with the figures grounded, and maybe somewhat restricted by external expectations. Howard's choice to partially obscure their faces also alludes to the struggles with representation and visibility that Black individuals historically experienced and are still facing in various ways. Editor: So, this painting presents the tension between the potential for liberation and the persistence of social constraint, with an act of embracing at its core? Curator: Precisely. And their choice to embrace within that landscape represents the deep sense of belonging, strength, and resilience needed for change. It's a complex visual narrative that acknowledges struggle while also pointing toward hope. Editor: That completely shifts my understanding of the piece. The tenderness is not just intimate, but maybe revolutionary too. Curator: Absolutely! It makes me hopeful that artists can generate dialogue through complex visuals.