Memory is an abstraction. It holds our entire history, but how much of that is our ‘real’ story? And what stories do we tell ourselves about this story? —Monica J. Brown, Artist’s Statement
It’s an epic mission: YOMHN gave birth to Zilpha in 1830 in North Carolina. After that, four generations were born in Tennessee: Zilpha’s daughter Parthena, in 1861; Parthena’s daughter Ora, in 1891; Ora’s daughter Grace, in 1910; and Grace’s daughter Flora, in 1925. Shortly after Flora’s birth, Grace—with mother, grandmother, and children in tow—left Tennessee for Kewanee, where Flora’s daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1947, and where Elizabeth, having married Donald J. Brown, gave birth to Monica J. Brown in 1969.
“Not as a victim. We had more than victimization as African Americans. I’m not saying there isn’t something that’s owed. There should be reparations. But I’m saying there’s also something else that’s the reason we are still here, that we still exist, despite all that shit. Circumstances bring to light the character of the person who responds to them.”
Through 7/17 at ARC Gallery, 1463 W. Chicago, 312-877-5760; Thu-Fri 2-6 PM, Sat-Sun 12-4 PM, arcgallery.org, F.
