Rivers of Life
Folks are flowing waters:
We fail to connect upstream,
Downstream we shall meet
Tomorrow you may seek
Those you help now
Later may lift you up
People are flowing streams
Running down to the sea.
***Photo shows the painting I completed today.
This is one of the paintings I just discovered in my garage.
The painting celebrates Robert Hayden’s poem, “Middle Passage.”
It is a really long poem.
The painting focuses on this excerpt:
“That Crew and Captain lusted with the comeliest
of the savage girls kept naked in the cabins;
that there was one they called The Guinea Rose
and they cast lots and fought to lie with her: ”
The character across the floor of the ship being whipped to consent is the lady called Guinea Rose in the poem.
Do you know why people say Ọbá wàjà (the monarch climbed the rafter) and not Ọbá kú (the monarch died)?
You will find the answer to the riddle in Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì.
Orunmila was a monarch, who gave birth to several other monarchs including Alárá, Ajerò, Ọlọ́wọ̀ and several others.
You will also find out in Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì why Yoruba people (ọmọ a yọ orù bá wọn tọ́jú) do not die, but climb the rafter.
Wèrèpè má so mọ́.
Devil bean weed, stop producing seeds,
Èyí tó o so lésǐn,
The seeds you produced last season
Baba ẹnìkan ò ka.
I’ve been excited lately about something.
Yesterday I received the certificate of occupancy for MOYOGALLERIA, Austin, Texas.
I will focus on African art.
We will invite African artists for residencies of up to three months.
We will provide the artist with a living and working space.
Adetola Wewe, is with me in Austin, Texas, posing with the first painting he completed and signed as an artist in residence at the University of African Art Residency, Texas, Austin.
NEW SALE
I have just sold this work titled “MESSENGER OF HOPE.”
It is a terracotta piece mounted on canvas.
It has an antique look to give it a timeless dimension, just as the element of hope that it defines.
I’m happy the work has found a home where it will be happy and loved.
THE MESSENGER OF HOPE