The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad

CHARLESTON, S.C.—The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad, at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park from January 22 through March 4, 2012. Developed by the University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, Md., and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C., the exhibit showcases drawing, painting, and etching works by artist Joseph Holston. Color in Freedom opens Saturday, January 21 at 5 p.m., and the public is invited to attend the opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Depicting the stories of the Underground Railroad, some of the most powerful stories in American history, Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad features 49 paintings, etchings and drawings by Joseph Holston that capture the courage and determination of slaves, required of them to escape to freedom. 

Color in Freedom is a visual interpretation and expression of a range of human experiences and emotions within the framework of this particular period in American history. The exhibition consists of four movements that track the flow of events in the lives of those traveled along the Underground Railroad: The Unknown World, Living in Bondage, The Journey of Escape, and finally, Color in Freedom. 

Creating this body of work was both a privilege and a source of inspiration, says Holston. In capturing the spiritual and emotional essence of this journey that is an essential part of my own history, I felt a strong sense of connection, and a bond with lives just a few generations removed. My principle goal was to honor those lives, and to do justice to their history and their stories. This was a very personal undertaking, during which I could almost feel the dread of capture, the degradation of enslavement, the terror of escape and the exhilaration of freedom.

In every canvas, light or the contrast between light and dark means hope, even in the bleakest situations, says Holston. As I worked my way through the movements toward freedom, my color palette and my mood changed from drab to bright. As we moved together toward our goal, the more generous splashes of color, with light edging out darkness, anticipated our hard won freedom, which I was finally able to express in vibrant, joyous colors. 

 After Harriet: (pictured left)
Joseph Holston, After Harriet, 2008, mixed media on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

About the Artist
Painter and printmaker, Joseph Holston is best known for his use of vivid color, abstracted forms and expressive lines, reflecting his appreciation for musical composition. His abstract style draws from the cubist tradition, perfecting his ability to communicate his subjects’ emotion. Viewers quickly understand the love and emotion shared between his figures. The slightest disarrangement of hands, raised eyebrows, and titled head depicts the bravery and dreams of the men and women Holston renders. 

Joseph Holston’s cubist abstractionist style has evolved over a fine arts career spanning more than 35 years. A critically acclaimed artist, he has exhibited at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum; the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture; the African-American Museum of Philadelphia; the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art; the Arts Program Gallery at the University of Maryland University College; the Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida; the Fort Worth Museum of Fine Art; the DuSable Museum; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; North Carolina A&T State University; Delaware State University; the APEX Museum; and the Butler Institute of American Art.

In addition to exhibiting, Holston has been an artist in residence at North Carolina A&T State University and at the Experimental Printmaking Institute at Lafayette College. He has also been a guest lecturer throughout the United States and abroad. Holston’s work has been commissioned by the Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee; the National Medical Association in Washington, D.C.; AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.; Gallo Winery in Modesto, Ca.; and the Washington Urban League in Washington, D.C.; and more. 

Works by Holston are included in numerous museum, institution, and private collections. Among these are the permanent collection of the Yale University Art Gallery; the Lyndon B. Johnson Library at the University of Texas; DePauw University; Howard University; the University of Maryland University College; the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland in College Park; the Baltimore Museum of Art; and more. 

The City Gallery at Waterfront Park, owned by the City of Charleston and operated by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is a tangible resource and reliable venue for displaying the finest contemporary art from local, regional, national and international artists, stimulating discussion and dialogue among audiences. In the process, those who visit the City Gallery at Waterfront Park will be educated, enlightened and inspired by their experiences in this cultural space. The City Gallery provides access to the visual arts for everyone in Charleston, S.C., visitors and residents alike, by offering exhibits that are all admission-free. The City Gallery is located at 34 Prioleau St. in downtown Charleston, S.C., and gallery hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.  For more information visit www.citygalleryatwaterfrontpark.com.   

International Arts & Artists in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit arts service organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally, through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions and the public. Visit www.artsandartists.org.