The development of “Black Optimism: A Retrospective” represented a real turning point in my artistry. In 2020, the resurgence of Black Lives Matter become a point of inflection. I started this painting during a time when everything else seemed to stand still. My world was upside down and I really needed an outlet to manage the perils and emotional stress. In the black community we were battling through a trifecta of health, social injustice, and economic challenges - the black pandemic.

I work in the multicultural marketing field – so there was no escape from the social issues of the day. I spent a lot of my time helping clients navigate through this heightened period of social injustice while working overtime to survive yet another era of abject systemic racism on a personal level. To cope I instituted a personal cease and desist on watching and listening to the news. I needed this self-care measure in place so my creativity could get reignited.

This painting took seven months to complete - I wanted to allow the story to bubble up in its own time. I sort of felt like a vessel - like when the elders would say - “let him use you”. This project was much greater than me. Also, key was finding those precious openings that allow you to tap into your inner artist, create and forget about everything else. When I started sketching, my intent was to paint a peaceful garden - a quick colorful oasis that would provide comfort. To that end, I used a small sheet of canvas paper instead of a larger box canvas. However, something else began to manifest and I started to draw this graffiti - black optimism. I often talk about this cultural superpower when working with clients. The painting reflects the depth of my faith, old and new, a vast expression of color as a visual articulation of our robust inner power and lastly highlights black history moments (1st HBCU, 1st Slave Ship, Harriett Tubman, Rosa Parks, and the National Black History Museum).

I chose an antiquated black church exterior wall as a backdrop - after many years she is still standing with vibrant stained-glass windows that tell a story. We also see a beautiful vine thriving on the wall reflecting nature and life. This is juxtaposed with youthful colorful graffiti disrupting the stained-glass windowpanes - this acknowledges the boundless creativity of our youth. My hope is that ALL people who view this painting will feel both uplifted and inspired.  More importantly gain a better understanding of self and the importance of black people in our world humanity based eco-system. In closing, this painting took on a new life after I began developing the concept of HBCU Artwear and RoseHeartNoir, it led me to develop several products and a special collection. Black optimism as an insight pays homage to our ancestors and their legacy of survival – it also becomes an enabling force for young people in their quest for opportunity and authenticity. Thanks for reading.

Selena