Name/Title
RootsContext
"Roots" is the second of two textile mixed-media banners for "From Benin to Roots."
From the clippings attached to the accession record at 1995.1:
"The banners are cut out of canvas (sailcloth) and backed, where necessary, with leather. Coleman did the stitchery on a Singer sewing machine in his Harambee-area home and studio. Acrylic painting and applique round out the works."
"The second banner, 'Roots,' was inspired by Alex Haley's book, which tells of the passage of one of Haley's ancestors from Juffure in West Africa to slavery in North America. A related inspiration was the life of Harriet Tubman, who led 300 people out of slavery.
Accordingly, Coleman shows the Big Dipper (Ursa Major), a constellation which slaves called the 'drinking gourd' or 'calabash.'
Harriet Tubman used the Big Dipper and North Star (Polaris) as navigational aids during her dangerous trips north to security and freedom.
Located near the center of the banner is 'the eye of God.' Lower, to the left, is 'the hand of God.' Angels, a heart, a dove of peace and footprints hover nearby. A burn in the canvas stands for the blazing of new trails--and the Yoruba deity of fire, Shango.
Although the banner is largely apolitical, the presence of splashes of paint--red, black, green and yellow--recalls the liberationist efforts of civil-rights activist Marcus Garvey. A quilted fabric border honors patchwork quilting techniques and other African crafts.
Panels such as those at the library 'have a kind of healing power about them,' Coleman believes. 'Cloth has a special ability to warm and heal. There are quilting workers in every black family.'"Collection
Artwork Collection, Wisconsin Art Collection, Atkinson Library CollectionAcquisition
Accession
1995.1Source or Donor
Gerald Duane ColemanAcquisition Method
PurchaseMade/Created
Artist
Gerald Duane ColemanDate made
1995Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Signature and DateLocation
On back, lower leftTranscription
"Gerald Duane Coleman '95"Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
FreewheelersRelated Publications
Notes
Materials pertaining to the artist and the "From Benin to Roots" banner series are available in the Milwaukee Black Arts Movement digital collection: https://content.mpl.org/digital/collection/MkeBAM/.