Nightshade

Print

Milwaukee Public Library

Name/Title

Nightshade

Context

Through February 2027, see Nightshade on exhibit at Bronzeville Center for the Arts in "Building Bronzeville: Milwaukee's Black Arts Movement." From a signed artist's statement for the original acrylic painting: "Those who knew did not talk, and those who spread rumors didn't really know of Sanite' De'De', pronounced (San-nee-tay Day-Day). She was a colorful obscure queen of VooDoos in New Orleans around the 1820's till the crowning of the great MARIE LEVEAU. Sanite' was a mystery woman who's [sic] ornate MEDICINE HAT was nicknamed "NIGHTSHADE,' after the very, very, deadly poisonous nightshade herb (Datura Tatula). She also retained this nickname because of the black veil forever draped over her elaborate straw hat. The veil hid De'De's face at ceremonies from her followers as well as uninvited public officials. Theories held, De'De' remain veiled to protect her identity from the retribution of victums [sic], who either suffered or lost loveones [sic] through Sanite' De'De's dreadful herbal powers. A slave imported from the island of Santo Domingo, De'De' bought her own freedom through secret VooDoo activities after a period of time in New Orleans. She was a Roman Catholic, and was said to reverently pray, fast, and burn holy candles against an enemy for as long as time needed to complete her work. During these periods of abstinence, her strong dark graceful body reached a state of ketosis through fasting. While in a ketotic state she would hallucinate eerie visions, and commune with a powerful African spirit or (loa); who helped her confound her enemies, by sending her foes into seizures and pandemonium. When white southern planters of a local parish mysteriously lost sexual functions, and some even died; servants directed their suspicions to Sanite' De'De' and her followers. For this and many other reasons, whites early in American history ban slaves from practicing the ancient African arts. Sanite' De'De's crown or specialty was herbal healing. She was an able herb doctor and master of HooDoo magic. Through buffers and go-betweens even the sophisticated sought the service of the anonymous 'NIGHTSHADE.'"

Collection

Permanent Art Collection, Wisconsin Art Collection

Acquisition

Accession

1983.5

Source or Donor

William J. K. Beaudot

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Artist

Gerald Duane Coleman

Date made

1980

Notes

The print is dated 1980; the original painting was 1979 (date in pencil below print, printed signature inside print). The original acrylic painting was Number 2 in Coleman's "Medicine Hat" series.

Edition

Edition Number

8/100

Pencil

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Framed Size

Height

27-3/4 in

Width

21-3/4 in

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Freewheelers

Related Publications

Notes

Materials pertaining to the artist are available in the Milwaukee Black Arts Movement digital collection: https://content.mpl.org/digital/collection/MkeBAM/.

Exhibitions

Notes

“Building Bronzeville: Milwaukee’s Black Arts Movement,” Bronzeville Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI, September 24, 2026-February 26, 2027.