PATRICIA CLARK’S PATH FORWARD
By Sarah Weinman
Patricia Clark’s paintings of wrapped African American women are quite striking in their own right, and even more so in this era of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. and increasing political activism. Clark’s inspiration for the series came from thoughts she was experiencing at the time she conceived of the paintings. “I sketch to express my feelings,” she said. “I was frustrated with my professional situation and felt so wrapped up in everything that I was going through.”
ARTIST INTERVIEWS
Her series depicts women wrapped from head to toe in white or gray strips of fabric. In some paintings, even their eyes and mouths are covered. The wrappings signify everything that might hold someone back from achieving her goals, including mental, psychological, or societal obstacles. Clark’s artwork gives the viewer a sense of claustrophobia or of being trapped, and understandably so. The women can’t move, see, or speak; they’re effectively imprisoned. The piece Wrapped Up depicts one such woman who cannot see or speak. She sits with her head tilted back as if looking up, even though fabric blocks her vision. Her whole body is concealed except for her chin, hair, and the back of her neck.
Clark explained, “If you aren’t seeing a path forward, you’re blind to the things that are restricting you. Circumstances prevent you from having a voice – that’s a fight too. The women whose eyes and mouths are exposed, are breaking free.” One of Clark’s favorite pieces is Within Distance, which represents breaking away and leaving a lot of difficulties behind. The subject appears to be in motion, leaning forward, with her hair streaming out. The fabric strips that bind her are coming loose and falling away. Art, particularly painting, has always been an important part of Clark’s life. She noted, “I love the tactile feeling and the colors of oil paint, and I love the results I get.” A native St. Louisan, she received her BA from San Francisco State University and then returned to St. Louis to work as a substitute teacher and a teacher assistant. She became certified in K-12 education at UMSL to teach art and subsequently taught in middle school for 15 years. She’s now earning her MA from Webster University. Her thesis focuses on the identity of African American women as artists. “I’m looking at things that affect us as artists and
the challenges (including discrimination) we’ve had moving forward and establishing our art careers,” she said. “I’m also interested in how we’re achieving success.” Only recently has she started to explore through her art the struggles that black women face. She explained, “Because my career was in education, a lot of my work was geared toward teaching younger students. It didn’t have as much depth as it does now.” With regard to the most pressing problems that black women face today, Clark listed economic stability, holding sustainable jobs, the ability of women to find work they like, the ability to move forward, and achieving personal growth. “Things have to get to a point where women are starting to see where they want to go,” she said. “A lot of African American women are so politically and emotionally stirred up right now, which I like seeing. My older sisters were activists in the 1960s and 1970s in St. Louis. I was a kid then, but when the Women’s March came about in January 2017, I went with my daughter. The march was a statement about the election.” She continued, “I didn’t see a lot of African American women at the march, I think because some felt that it didn’t quite represent them.” Clark hopes her work inspires all African American women, and men as well: “I’d like my art to help them address personal, financial, social, and other challenges. I hope it gives them a sense of determination to continue to fight for things, encourages them to fight against what’s holding them back, and helps them push forward positively.” She added, “Art is powerful. Art has prevailed throughout history. Governments have never been able to suppress creativity.”
Patricia Clark, Within Distance, (image courtesy of the artist) 13 ALLTHEARTSTL.COM WINTER 2018/19
ARTIST INTERVIEWS
