Harold Smith Harold Smith The Men of Color Series
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Art is a sacred thing. Long after we have made transition, the works of artists speak to those still on the journey. Their language transcends words and emotions itself. It s the echoes of Olatunji It’s the echoes of Olatunji’ss drums, reverberating through drums reverberating through time. Art speaks. Will we listen? e se
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Context
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I grew up in an extended family with a strong male presence.
That was a long time ago.
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Every summer we had a family picnic at Gage Park in Topeka.
Family members from Kentucky to Los Angeles would be there.
As the older members passed on, so did the picnic.
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100 years from now…
When they talk about the end of the black family…. end of the black family….
What will they say?
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After Pearl Harbor was bombed, my father and his brothers (Leroy, Bernard, Johnny) volunteered to serve in a segregated armed forces. d df
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Artwork
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Crown 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 11
Bishop 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 12
New Suit New Suit 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 13
Roman Collar Roman Collar 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil Paper 14
A Blues for Jackie A Blues for Jackie 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 15
Ruby Rhythm Ruby Rhythm 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil Paper 16
City Bass City Bass 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 17
Contemplation 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 18
Duo 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 19
Duo II 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 20
Introspection 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 21
Profile and Forward Profile and Forward 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 22
Profile and Forward II 30” x 15” Acrylic and Oil on Stretched Canvas 23
Man of Color I 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper
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Man of Color II 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 25
Man of Color III Man of Color III 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 26
Man of Color IV Man of Color IV 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 27
Man of Color V 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 28
Jazz T alk: Miles 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 29
Duke: The World Is Listening 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 30
Integration 24” x 18” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 31
Morning Coffee 18” x 24” Acrylic and Oil on Paper 32
Biography Harold Smith is one of the most uniquely recognizable voices in 21 Harold Smith is one of the most uniquely recognizable voices in 21st century century black expressionism painting. His work has been collected on an international level for the last 10 years and is a favorite among academic collectors. Harold has shown in public and private galleries in the Midwest and on both coasts and his imagery has been used by Whitworth College for its jazz concert series. Harold was born and raised in the Kansas City area. He has lived in Kansas, Nebraska, Alabama and Bermuda. He has received Associates, Bachelors, and Master’s degrees in Computer Technology and Education. Harold has been an educator for over 23 years, working primarily with urban students in the areas of business, computer technology, and art. , p gy,
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Statement Thoughts and impressions of this journey cross my mindscape like the fading Thoughts and impressions of this journey cross my mindscape like the fading golden haze of a cool fall dusk. I attempt to grasp these, with brush and canvas and somehow capture just a little bit of their essence and place it on the canvas or paper. In that regard I humbly see artisans as the recorders of history In that regard, I humbly see artisans as the recorders of history. Artists walk in the tradition of those servants who carved hieroglyphs into the Egyptian limestone; artists speak in the tradition of those courageous slaves who gathered under threat of tortuous death, to pass on the stories and legends of a motherland so far away motherland so far away Black art is black expressionism. It is somehow cataclysmic yet euphoric, an apex of joy and pain, triumph and defeat, steely fatalism and foolish optimism in the face of that most grim. Art is a sacred thing. Long after we have made transition, the works of artists speak to those still on the journey. Their language transcends words and emotions itself. It’s the echoes of Olatunji’s drums, reverberating through time.
Art speaks Art speaks. Will we listen?
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Selected Exhibitions 2000 • Kansas City Kansas Public Library 2001 • Kansas City Kansas Public Library • Corridor Art Space • San Francisco Public Library 2002 • Kansas City Kansas Public Library 2006 • Montanaro Gallery • MYART Gallery • Nobis Gallery 2007 • Paseo Gallery • Montanaro Gallery 2008 • M t Montanaro G ll Gallery • TownHouse Gallery • Faso Gallery 2009 • Montanaro Gallery • Faso Gallery Faso Gallery
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Contact www haroldsmithart com www.haroldsmithart.com harold@haroldsmithart.com
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