Antonia Ruppert Art

Elizabeth Catlett: “A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies” is powerful and deeply moving.

There were numerous opportunities in which the text pointed out that Catlett was denied, stopped and halted but yet she overcame each barrier.

Catlett was an artist I love to introduce to my scholars because of her tenacity and belief in “doing something for the betterment of all of us.”

As I am now within my last semester of graduate school at Clark University, I’m reflecting on Catlett’s journey at Iowa State.

She overcame every denial and hardship to finish strong and graduate. I pray for each artist I will be exhibiting with in January—that they are relentless and feel encouraged.

As I head back home, I’m going into the studio with clarity.

Elizabeth Catlett understood the assignment.

“For Frank and Lillie Mae,” Mixed Media Acrylic Collage, 24”x25”,

“You must feel a sense of urgency and purpose given what is happening in our country right now.”

This is what one of my professors said to me.

I do feel compelled to share with urgency, purpose and practice restoration in my work.

But here is the real reason…

I am creating this body of work as the voice of my ancestors and as a gift to my family. The timing in terms of what is happening culturally is all God.

reminded artists in a recent post that we are created by God and operate in the prophetic.

This artistic gift to my family was destined before the creation of the world.

Scripture says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10

So the urgency and purpose is not out of a response to what is happening in this country, but rather a purpose-filled unwrapping of the present 🎁 that God has given me.

I am so grateful to be finishing my graduate program . This purpose, this urgency, this creativity is a dream that is coming true.