ArtistCurtis Woody
Because I am a Free Woman Born of a Free Woman
Date2018
MediumMixed media
Dimensions43 × 35 in. (109.2 × 88.9 cm)
Framed Size: 44 1/2 × 36 1/2 in. (113 × 92.7 cm)
Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Art Bank Collection
Object numberDCCAH2021.048
ClassificationsPaintings
Locations
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (901 G St NW)
DescriptionCurtis Woody draws inspiration from historical connections that join individuals, families, generations, and communities. His artwork is intended to breathe new life into and enhance the unique characteristics of a common historical heritage, asking the viewer to recognize the past while appreciating the present. Woody often starts with hand cut museum board blocks that are painted, embellished, scratched, and merged together. He then adds an assortment of found objects, including old books, aged photographs, buttons, letters, vintage newspapers, and rusty metal combined with various artistic mediums. The result is richly layered work that continually strives for balance between spontaneity and historical relevance.