A Gathering of Self

Date2003

MediumArchival pigment print

Dimensions29 1/2 × 21 1/2 in. (74.9 × 54.6 cm) Framed Size: 40 × 32 in. (101.6 × 81.3 cm)

Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank Collection

Object numberDCCAH2004.063d

ClassificationsPrints

Locations

Marion S. Barry Jr. Building (441 4th Street NW, 11th Floor)

Description“A Gathering of Self” was produced while in a DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities project. Gibson-Hunter and nine other artists were given the mission to create a group digital print portfolio. Each of them had the opportunity to work with Mr. David Adamson, a master of the digital print to create an editioned print. “A Gathering of Self” is a dense image compiled by scanning objects, fabrics, photography and past artwork. ‘Gathering’ is an activity Gibson-Hunter engages in before creating work. It is a ‘systematic looking’ at her surroundings with the purpose of finding objects, writings, or images, that encapsulate, illustrate, or symbolize a particular concept or message. When gathering, Gibson-Hunter also collects objects to construct an aesthetic to further express a concept/s. When the ‘gathered’ materials are arranged and juxtaposed they create something of a code. Incorporated in this print are symbols inspired by Kikongo cosograms, and Kuba Cloth also from the Congo, as well as Egyptian symbols and patterns from Ghana. Gibson-Hunter was able to scan a six foot painting created earlier, and incorporate it into the piece, adding a layer of photographs and insects via Photoshop. The image was inspired by the writings of the Black psychologist Dr. Richard King.