On the Cover Artist Statement Charmaine Minniefield
As a visual artist my work seeks to preserve Black narratives as a radical act of social justice. As an artist-activist, I intentionally push back against erasure, displacement, misrepresentation and marginalization by reclaiming cultural histories in communities affected by gentrification. I am excited to be a part of the Westside community with my recent mural commissioned by DoSomething.org. The mural will expand upon DoSomething.org’s national campaign, Missing in History. The campaign activates young people nationwide to fight misrepresentation and erasure by literally inserting inclusive and intersectional histories into their textbooks in the form of handmade bookmarks depicting historical facts and individuals that are not traditionally represented. It was their work that inspired me to represent the missing history of Adrienne McNeil Herndon – the matriarch of the Herndon family. She was an artist and the first woman of color hired as faculty for the Atlanta University Center, where she formed the longstanding theater program. I consider her a grand ancestor for the arts in Atlanta. In her memory, the wall remembers her story as a cornerstone in this community as it celebrates the rich history of the arts in the West End and on the Westside.
