Seen and Heard: Dr. Samella Lewis
Artist, Teacher, Observer
a journal entry
Dr. Samella Lewis taught us that art is not a luxury; it's in fact, a necessity. She declared that art was a form of documentation that benefitted the lives of present and future generations. Assuming this was one of her core beliefs, it's easy to understand why she dedicated so much of her life to educating others on art and art history. To be uninformed of a society's artistic history and its artists is to lack critical and contextual aspects that shape the society.
Dr. Lewis created organizations that informed public audiences of artists overlooked by more prominent institutions. Those prominent institutions were created and maintained by wealthy white men. Their position of power within society awarded them the role of decision-makers; they decided what was considered good art and who were considered talented artists.
Dr. Lewis's work as an artist, curator, and educator directly responded to the silencing of Black art(ists). She gave us Black Art: An International Quarterly, a publication that focused on African American art, in 1976. She used her own money to maintain it for the first two years of its life. When Hampton University took over operations, it was renamed International Review of African American Art and still focuses on the creative works of Black Americans.
The same year she created the art publication, she and other scholars founded the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles. It still stands to this day at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall.
She's written books and taught at colleges to inform anyone willing to listen to the story of Black art in America. Her conscientious effort to create art and educate the public on Black history through the artistic lens was an act of resistance. The impact of her actions can still be felt today. Protest Magazine is a perfect example- she was one of the changemakers that cleared paths for a publication like ours to exist.
One of Dr. Lewis's pieces sticks out to me most; it’s called Woman In the field, (1995). It's the image of a woman staring pensively out into the distance, arms folded, hair behind the ears, seemingly waiting for something. Samella says she didn't have a reference for this piece- the woman in the image came entirely from her own imagination. During an interview years after its completion, Dr. Lewis casually mentions that the woman might be her. She believes she may have subconsciously created a depiction of herself when she made that piece of art: Meditative and observant, and continually awaiting her next move.
Issue No 2: The Communication Issue
We’re accepting submissions for Protest’s second edition, the Communication Issue. We’ll discuss language, self-expression, education, and all the complexities of communicating.
Support Protest
You can also support Protest Magazine by making a monetary tax-deductible donation. Money raised will be used to compensate Protest Magazine contributors, general operation costs, printing services, and promotion.