Itan!:Yoruba art and Thought as Social Empowerment

Welcome! Itan is collaborative art project created by Stephen Hamilton a painter and illustrator from Boston, MA centered around teaching Yoruba art, aesthetics, civilization and philosophy. By teaching about the accomplishments and impact African...

[theartofstephen]

Rashad Clarke as Oduduwa Acrylic on Handwoven Aso Ofi #THEFOUNDERSPROJECT

Learn more at www.itanproject.com

[theartofstephen]

The Founders Project is a multimedia installation project headed by Boston based artist and educator Stephen Hamilton. The project re-imagines Boston Public School High-School students as the legendary founders of the West and West-Central African ethnic groups, that are part of the ancestral base for the African diaspora. The pieces will incorporate painting, weaving and sculpture traditions from each of the spotlighted ethnic groups and are to be installed in a to be determined public space in Boston. The project will contribute to a larger syllabus on West African cultural continuity in the African Diaspora designed for High School students.

The Founders Project comes out of a desire to both address the persistent lack of Pre-Colonial African Narratives in mainstream educational discourse and to create empowering visual representations of Boston’s Black Youth. This project both explores and interrogates popular conceptions of “the Ancestors” within the African Diasporic imagination. We explore the concept of the progenitor or “Founder” in West and West Central African Lore as the physical embodiment of a people and their history. Through their narratives, we learn important lessons about the cultural imperatives, worldview, and aesthetics of the ethnic groups who venerate and sometimes even worship them as divine ancestors. Each piece dissects important key symbols pertaining to each of the highlighted individuals personal and broader cultural narratives, glossing not only the historical figure but the cultures that claim them as ancestors.  The installations will also expose viewers to the beauty and complexity of the visual arts of west and central Africa. Each piece incorporates accurate handmade reproductions of textile and sculpture arts from specific African ethnic groups, using only dyes, pigments, and materials available in Pre-Colonial Africa. This Juxtaposed with western styles of acrylic painting will result in new works that draw from both ancient African aesthetic conventions and the rich, contemporary and syncretic mural traditions born out of the Black Arts Movement. Be Sure to visit http://www.itanproject.com/the-founders-project/ to learn more!  @okayafrica-blog @supportblackart @africanartcollector @afroklectic @africanartagenda

[theartofstephen]

“Gianna Watson as Yennenga: Tree from which the Mossi nation grew” After months of preparation I am pleased to announce #thefoundersproject. The Founders Project is a multimedia installation project headed by Boston based artist and educator Stephen Hamilton. The project re-imagines Boston Public School High-School students as the legendary founders of the West and West-Central African ethnic groups, that are part of the ancestral base for the African diaspora. The pieces will incorporate painting, weaving and sculpture traditions from each of the spotlighted ethnic groups and is to be installed in a yet to be determined public space in Boston. The project will contribute to a larger syllabus on West African cultural continuity in the African Diaspora designed for High School students. Follow #thefoundersproject for more updates! #thefoundersproject #blackart #blackartist #supportblackart #theartofstephenhamilton #blackisbeautiful #painting #africanhistory #blackhistory #africantextiles #handwoven #indigo #adire #artoninstagram #drawingwhileblack #Yennenga #mossi #burkinafaso #ghana #Dagomba #portraiture #blackgirlmagic #representationmatters

[theartofstephen]

“Yennenga, tree from which the Mossi people grew” Yennenga was the daughter of Madega the legendary 12th century ruler of the kingdom of Dagbon in what is now northern Ghana. A powerful warrior in her own right, Yennenga lead soldiers into battle at the age of only 14. Matchless with the bow and spear, she was a legendary horsewoman who won many battles in her father’s name. When she came of age and expressed the desire to marry, her father refused. In protest, she planted and entire crop of Okra and let it rot in the field to show how she felt her life was withering away and her time to start her own family was passing her by. Her father was unmoved, so she escaped her father’s compound disguised as a man. Upon leaving her father’s kingdom she met a young Malinke prince and elephant hunter named Riale. They fell in love and had a son Ouedraogo, who became the first Mogho Naba (king) of the Mossi empire. Though Ouedraogo was the their first king the Mossi credit Yennenga as the founder of their nation and the royal horseman of Mossiland, to this day still carry her legacy forward. Follow #thefoundersproject for more updates! . Photo by @stacehphotography . #thefoundersproject #blackart #blackartist #supportblackart #theartofstephenhamilton #blackisbeautiful #painting #africanhistory #blackhistory #africantextiles #handwoven #indigo #adire #artoninstagram #drawingwhileblack #Yennenga #mossi #burkinafaso #ghana #Dagomba #portraiture #blackgirlmagic #representationmatters

[theartofstephen]

Anxiously waiting for Itan:part1 to arrive from the printers. This process has been long and arduous, but necessary. What you are getting is the best of me, the most that I have to give. My only hope is that those who invested in me, invested in this vision feel richer for having done so. Itan: Part 1 arriving soon. . . . #orisa #orisha #obatala #ifa #illustration #graphicnovel #yoruba #artoninstagram #artontumblr #blackart #blackartists . . . @supportblackart @blavity @blacknerdproblems @blackart365 @mocada_museum @chocolatecitycomics @printbyprint

[theartofstephen]

Itan part one is almost ready to send to the printer! Visit Itanproject.com to preorder your copy today!!!! Support a Graphic Novel rooted in the art and culture of Yoruba civilization and oral literature!

[theartofstephen]

So Im super late, but im going to try this again because I realize I did it wrong yesterday. My name Is Stephen Hamilton. Im from Boston and i’m a 30 year old Painter, Illustrator, Textile Artist and Educator that loves drawing Black People. My work as an artist and teacher is dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the beauty of Africa and the Diaspora. Support my upcoming comic book Itan: Part 1 a graphic novel based on Yoruba Oral Literature by visiting itanproject.com and be sure to follow me @theartofstephen and @itanproject

[itanproject]

Hard at work!!!! It's all nighter time. Preorder your copy of Itan: Part 1 Today!!! Visit Itanproject.com

[theartofstephen]

Still hard at work on these panels. Visit itanproject.com to pre-order your copy of Itan: Part 1 Today.

[itanproject]

Hey Everyone! Check out the sneak peak for Chapter 2 of Itan: Part one! A graphic novel rooted in traditional Yoruba oral literature! Visit Itanproject.com to pre-order your copy and to see a preview of the latest pages! Join me on a journey through West African philosophy and aesthetics. Support Itan: Part One today!!

[itanproject]

Hey All!

Check out some of the concept art for chapter two of Itan: Part 1 a comic based on Yoruba oral literature.  Be sure to support the comic by visiting www.itanproject.com. Support Black Comics!

[stitchedintomemory]

Hello everyone! This past week our team dyed the Adire and yarns we have been preparing over the last month. All the hours of tying and stitching culminated with us dyeing using indigo and Guinea Corn leaves (Oka Baba). We were blessed with perfect weather and some beautifully dyed Items that will be incorporated into the final installation. The pieces incorporated dyeing techniques from all over west Africa including “Adire Alabere” (stitch resist) techniques from Nigeria. “Gara” kola nut and Indigo over dyeing techniques from Gambia and Sierra Leone and over dyed tie and dye handwoven textiles drawn from Dyula and Baule textiles from the Ivory coast. Stay tuned as our project continues to develop!     

[stitchedintomemory]

EVERYONE WHO HAS A CHANCE AND LIVES IN THE BOSTON AREA!!!! COME LEARN ABOUT ADIRE AT OUR PUBLIC INDIGO DYEING EVENT!! Next sunday we will be publically dyeing pieces pieces my students have been working on for the past two months! Come and learn about this ancient tradition! Special thanks to chief Nike Monica Okundaye and Ms Agnes Umeche for teaching me these artforms! Be sure to check out stitchedintomemory.tumblr.com for more updates!

[itanproject]

Looking at traditional Yoruba architecture while I work on concept art for chapter 2. Support Itan: part one today by visiting www.Itanproject.com and pre-order your copy today!

[itanproject]

Artwork for chapter 2. Go to itanproject.com to preorder Itan part 1. A graphic novel based on Yoruba oral literature.

[itanproject]

Never underestimate the revolutionary blackness of those who maintained African based spiritual and magical traditions in the Americas. Through the constant terrible physical and psychological violence of slavery, through the constant conditioning telling them that power, civilization and divinity was irrevocably tied to whiteness and to european sensibility they held strong. Bearing the crushing yoke of eurocentric thought, it was the olorisha, palero, obeah men, mambos, houngan, kumina queens, and root doctors, who through simply existing stood up and told those who would open their backs “ There is a world outside of you” “There is wisdom other than yours” and “There is a power beyond the realm of your control”.You may not believe or agree with all of what they believe, but believe in that.

Stephen Hamilton

[itanproject]

Although I havent posted updates in a while i am still hard at work finishing Itan: part one a graphic novel based yoruba oral literature. Please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/itan-part-one-africa-art/x/15991312#/. We still have long way to go to reach our goal. Please support Itan: Part one today!