Unarmed African American Portrait Heads

#1. Portrait of a Chef

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
36 inches high
I have long used the rooster as my southern symbol for
virility, for the importance of the announcement of a new
day, and as an acknowledgement of the need to be ever
mindful of all that is going on around you. Both of these
figures display that awareness by watching opposite
directions. Roosters protect the flock and are proud of
their voice. A chef provides food for comfort and need.

#2

Portrait in Black and White

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches high
Face painting by various African cultures
is a process of making manifest an emotional
state of celebration, an observance of an event
like a death, a planting, harvest, or rite of passage
in the life of the individual or group. The split between
black and white paint on this sculpture is intended to
both celebrate this African cultural tradition and draw
attention to the difficulty of losing the meaning of
ones cultural markers. African American, or Black
American?

#3.

Portrait of a Diva
Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
22 inches high
The young lady who modeled for this portrait is a former
student who is now a colleague in the department of
music. The scarification symbol on the forehead of the
sculpture is one that is often associated with womens
societies. The terra-cotta color reminds us of the
extraordinary Benin sculptures of the 13th century.

#4.

Portrait of a Student
Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches high
The model for this sculpture always looks just a little
surprised but its an early morning class so maybe he is
just trying to keep his eyes open. Cut nails mimic his early
morning hair style. I asked him to model because I admired
the honesty of his face.

#5.

Portrait of a Student Athlete

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches high
Scarification is traditionally practiced to beautify the body
and to mark the individual as a person of courage.
Scarification often marked stages of growth and
development in a persons life and could also serve as
a form of communication of status within a group.

#6

Portrait of a Hooded Student

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches high
The Universal African Flag in green, black and red
was designed by Marcus Garvey in 1920. I have adapted
the hooded cloak of this student to include the colors of the
flag with the meanings associated with the colors including
a red and black bulls-eye symbol on the back of the head.

#7.

Portrait of a Youth With Elongated Neck

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
22 inches
This is a portrait of a student that I taught in 6th grade.
Mike struggled with his identity through the years that
I got to know him. I have presented him here with the
impish smile that he used to disguise the difficulties of his
young years. This entire series of sculptures was created
to recognize the tremendous potential of the young
African American students that I have taught over the
years.

#8.

Portrait of A Young Man With Short Hair

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches

This is a remembered image of a student that I taught

while he was an eighth grader. Physical and mental
maturity varies between a wide range during the jr high
age. This student took great pride in his dress and
demeanor. I have depicted him with scarification patterns.

#9.

Portrait of An Eighth Grade Student As A Ife Head

Terra-Cotta with Encaustic Finish
20 inches high
African figurative sculpture varies widely over its huge
geographical area. Nok and Yoruba terra-cotta head
fragments dating from as early as 500 BC have been
discovered in tin mining regions in Nigeria, an area
renowned for its realistic Benin bronze sculptures created
as early as the 12th century.

#10. of 26
Portrait of An American Warrior
Terra-Cotta with Encaustic and Slip
22 inches high
I was struck by the camafloge marking on his
uniform and hat. This model graduated from GWU with
a business degree and joined the army. He was the first
person that I asked to pose for this series of work and
when I explained what I wanted to do he strongly agreed
that bringing attention to the problem of racial profiling was
something that needed to be done.

#11. of 26
Portrait of An Artist
Terra-Cotta with Encaustic and Slip
22 inches high
John has always been able to draw exceptionally
accurately; he is also a fine musician and painter. He
works as a chef. He paints huge murals of anything you
want but specializes in Biblical images. If you need a mural
let me know I will put you in touch with him. I have created
this sculpture of John with a paint decorated surface.

#12. of 26
Portrait of an AT&T Salesman
Terra-cotta with slip and encaustic
20 inches high
Scarification patterns across the front of the face are a sign
of distinction and strength. The model was my student
many years ago.

#13. of 26
Portrait of a Future NFL Lineman
Terra-Cotta with slip and encaustic
22 inches high
Covering the head and body with clay can call forth the
power of the earth.

#14. of 26
Portrait of a Peacemaker
Terra-Cotta with slip and encaustic
22 inches high
The sculpture represents a power figure or Nkisi Nkondi
which is capable of aiding in the solving of problems
between people by invoking the spirit within the sculpture
through the ritual of driving a nail or blade into the
sculpture itself. All kinds of problems could be addressed
and agreements could be made. The parties in dispute
were assisted by a respected elder within the community.
The model for this work was one of the first art majors in
the program.

#15. of 26
Portrait of a Public Relations Major
Terra-Cotta with slip and encaustic
25 inches high
The sculpture is outfitted with a bowl for the serving of Kola
nuts. Chewing the kola nut releases the caffeine and other
stimulants and helps to ease hunger and restore vitality.
Kola nuts were used as sacred offerings during life events.

#16. of 26
Portrait of A Student Listening to Music
Terra-Cotta and encaustic
22 inches high
This is a remembered portrait of a student who
I saw leaving the classroom opposite my office.
Music can take us places all over the world and can both
bind us together or be a source of friction if we refuse to
listen with open ears.

# 17. of 26
Portrait with Reverse Hammons Flag
Terra Cotta, slip and encaustic
20 inches high
The only way to see the actual work here is to stare at the
center of the nose for several minutes and then close your
eyes tightly to reveal the after image of opposite colors.
Thanks to Jasper Johns and David Hammons for helping
us see.

#18. of 26
Portrait with Spade Mask
Terra-Cotta and encaustic
22 inches high
The spade in this work becomes a white painted mask that
the user can pull down over his face if driving on the wrong
side of the tracks in a white neighborhood. To fully
understand this piece research the work of David
Hammons spade series.

#19 of 26
Portrait of a Nurse
Terra-Cotta, encaustic and kaolin
22 inches high
Kaolin applied to the face is a symbol of purity and health.
The model was a nurse who worked with my son while
he was in the hospital during the time I was working on this
series.

# 20 of 26
Portrait of a Leader Among His People
Terra-Cotta, encaustic
22 inches high
Carved ram heads, called osamasinmi, and human heads
with ram horns were made by the Yoruba people of
Nigeria. The ram with its powerful curving horns was
associated with fertility and increase. A student athlete, a
football player, was the model for this sculpture.

#21 of 26
Portrait of A Mother, Wife, Student, Artist, Preacher
Terra cotta, and encaustic
22 inches high
The model is a current art student who also has a
busy life outside of creating art as a mother, wife, and
preacher. I have made this sculpture after a photograph of
her in a moment of prayer. I present this piece as a terracotta inspired by the Benin terra-cotta sculpture of the 12th
century.

#22 of 26
Portrait of An Artist
Terracotta slip and encaustic
20 inches high
Face painting for religious, celebration, and military
reasons is a widely practiced art all over the world. The
model for this sculpture was a student I taught while he
was in 7th and 8th grades. He could never resist painting
his face in art class.

#23 of 26
Portrait of a Software Designer
Terracotta slip and encaustic
20 inches high
Student model.

#24 of 26
Portrait of A Baseball Player
Terracotta slip and encaustic
22 inches high
Student model.

#25 of 26
Portrait of A Banker
Terra cotta slip and encaustic
21 inches high
Presented after the Benin bronze portrait sculptures.

#26 of 26
Portrait of A Track Star
Terra cotta, encaustic
and water-oak branches
36 inches high
The model for this sculpture is a
current art student who enjoys
wearing her hair natural in
a very impressive African bush
hair style.