Interview by Valerie Fair

 

AOTCE:  How are you this afternoon?

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Charlene Uresy:  I’m well

 

AOTCE: Tell me a little about your art and how you became an artist.

 

CU:  I’ve been drawing symbols all of my life, not knowing what I was drawing.  After college, I started reading about Africa and the symbols they use in their culture and learned these symbols.  These symbols are communication expressions that tell you something about the people who use them.

 

AOTCE:  Have you travelled to any African countries?

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CU:  Yes.  I’ve been to Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, and South Africa twice.  I was born in the U.S.  I’m first generation American.  I’ve visited Cuba every year since 1999.  I have more relatives there than here.  I’m doing what I call women’s work.  In Africa, the women paint the outside of their homes with symbols telling you something about the people who live in the homes.  I’m painting these symbols on furniture.

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I’ve been studying these symbols, so I know what many of them mean and they are fascinating.  These symbols have been used on the African continent for over a thousand years.  Each one tells you about the people and teach you something.  Learning this has given me pride and empowerment.

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AOTCE: Was your decision to provide useful things that are beautiful part of your motivations for the way you present your art?

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CU: Yes.  I wanted colorful furniture in my home and couldn’t find any.  Plus, furniture is expensive, so I started to paint my own.  Friends who visit me and liked what I was doing and said you should sell this.

 

AOTCE:  Do you see many of these symbols reflected in today’s environment?

 

CU:  Many of these symbols are everywhere.  On clothing, on furniture, wall paper, boxes of tissue…everywhere.

 

AOTCE:  Do you feel compelled to represent the African-American artistic tradition or is the art and how it comes out of you, innate?

 

CU:  I read online that these are modern symbols and I know they are NOT.  They are symbols that the Africans have been using for thousands of years even before the Ancients Egyptians.  The drawing of symbols is in my DNA.  I have a mission with my art, and that is to teach the contributions, Africa, since the beginning of humanity, has made to the world.  As an elder in my community I have a responsibility to do this.

 

AOTCE:  Has knowing history legitimized your usage of these symbols and their continuity?

 

CU:  Yes, knowing what the symbols mean has legitimized my art.  People are blown away with the knowledge I pass on to them.  They feel good!  As I said, this knowledge is empowering.

 

AOTCE:  Can you share an experience with me about your travels in Cuba?

 

CU:  I was in Cuba for 6 weeks earlier this year in February and March.  I stayed with my family.  Cuba plays a very important part in my art because in many ways Cuba, is very African.  Every time I visit I’m inspired by what I see and learn.  The default music of Cuba is the African drum you hear them playing everywhere.  That along with the singing, religion (African religion), art, food, the way the people move.  If you come from the African Diaspora and your mind is open, you will feel this greatness in your DNA.

 

AOTCE:  Would you consider your art only for the diasporic Africans or is it much broader?

 

CU:  My art is for everyone.   I’ve had people from all ethnic groups buy and become very interested in learning about the symbols.  Each of my pieces has a story to tell.  I present myself in an African/Cuban fashion that is very empowering and well respected.

 

AOTCE:  Do you have a place where your artistry can be viewed and/or purchased?

 

CU:  I have my work in the Charles H. Wright African-American Museum and I’m in the upcoming exhibit, “Detroit Visionaries” starting September 15, 2017 at the Carr Center.  Both of these places are in Detroit.

 

AOTCE:   As a final statement, about your art and artistry, what would you like to share?

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CU:  Through my art, not only am I creating something beautiful, I’m also teaching about a culture that most of the world knows nothing about, and giving credit to Africa where life began and everything that we need to survive came from.  I am proud of my African/Cuban heritage.  I love what I’m doing and I know I’m contributing to making life better for all people.  As I said before, this is my responsibility as an elder.