Initially on view Black History Month, OCAD U alum Curtia Wright’s mural Milk n Honey will continue to wow visitors until May 6 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Wright received her BFA at OCAD U in the Drawing and Painting program in 2015. The multidisciplinary fine artist, mural artist and arts educator has since collaborated on mural projects with community organizations across Canada and internationally.
As for Milk n Honey, the mural was created for TIFF’s movie series Perpetratin’ Realism: 1990s Black Film, a retrospective of New Black Realism, which took place from February 2 to 24, 2023. Wright led a live painting of her mural in the TIFF Bell Lightbox Atrium from February 1 to 6.
In conversation with Curtia Wright
What is Milk n Honey about?
The films featured in the Perpetratin’ Realism series centered Black stories by Black directors with many critiquing what it meant to live as a Black American in the 1990s. Each film approaches this narrative differently, via unfiltered joy and showcasing the not-so-idealized realities of a society that actively oppresses Black people.
My piece centers around the allure of the American Dream. In each film, the subjects are overcome with their desire to reach their version of this dream. Whether it be playing college football and escaping the hood, scoring a life changing amount of money from a high stakes bank robbery, getting the girl after throwing a legendary house party, to escaping generational trauma while preserving the image of a perfect family. All discuss the pursuit of the American Dream in different ways through a Black lens and I wanted to show visually how these films followed similar paths.
The title for this piece is also derived from the phrase “The Land of Milk and Honey”, which, in the late 19th and 20thcenturies, was used to describe California – millions of African Americans migrated from the South to the North and West, wanting to escape the discrimination and violence prevalent in the South. It was interesting to me that many of the films took place in California, and how this so-called Land of Milk and Honey was not what it promised to be. Black folks were relegated to poor neighbourhoods, discriminated against, over policed and underserved. The piece is framed by the flowing of white sugar; the artificial, overly processed by-product of rich, brown cane sugar. This sugar represents an illusion: the sweet appeal of what is promised by the American Dream sugar-coating the reality of rot and decay.
What inspired the piece?
The piece was inspired by the films in the Perpetratin’ Realism series, specifically Boyz in the Hood, Set it Off, House Party and Eve’s Bayou.
Can you describe the work, including some insight into your process to create it?
Before the mural was painted, I went through each film and grabbed screenshots of prominent scenes that stood out to me. I then sketched stylized depictions of each figure and composed them into a collage. I wanted to lean into the vibrant, over saturated colour, which I feel reflected the 90s. To scale up my sketch, I use a doodle grid method which is similar to the gridding method but looser and versatile. This was my first mural of 2023 and I wanted to have a lot of fun with colour and design!
What message do you wish to convey through this work?
I want to communicate the common theme in the films: how the dangers of chasing the American Dream, a symptom of capitalism, can leave many crushed by the weight of the pursuit. I wanted to show not only this fact, but the moments of celebration in the films, for instance the famous dance scene of Kid n’ Play dancing in House Party. I want the audience to question how the pressures of living in a capitalistic society can cause cognitive dissonance, as we participate but also suffer under it. Lastly, I hope the mural sparks viewers’ interest to go and see the films that are featured to experience great Black film!
How has OCAD U supported your work as an artist?
My education at OCAD U provided me with the foundation, experience and resources for my practice not only as a Fine Artist, but as a Public Artist.
Learn more about Curtia Wright.
All images courtesy of Curtia Wright.