cont’d from my last post. The burden has become a blessing…
In the story of Samson, the strength of his hair was in his locks, and the Holy Spirit was directly connected to his hair. Ancient civilizations have always revered hair as an extension or antenna to the gods. Wisdom and strength was known to not dwell within but was something to be received from a higher consciousness. In the work, the hair penetrates the firmament directly connecting to God. A testimony to my experiences and the spiritual journey I’ve been on.
The story of Samson shows how his enemies wanted to know the source of his strength and desired to cut his hair thus severing his connection with God.
This is actually a testimony of my own life story, where those who wish fight against me and simultaneously desiring to intercept my ability to function, thus disconnecting with God and losing strength and wisdom.
My work often revolves around the higher form of self, with little regard to our bodies. The body in my work is nothing more than a fragile terrestrial body suit.
Putting on the final touches on this piece, I’m amazed to see how far it has progressed and the way it looks. I went along with the process and had no final idea for the outcome.
BIOGRAPHY
"Crystal Marshall is a contemporary fine artist painter who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally from Kingston Jamaica, her paintings pay homage to her life's experiences rooted in cultural disparities in the modern day African diaspora. Her distinctive personal style emanates isolation, self reflection and expresses the spirit and atmosphere of the black consciousness in efforts to reconcile it's relationship with true identity and image.
Symbolic motifs such as wool, thorns, hair, figurative and allegorical representations are just some of the visual tools used to express displacement, hostility, victimization, exclusion, oppression and withdrawal. As the artist explains, “I am a story teller and I welcome the viewer to be apart of this visual journey, to share in my experience.”
She earned a Bachelor of General Fine arts degree from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland and also studied fine arts at Edna Manley College of Art in Kingston, Jamaica. She received a full scholarship for an exchange program at Pont Aven School of Contemporary art in France where showcased her work in a group exhibit.
While conducting her studies at MICA her paintings was also featured in the Baltimore Times, where she participated in the annual Vernon Jones exhibit. Crystal's artwork has been shown in exhibitions such as "Intersectionality Theory" at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, group exhibit. Most recently she has showcased a series of her artworks with the art box project in Zurich Sweden, Miami Art Basel and Barcelona Spain." View all posts by Crystal Marshall
