Copyright © David G. Wilson
Oil on canvas, 74"x 38", 1998; Collection of the artist.
Warning
These paintings and text are published via this medium only for the intellectual edification of the general public . No unauthorized commercial use is allowed without expressed written permission.
*'Huddie' or 'Leadbelly' as he was called by acquaintances and fans respectively was a pioneer of the 'Blues'. Sadly, as the racial climate of the day and even today dictates, Leadbelly was railroaded in and out of prison just as many a young black talent still experiences nowadays. Equipped with his 12 string guitar, Leadbelly made a distinct mark in the annals of American music, but reaped little financial benefit quite the same way that many a young creative black mind has experienced.
The mirror reflects the disconnection and separation of the two cultures in America, a dominant and a subserviant one. It demonstrates how the dominant culture can accept the creativity of the latter, while rejecting and abusing the creators of that culture.