Artist’s Work Used During Counter-Protests In VA
Aiming to make a point at the recent ‘Unite the Right’ white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, one man used a sign featuring a painting by Bermudian artist April Branco, using her work to help present a message of love and equality.
Mark Martin contacted Ms Branco a few weeks ago asking permission to use a print of her painting titled ‘Resting Place’ in a counter-protest to the recent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Along with the image, Mr. Martin’s poster read: “God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them.”
Mr. Martin said to Ms. Branco in an email exchange, that he came across her work online while looking for a “rendering of Adam and Eve as people of color [which, IMHO, they most likely were].”
Ms. Branco, inspired by Mr. Martin’s activism, then offered the use of her work free of charge.
Photo of Mark Martin with the painting at the Free Speech Wall in Charlottesville
Following the protests, Mr. Martin wrote: “Awful that angry people were hell-bent on violence. Even with much police presence, it was not possible to stop someone so committed to committing a crime from doing so.
“Throughout the day I talked with countless people who had various opinions and agendas. The most remarkable discussion was with a little girl with dark skin. She asked, ‘Is that what Adam and Eve looked like?’
“I said this was a painting by April Dawn Branco of Bermuda, and it is how I think Adam and Eve looked. I then asked her what she thought Adam and Eve looked like, and she pointed at the poster and responded, ‘I think that.’
Ms. Branco shared an image of Mr. Martin with his poster to Instagram along with the caption: “A few weeks ago this beautiful man Mark Martin contacted me off my website to ask permission to use my painting on his poster at the Charlottesville counter protest against the white supremacists. I had no idea the rally would be so intense. But I am overjoyed that my work is present for love and unity.”
Ms. Branco told Bernews, “The inspiration for the painting was from my desire to represent people of color in a healthy relationship.
“Black women are known for being the “strong ones” in the relationship, family, and community. And I wanted to speak to the fact that the black male has something to offer, and can, in fact, be a haven for black women.”
Ms. Branco added that she wanted to create an image that challenged the stereotype: ”I found that most images of ‘black love’ show couples in various erotic positions, braids flying, bodies sweaty and oil slicked. It frustrated me. Where is the love? The intimacy? The tenderness?”
Prints of ’Resting Place’ and others are available for purchase at www.aprilbranco.com.
Nice gesture, but if God created man from soil he would be the colour of soil, and there is a noticeable contrast of diverseity with protest in America compared to protest in Bermuda.
AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More gibberish
The Truth is an offence, but not a sin.
Get over it, centuries and decades of misinformation and lies are coming to an end. The oldest known human skeleton was discovered in Africa, so if Adam and Eve were the first people created and the beginning of CIVILIZATION was in Africa …………….
Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Hahahaha , “truth”. A word you have selective appreciation for it seems. Lmfao. Its so sad that in this country u just cant even make this crap up.
Adam and Eve didn’t exist. And if the oldest human fossils were in Africa, then we are probably all descended from someone on that continent, which is fine but does not support your racist drivel.
Relatively recent archeological finds have discovered evidence of civilization older and more advanced than that so far found in parts of Africa and ancient Egypt in the Black Forest region of Germany .
I know OJ won’t want to hear it but at least it was in the ‘Black Forest’
Maybe I’m not African after all but part German ..
Adam and Eve is a fairy story to explain to simple folk.
Carrots, beets, parsnips, etc, are all created from soil and come in a multitude of colours. Just sayin’
Ya Andrew, and black cows eat green grass and produce white milk.
Dont get it twisted, when you have a concept of creation your talking about beginnings, original and first. On the subject matter you cant negate melanin which proves the art impossible (unless its albinism). But IF Adam was first then we also have a problem because you cant get melanin from non-melanin.
TIC TOC
What’s amazing is the amount of computer time you get given at MAWI!
Judging by the lack of substance with your rebuttal, this conversation is out of your league.
” if God created man from soil he would be the colour of soil”
but, since we evolved, and weren’t created by the magic man in the sky, your point, as usual is moot.
You’re about as dumb as a rock…If you evolved from a monkey into a homo sapien…then why do we still have monkeys and homo sapiens…where are the species in between a monkey and a homo sapien today..?
We didn’t “evolve from monkeys”. You need to learn about science from science books, not from cartoons.
Didnt say we evolved from monkeys did they?
“You’re about as dumb as a rock”
lol…you believe you’re the spawn of adam and eve? You don’t get to call others ‘dumb’, you sad little person.
Beautiful work Ms. Branco…
Adam and Eve cut and styled their hair?
Adam a European created in Africa?
You’re really arguing about the hair style of a mythical figure who did not really exist?
Great story. Congrats April, on your excellent work. I will certainly check out your website.
Are you sure that’s just onion juice you are drinking?
I do think Miss Branco is a fantastic artist. I wish her continued success.