The theme of last weekend was, “Art is going to put you deep in your feelings!” First, I got out of the house to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Then, I spent time with Anthony J. Suber’s (@suberanthony) exhibit, We Cried Until We Laughed. Both works tackle loss in such tender and captivating ways. I walked away reflecting on a facet of grief I hadn’t considered possible: joy.
The solo exhibition is on view in Holy Family HTX’s stunning Lanecia Rouse Tinsley Gallery. Where you experience art can be as important as the how, and experiencing We Cried Until We Laughed in a place of worship felt both intentional and necessary.
A thematic continuation of his earlier exhibition, Willie and Shirley’s Son, Suber explores ancestral connection and veneration following the loss of his father.
Despite the deeply personal body of work, We Cried Until We Laughed compels viewers to unpack their own ability to choose joy while navigating deep sorrow.
The mixed media works include several motifs that represent ideas of spiritual transcendence and existing beyond the earthly plane. There’s also a series of masks that reference African diaspora traditions of ancestral connection through ceremonial tools and practice.
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My personal favorite work in We Cried Until We Laughed is “Granny’s Song.” In it, a woman, draped in light cloth with outstretched arms and head lifted high, transcends into the sky among a constellation of stars enclosed by a gold nimbus.
Intricate details, like the pieces of floral bed sheets from Suber’s deceased grandmother, invokes the idea of craft as both practice and refuge, and anchors Suber’s work as an offering of reverence for his familial legacy.
One of the most delightful elements of the We Cried Until We Laughed exhbit was the inclusion of Flash Gordon Park’s mix. Referred to as the exhibit’s “musical tapestry” the mix embodied the very specific cultural experience of a funeral repast. It started with a powerful gospel decree in “I’m Blessed” and flows into more secular selections ranging from Dâm-Funk and Frank Ocean and Sade.
I think more art exhibits should have curated playlists. Can we make that the standard?
Click here to listen to the Flash Gordon Park’s Sonic Sermon
For many of us, grief is an ugly and painful reminder of loss. It’s easy to get consumed in the moments, opportunities, and people you no longer get to experience in this life. Without shying away from those sobering truths, We Cried Until We Laughed honors the endless possibilities of beauty born from grief. It’s an excellent exhibit.
Check out Anthony J. Suber’s We Cried Until We Laughed before it closes on Friday, November 18, 2022.
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