WINOOSKI, Vt. (WCAX) – February is Black History Month, and this year’s theme celebrates Black artists throughout time who use art to inspire change.
Black artists in Vermont are tapping into their identities to make a difference.
“Art is infectious. Art is the pulse of our society,” says Will Kasso Condry, co-owner of Juniper Creative Arts. He owns the collective with his wife. They paint murals across Vermont that center and celebrate the Black experience.
“The only time Black excellence seems to be celebrated is in our death. And it’s like wait a minute, there’s a disconnection here, because the Black experience is not a monolithic culture, it is a diverse 360 experience. And we want to bring some of that within our work,” Kasso Condry says.
At Juniper Creative Arts, this year’s theme of art means giving Black Vermonters, especially of the younger generation, positive representation. “It’s always that sense of pride that no matter what, as they grow they know that they matter, now and forever,” he added.
Down the street, Onyekachi Aklonu works on his latest graphic design project. A first-generation American with roots in Nigeria, Aklonu draws inspiration from his identity for his illustrations.
“I like to make a lot of designs that highlight the things that I think are really great about being a Black person in America,” Aklonu says. As a Black artist in Vermont, he says he’s grown a lot from creating in a predominantly white space. “It kind of did push me out of my comfort zone to collaborate with different companies and different people that are not people that look like me. It kind of also allowed me to broaden my horizons in a way,” he said.
“Art is everywhere. History is alive,” said Grimm Noir.
Recognizing the struggles many local Black artists face, Grimm Noir created Grimm’s Domain. They organize pop-up events showcasing Black artists, from dancers to crafters. Noir says it’s a way for artists to get their foot in the door to the art scene while tapping into their identity.
Everyone’s just here to have a good time and benefit themselves and the community together,” Noir said.
Their first event of the year is coming up on Valentine’s Day. Noir says it means even more to uplift Black artists this month.
“So much of our culture is created through art. So many stories and histories are kept like in record by art. Art is one of the things that kind of gives life flavor,” said Noir.