Revealing Souls
By Hailey Stangebye
Photos courtesy of Omar Shaheed
When Omar Shaheed surveys a piece of limestone, he doesn’t always know exactly where the sculpture will take him. Often times, the stone has soul of its own.
Omar’s job is to study that stone and reveal the right shape from within.
“Sometimes I break the stone with a hammer or drop in on the floor and let it break. Then I look at it and I study it and see just what it is and what it’s telling me. Because stone has a soul. Everything has a soul,” Omar says. “Everything is alive in this world in it’s own way. To actually tap into the energy of stone, it takes a while because it’s a very hard substance. But once you begin to carve, you really don’t know where you’re going. Sometimes you have an idea, but the stone has an idea as well. And sometimes you break something by accident, but it really wasn’t an accident.”
“Everything is alive in this world in it’s own way. To actually tap into the energy of stone, it takes a while because it’s a very hard substance. But once you begin to carve, you really don’t know where you’re going. Sometimes you have an idea, but the stone has an idea as well. And sometimes you break something by accident, but it really wasn’t an accident.”
As Omar carves limestone, he traces an idea or a feeling. That’s his guide. Every move must be deliberate because of the nature of limestone sculpture.
“Stone is unforgiving. If you break it, that’s it. There is no turning back,” Omar says. “So now what are you going to do? You have to find a way to say what you want to say in this piece of art. That’s the excitement in taking a piece that’s been broken, changed, altered. You find a way to say what you want to say through that stone as well.”
“Stone is unforgiving. If you break it, that’s it. There is no turning back. So now what are you going to do? You have to find a way to say what you want to say in this piece of art. That’s the excitement in taking a piece that’s been broken, changed, altered. You find a way to say what you want to say through that stone as well.”
People in Columbus are listening to Omar’s sculptures and hearing what they have to say. But this wasn’t always the case. When Omar first moved to Columbus from the San Francisco area, he says that the arts scene was very different here.
“Years ago, when I first came here, this was not an art town,” Omar says. “I didn’t really feel comfortable in Columbus from an artist’s perspective because art wasn’t focused on as it is today. I think it was pretty bland. I used to sit and talk with other artists who were here and most of them saw the same thing I saw. For us, for African American artists, to be in the Short North, that’s totally different.”
For Omar, the Harlem Renaissance Experience at Gallery Hop will be a delightful — but surprising — change of direction.
“Even now, how many — without this show — how many of the artists would be shown? What would our African Americans be doing? Where is the outlet for expression? Well it’s not here,” Omar says. “Or, at least, it wasn’t here for all of the years when I originally came here.”
“Even now, how many — without this show — how many of the artists would be shown? What would our African Americans be doing? Where is the outlet for expression? Well it’s not here. Or, at least, it wasn’t here for all of the years when I originally came here.”
With time, Omar has noticed a shift in the Columbus arts culture. He now has a network of artists with whom he meets every week at the King Arts Complex. He has a space where people can gather and talk about art. That’s a step forward.
Despite the adversity he has faced in this town, Omar plans to continue creating art here. He says he’ll continue to make art until the day he dies.
“Art is something that you have to do and practice in order to really understand who you are because, to know who you are you have to look for yourself. Find yourself. Your habits, your likes, your dislikes,” Omar says. “How do you do that? I do it through art. I do it through creating.”
Omar continues to carve himself through carving limestone. With each maneuver, he comes closer to finding his true self.
Omar is a part of the August 4 Gallery Hop. His work will be featured in Brandt Roberts Galleries and his mural will be located at 642 N. High St. Here is where you can find more information.
Omar’s Work
