By Hailey Stangebye

Photos by Marshall Shorts

On Valentines Day, the Gateway Film Center will host a special screening of “My Great Day in Harlem” for children from Columbus City Schools.

The documentary, which follows five local artists on a landmark journey to Harlem, was originally released at the Gateway Film Center on Nov. 30, 2018. On Thursday, it returns to the big screen to inspire the young minds of Columbus. After the film, these lucky kids will have an opportunity to ask each of the featured artists questions about their experiences and the realities of being a creative in this city.

“My Great Day in Harlem” is more than a documentary. It’s an opportunity for kids in our community to connect with and relate to passionate creatives. The people featured in this film are our contemporary trailblazers. They’re our role models for the next generation.

Meet the stars of “My Great Day in Harlem”

TRIPP FONTANE

“Art is not a right. It is a necessity by virtue of the people… I believe that art is the translation of the cosmos.”

Originally from the small town of Xenia, Ohio, Tripp Fontane moved to Columbus to find new opportunities in the realm of poetry. Before breaking into the spoken-word scene, Tripp focused primarily on rap. That all changed when he went to an open mic and decided to perform a song without the beat. People started calling him a poet, and Tripp says he still hasn’t corrected them. Today, he boasts international acclaim.

SAMARA TILLMAN

“We have so many talented people here. I think that the vision for the future of fashion in Columbus is bright.”

Samara was born and raised in Columbus. She left for college, but after graduating from Kentucky State with her degree in fashion merchandising and business management, Samara returned to Columbus where she ultimately opened a fashion boutique in 2005. For the next five years, she ran boutiques all around the Columbus area. Today, she runs a dance studio and continues to design. She plans to release her next clothing line in fall of 2019.

JAY SWIFA

“Whether I affect one person, or five people, or a million people, I just feel like I have insight to add on the world today.”

Jay is a musician who hails from the north side Columbus, but he feels close to every corner of the city. He grew up surrounded by creative energy — his father was a musician and his mother was a dancer. With all of those influences, Jay developed a witty, creative sound from a young age. After lots of success with his former group, Fly Union, Jay set out to work on his solo sound.

PERCY KING

“The older I get, the more I understand what it means to celebrate your heroes. My work celebrates heroes.”

Percy is a Columbus native who was raised on the south side of the city. He says that he’s always been an artist and a creative, but he didn’t think of pursuing art as a career until recently. Instead, Percy devoted most of his time to his football career. His creative outlet over the years became woodwork and home improvement. Today, he’s transitioned that passion for woodwork into fine art portraits carved out of layers of wood.

LORI LINDSEY

“Whenever I am honored to dance in front of other people, my goal — my intent — is to move them. Whether it’s to think a different thought, to take action on something, maybe it’s just to brighten their day or to  give them hope. It’s more than steps to a song.”

Lori has lived across the globe, from Dublin to L.A., but she’s originally from Columbus. Her passion is dance, which she started at only 3 or 4 years old. In high school, Lori briefly stopped dancing after hearing hurtful gossip from the dance community. Today, she’s proud to say that she doesn’t let someone else’s opinion define her or determine her future. Now, Lori inspires young dancers at Elite Performance Academy.

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Lisa M. Cliff

Lisa M. Cliff clearly remembers the first time she met the late Aminah Robinson.

It was at a gallery opening for one of Aminah’s shows. The prospect of speaking to Aminah made Lisa anxious, but she overcame her nerves and worked up the gumption to introduce herself. She said ‘hello’ to Aminah and gave her a postcard that featured some of her original artwork.

“She looked at it, and then asked me a few questions about what I do, and she said it was nice work. I didn’t want to take up too much of her time,” Lisa says. “But then, Aminah said, ‘Hey, come outside with me while I take a smoke.’”

The story still makes Lisa laugh. She was so worried about meeting her idol, but when she finally met Aminah, she found her to be so welcoming and generous that it was disarming. To this day, she can’t remember the specifics of their conversation outside the gallery — she was in too great a state of awe to recall specifics.

“What I do remember is her telling me to be myself and to do the things that brought me passion. We were outside the gallery for a while. To the point where someone came out and said, ‘Uh, Aminah, you have guests,’” Lisa laughs. “It was very cool.”

“What I do remember is her telling me to be myself and to do the things that brought me passion.”

Aminah is the inspiration for Lisa’s piece in The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center, which is called “Queen Mother, Creative Messenger, Ms. Aminah, Jewel of Columbus.” Lisa, a Columbus native and mixed-media artist, originally created the piece shortly after Aminah’s passing as part of a tribute show.

Lisa says that Aminah was a constant inspiration; she was an internationally-recognized artist who grew up just a few blocks from Lisa’s childhood home, and she made an effort to tell the story of that neighborhood — Poindexter Village.

“I thought to myself, that’s what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to remain true to myself and touch and inspire people by speaking truth to power through my work the way I have watched and admired Ms. Aminah so beautifully and effortlessly do in her wonderful life’s work,” Lisa says. “She truly was a creative mother to many.”

“I want to be able to remain true to myself and touch and inspire people by speaking truth to power through my work the way I have watched and admired Ms. Aminah so beautifully and effortlessly do in her wonderful life’s work. She truly was a creative mother to many.”

Lisa’s piece in the Gateway Gallery does just that. Her work is, at the same time, clearly inspired by Aminah, yet distinctly unique to Lisa. It was the perfect choice for a Harlem Renaissance show because it uplifts contemporary art, while paying tribute to the legends who made the cultural landscape in Columbus what it is today.

Lisa’s piece is on display at the Gateway Gallery through the end of February.

Lisa’s Work

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Gaye Reissland

When Gaye Reissland created art early in her career, she focused on achieving a beautiful aesthetic. Now, she strives for beauty imbued with a more meaningful message.

“I consider myself an art activist,” Gaye says. “Most of my artwork generally has something to do with social justice. Now that I’m a grandmother and on the other side of 50, I feel like I have an obligation to make a difference in the world.”

“Most of my artwork generally has something to do with social justice. Now that I’m a grandmother and on the other side of 50, I feel like I have an obligation to make a difference in the world.”

Before, Gaye says the people used to pass her work and make comments such as ‘Oh, that’s pretty.’ Now, she strives for art that makes the viewer pause and think, ‘Okay, this is beautiful. But, there’s also more to it.’

For the show in the The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center, Gaye chose a piece that she feels speaks to the essence of the Harlem Renaissance called “Wakanda Warrior Woman.” This Black Panther-inspired painting is also the perfect fit for a movie theatre setting.

“When I saw that movie, it really affected me in a positive way,” Gaye says. “At the movie premiere in Columbus, it reminded me of a time in the Harlem Renaissance where they highlighted black art and black writers. It was such a positive experience, and people were just bursting with pride. It reminded me of how they celebrated black art in the Harlem Renaissance.”

“It was such a positive experience, and people were just bursting with pride. It reminded me of how they celebrated black art in the Harlem Renaissance.”

Gaye’s painting features one of the Wakanda warriors. She was drawn to this subject because she says she often chooses to feature people who wouldn’t normally be featured.

“I feature women of color, generally. Or older people with wrinkles. I love wrinkles, not so much on myself, but in my artwork,” Gaye says. “Wrinkles are a road map that show the story of what people have been through.”

One look at “Wakanda Warrior Woman,” and it’s clear that Gaye’s work captures the strength of women of color. The piece is beautiful, yet strikingly fierce.

“I’m really excited that we’ve celebrated the Harlem Renaissance this year. It has given artists of color in the Columbus area opportunities and venues that we probably wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Gaye says. “So It’s been a wonderful experience, and hopefully it’s just the beginning, not the end.”

Gaye’s Work

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Ludie Sénatus

The question ‘Who is Ludie Sénatus?’ has many potential answers.

I could tell you that she’s a Haitian-American artist; or that she was one of eight minority students at a small christian college in Kentucky; or even that she transferred schools, packed her life into two bins and moved to this city where she didn’t know a soul.

The best answer to that question, though, is a painting. Ludie’s piece, “Self Portrait,” sheds light on the fundamental nature of Ludie as a being.

“Self Portrait” by Ludie Sénatus

“One day, I woke up in the middle of the night,” Ludie says. “For the next two days I didn’t sleep. I just worked on my self portrait. It’s a very transcendental piece for me. I was going through a lot, and I’d always ask myself, ‘What is my purpose? What am I as a being?’”

“For the next two days I didn’t sleep. I just worked on my self portrait. It’s a very transcendental piece for me. I was going through a lot, and I’d always ask myself, ‘What is my purpose? What am I as a being?’”

“Self Portrait” is the result of that self-reflective meditation. This piece also launched Ludie in the stylistic direction for which she’s now known.

“The one lash is a theme throughout all of my work, but ‘Self Portrait’ was the first time I did that,” Ludie says. “It’s about closing your eyes to the distractions of life and getting to know your true and authentic self outside of your social status, outside of your race, outside of your sex, outside of your group of friends. Who are you as an individual being?”

Ludie’s “Self Portrait” is on display at The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center through February, along with two of her other pieces: “Passion” and “Allure.” She chose these works for this particular show because she says that authenticity and self expression are integral to the Harlem Renaissance movement we’re celebrating today.

“The Harlem Renaissance from 100 years ago is the same movement we’re creating now. It’s about bringing our art and who we are to the forefront and hoping that everyone else appreciates what it is that we bring to the table,” Ludie says. “I believe that that’s what my art depicts. It’s about being authentic, not being afraid to be yourself and encouraging others to do the same.”

“I believe that that’s what my art depicts. It’s about being authentic, not being afraid to be yourself and encouraging others to do the same.”

Ludie’s Work