Sat May 7 at 2-6PM
There are many beautiful, well-known art spaces in the city of Cleveland, with museums such as CMA and moCa being among the most renowned. However, there is a newer, lesser-known art gallery in Cleveland’s Historic Fairfax neighborhood dedicated to creating awareness and growing wealth in art for Black and Brown artists across the city, and connecting them across the country and around the world.
The DeepRoots Experience sits inconspicuously at the corner of 79th and Central. One green door serves as the entrance to an unexpected world of art. The space itself is quaint and inviting. It feels very grass roots. It is unassuming, and unpretentious and allows the display of art to speak for itself.
Deep Roots founder David Ramsey is a native to the Fairfax neighborhood and has made his mission for the art world and the community clear.
“The neighborhood is very intentionally chosen,” said Ramsey during my visit with him while Deep Roots hosted the dynamic works of Christa Freehand. “This is where I have my roots. It is a space [in Cleveland] that has for years been centered around the Black experience!”
During our visit, David and I covered many things about our shared experiences, and even the difference five blocks can make to a neighborhood. With my upbringing happening primarily in the Hough neighborhood less than five minutes from David’s space in Fairfax, we did see gentrification and the “Midtown” experience slightly differently. This also influences our “art” and the way we express it.
With that sentiment in mind, the Deep Roots Experience hosts a multitude of events centered around the support and growth of Black business, events that encompass passions in a variety of fields, and bring together small business owners who may be able to use one another’s resources to advance. This idea focuses on what David calls a Black currency exchange. While the intentionality behind only curating shows featuring Black and Brown artists brings controversy, it gives an exclusive opportunity for those artists to create a community of their own around their art while simultaneously inviting the rest of the world in to see it.
“The best way to curate Black and Brown art is to take all of the elements that influence it, and bringing it together.” Said Ramsey.
Recently our small business DressedTuKale was able to provide charcuterie during the showcase of InBloom: A Solo Exhibition from Art Amour. And the experience was priceless.
Some of the art displayed on the other hand reached prices of more than $1300 per piece, a fair price for the craftsmanship and uniqueness of Artist Asia “Art Amours” works. This is an unprecedented achievement for Black art in Cleveland, by Black Cleveland natives. The stories this art tells are important: not all Black experiences or expressions are rooted in pain, grief or oppression. A great deal of Black art blossoms from pure inspiration, a connection to what these artists feel is divine, even heavenly. And in this artist’s case, growth; blooming flowers combined with the faces of world-famous Black musicians imposed the idea that greatness is valuable and beautiful, and yet fleeting, as a bouquet of flowers in spring. With interpretation being the most subjective part of art of course, this was mine. And it inspired my charcuterie meat flowers as a compliment to the theme of the day!
Art in and of itself is important and valuable. Each person’s expression holds its own weight. The experiences visual artists are able to transport us to with the brush strokes and camera flashes are surreal at times. I could see one making the argument that “all art matters” and they would be correct, but I would argue that all art is not equal!
Art is one of the world’s most lucrative commodities, allowing for generational wealth to be passed down from one generation to another tax-free, and ever increasing in value. Deep Roots is setting a stage where Black and Brown art earns its equal equity.
The newest exhibit, opening on May 7th, is focused on that exact idea. The value of art appreciated by multiple generations, and appreciating in value over multiple generations. As a matter of fact the exhibit is called Generations: Artwork From Artists and Their Family.
This exhibit will continue the work of introducing real tangible Black artists who create at a high level to their communities in a relatable way, building interest and comfort around art, with seeing successful Black and Brown artists, creating in a way that suits them, while positively depicting their families, ancestors, interests, pains, triumphs and lifestyles.
Generations opens this weekend and will be on display through May 29th. It is in my humble opinion that you should make it your business to support these Black and Brown artists. Expand what you know about art and grow to appreciate what art can do for the another generations world view.
David says, “It is super important for me that young people are able to just walk by and see what is going on. I say this often, that had I been able to see something like this [growing up] I would have started this work years sooner.”
Visit DeepRootsExperience.com or follow them on Instagram @DeepRootsExperience for hours of operations, exhibitions, private tours, events and more.
https://www.deeprootsexperience.com/
Interview, story, photos and video by CoolCleveland correspondent Maya Kincaid