The Bahamas In Slavery And Freedom by Howard Johnson

The Unknown World depicts the dichotomy between the old world and new, using strong juxtaposition of warm colors against somber and muted tones, depicting despair, loss and the harsh adjustment to the unknown life that awaits the enslaved. “Jubilation” by Joseph Holston, 2008, mixed media. His vocabulary of color produces an emotional response for the viewer before the form solidifies into the objective image.Ĭolor in Freedom consists of four movements that track the flow of events in the lives of those who traveled along the Underground Railroad: The Unknown World, Living in Bondage– Life on the Plantation, The Journey of Escape, and finally, Color in Freedom. Holston uses the power of color organized into compositions that relate to a physical environment, specifically to the locations where travelers followed the Underground Railroad. Joseph Holston’s visual interpretation and expression of human experiences and emotions within the framework of this distinct period in American history captures the essence of the courage and determination required to escape, enhances understanding of the condition of slavery and explores the powerful instinct toward freedom. The stories of the Underground Railroad are some of the most powerful in American history. The United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva is pleased to announce Color in Freedom: Journey along the Underground Railroad, an exhibition of 50 paintings, etchings and drawings by Joseph Holston created to capture the struggle for freedom, and expression within the framework of the first half of the 19th century in America before the abolition of the institution of slavery, will be on display at the Palais des Nations, Mezzanine, E Building (Access via Pregny Gate, Door 40) from November 1 through November 12, 2010. Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Joseph Holston, American cubist, abstractionist traveled one of the paths of the Underground Railroad to draw inspiration for “Color In Freedom” (Photo courtesy of artist)

The Bahamas In Slavery And Freedom by Howard Johnson