Courtland Blade has spent most of his career as an artist portraying scenes in the “non-place” style, where generic places such as parking lots and bus stops don’t obviously belong to a certain space or people. Blade, who was born in Terre Haute, moved around a lot as a kid and felt comfortable enough wherever he went. But when his family lived in Boston and his Black church youth group took a trip to a museum, he noticed people looked at them “like we didn’t belong.”
Blade’s new show, “Black Spaces and Places,” explores this dynamic through the idea of “Black spaces,” where people of color can feel more comfortable and not outnumbered. That’s opposed to what some call “white spaces,” where people of color often feel out of place. The show has 22 pieces and took about a year to assemble, with the larger pieces taking as long as three months to finish. Some of the art comes from Blade’s past work, but he created most of it specifically for this show.
The Harrison Center, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit arts organization with various studios and galleries. Each month it has a different exhibit with different themes from artists who apply for the spots, and Blade was keen on getting February for Black History Month.
“It’s like an entry point for everyone to be able to communicate and relate,” Blade said of his work. “So when you see my paintings, even though the convocation here is predominately Black people in a space, most people could look at and still relate to what’s going on there. … It kind of humanizes everyone, even if you’re not of that culture.”
Blade, 33, received his Master of Fine Arts in 2011 from the school of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in affiliation with Tufts University. His work has been shown around the world — including China and Bulgaria — and he has permanent collections at the University of Indianapolis, Indiana State University and Eskenazi Health.
Blade’s “Black Spaces and Places” art ranges from a Black-owned laundromat to Kennedy-King Park and is for sale. Some of the work includes his own family, a shift from the “non-place” style Blade usually works in. Joanna Taft, executive director of the Harrison Center, said she hopes Blade’s show inspires the community to “think about being better neighbors.”
“It should make our hearts want to make sure our places are more inviting and make sure there are places where people want to find joy,” Taft said.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
“BLACK SPACES AND PLACES”
Where: Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday through Feb. 21
Cost: Free
Artist Courtland Blade’s show, “Black Spaces and Places,” explores the idea of “Black spaces” to celebrate the culture and history of Black people in Indianapolis. (Photo provided)
