grayDUCK Gallery presents Tammie Rubin: "Faithful," which contemplates faith as determined actions in place of passive belief. Rubin extracts images, symbols, maps, and creates visual codes that speak of Black American citizenry.

In this new body of work, Rubin begins her plotted drawings and Masonite prayer fans by mining mundane family photos, very familiar images. Fusing photos with direct visual policies, happenings, or milestones that impact and interrupt the original perceived narrative. Rubin experiments with countering the deletion of Black Americans from narratives of Americana while playing with image deconstruction. The works display acts of faithfulness to “American life,” despite the realities of negotiating a maze of institutional discriminatory practices such as redlining, economic isolation, and political and social inequality.

The painted symbols consider American freedom by referencing Underground Railroad quilt patterns. Used by enslaved Black Americans seizing freedom by organized escape, these patterns are emblems of American freedoms that are not collective of ensuring the personal welfare and happiness for all, but instead for the convenience of select groups. The quilt patterns evoke continual acts of watchfulness, preparation, ally-seeking, and escape. In contrast to the two-dimensional artworks, totemic-like sculptures permeate the space encompassing power, fraternity, anonymity, and pageantry. The sculpture surfaces are adorned with attached elements. Are they treasure or detritus, offerings of thanks, protection, or to ward off evil?

Rubin uses images, metaphors, and symbols to evoke the continual striving for freedom, autonomy, joy, and full citizenship.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display until December 18.