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The Spiral Collective

Happy Black history month, and a throwback to Spiral Podcast

DrawTogether

Feb 11, 2022

Helllllooo friends!

Well, I’m writing to you from my mobile device. My internet has been down for a couple days so we have to postpone today’s DrawTogether Podcast. Boo. BUT. It should be fixed tomorrow, and we’ll have a great new episode coming in a few days (shooting for Monday.) So that’s something to look forward to.

Meanwhile, let’s flash back to our third episode: The Heart Spiral.

In addition to being a classic DT calming drawing activity, spirals are also present through out nature - and they have a BIG presence art history. The artist Louise Bourgeois drew and sculpted spirals non-stop. The comics artist Lynda Barry encourages her students to draw spirals to connect the mind and body. And perhaps the most influential and important spiral in all of art history was The Spiral Collective.

In 1963 - a time when Black artists were marginalized and often not included in major art exhibitions and conversations - a group of African-American artists formed a collective to advocate for the role of African-Americans in the art world, and address the role of art and artists in the social justice movement. They called themselves “The Spiral Collective.”

“Captivity and Resistance”, a collage by Romare Bearden, a founding member of The Spiral Collective, 1976.

The group chose the name “Spiral” because the spiral “moves outward, embracing all directions, yet continually upward.” The group was formed by notable artists Romare Bearden, Charles Alston, Norman Lewis, and Hale Woodruff. While the group worked together for just two years, the impact of the conversations, exploration and their one major exhibition of Black artists was profound. You can read more about The Spiral Collective at The Harlem Museum’s site.

On that note, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH! We have some great podcast fun lined up, plus some extra bonus goodness for subscribers. And thank you for your patience as the internet tubes get fixed. Fingers crossed to see you (and draw with you) on Monday!

Xo,