{"product_id":"harrison-april-glow-up","title":"Harrison , April (Glow Up)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Glow Up\" by April Harrison\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e8 x 8 inches, mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas -- framed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0261\/3941\/files\/April_about2_medium.jpg?4321\" style=\"float: left; margin: 5px 8px 2px 5px;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\" data-block-type=\"2\" id=\"block-yui_3_17_2_1_1596170247287_9396\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"sqs-block-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eSouth Carolina native April W Harrison creates rich mixed-media paintings that reveal her unshakeable belief in the strength of faith, family and friendship. Her adept use of color and collaging with speciality paper and magazine prints, as well as her audacious re-purposing of found objects in her work, add a physical reality and a quilt-like quality that roots it firmly within an African American artistic tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eA self-taught artist who has been professionally involved in art for 20 plus years, and an award winning artist and illustrator, Harrison has achieved a great measure of success and popular acclaim. Her work has been featured at numerous venues nationwide, including the Morris Museum of Art,GA ; Hampton University Museum, VA; Spartanburg County Museum of Art, SC; Greenville County Museum of Art, SC; and the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRomare Bearden Juried Invitational\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid C. Driskell\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat Charlotte’s Mint Museum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\" data-block-type=\"2\" id=\"block-yui_3_17_2_1_1596170247287_9396\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"sqs-block-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003e\"When you enter my creative world, I want you to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFEEL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esomething . A tug at the old heart strings. Perhaps a distant memory you stored away. A love lost, or a love found, A touch of the spirit.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSOMETHING\u003c\/strong\u003e. While on your visit please take notice of the elongated extremities which are exaggerated and point to a special emphasis of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ehands\u003c\/strong\u003e, denoting the importance and power of the human touch. Arms that extend and envelope to welcome you in, a friendly reminder that you are loved. Perhaps the texture of the pieces pulled you in and caught your eye? Through the piecing of collage, I create texture and pattern. I’ve always admired the interweaving found in the wonderful quilts of my grandmothers. Their homemade quilts evoke a feeling of comfort, love, caring and family. What they achieved with a needle and thread, I try to achieve with collage and mixed media. I believe our stories are still being told, retold and entwined through the piecing together of torn papers, found objects, paint palette and love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eI have often been questioned about my artistic process. I begin each piece of work as an abstract type painting. I literally just have fun with acrylic paint or any water medium. From there they develop into figurative images, then comes the collage. For me, it’s a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003espiritual\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ejourney, it’s where I commune with the spirit and from that visit, my art unfolds. Perhaps it could be compared to discovering hidden figures or objects within the clouds. My life’s work has a theme. If you look close you will notice that quite a few of my images appear to have closed eyes. This is purposely created and based on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2 Corinthians 5:7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“ For we walk by faith, not by sight”\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e“With Eyes Closed “\u003c\/em\u003ewe are required to call upon a deeper sense than the sometimes unbelieving and bias observations of the eyes… We are required to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFEEL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003elove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThanking you in advance for allowing me to share my story of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLove\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFaith\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHope.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"April Harrison","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52465243128090,"sku":"sbo_april_harrison_glow_up","price":800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0261\/3941\/files\/IMG_5737.jpg?v=1783704921","url":"https:\/\/www.blackartinamerica.com\/products\/harrison-april-glow-up","provider":"Black Art In America™ Gallery \u0026 Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}