Black Mary

Barrymore A. Moton Art 281 Jason Judd,  International Show viewed at University Galleries Illinois State University Normal, Illinois 22 Sept. '16 Black Mary, or "Molly Princess of Wales." 2016 by Director/Writer/ Producer - Joscelyn Gardner,  Black Mary Lead Actress/Vocalist:  Melanie Jean-Baptiste  Animated video. 33:41 mins. 

Joscelyn Gardner's piece entitled Black Mary is a animate video approx. 33 mins long. It's set in the period of (colonial slavery in the Caribbean) circa 1700's.  This film is  very intriguing for several reasons.  One of which is the cinematography used. The cinematography takes you to the age of the minstrel shows without the Black face or some Vaudevillian skit. Fig. 1.1  It used  the co-actors as mannequin-like stage-props effectively to the extent that it  gave them a voice without any dialogue.  Throughout the film you found yourself waiting for them to have some form of speaking lines.   The fact that it was done in a narrative format added to the aura of this piece. 

Fig. 1.1 Black Mary or "Molly Princess of  Wales" 2016

Gardner has actress/singer Melanie Jean-Baptiste play the lead actor as she performed vocals and narrated on stage shedding light on issues of colonialism, sexism, color-ism, and racism during slavery in the Caribbean.  The story was intelligently presented in narrative form reminiscent to  Fig. 1.2 HBO documentary "Unchained Memories.

Fig. 1.2 "Unchained Memories"

It has been stated in historical archives that the worse slaves were sent to the Caribbean.  However, the main character Black Mary,  was not an incorrigible slave by any means for she was well liked by her master and traveled him to every destination.   It was the fellow fair skinned slaves that gave her problems.  Gardner was able to get the viewer into the mind of Mary by allowing them  to ascertain the toxic relationships between fellow slaves of a lighter hue through the narrative voice of Ms Jean-Baptise. The piece is gritty and pulls no punches when speaking of the atrocities during slavery in the Caribbean. As we went from scene to scene  the stage backdrop would change.   Some of the characters, including the family dog would either be added or subtracted like interchangeable parts to keep the viewers attention off the lead actor and tuned in to the grander scope of the piece.    In Fig. 1.1 she implement text  on the slave shack in the backgroundFor those of you who have the patience or the interest in colonial slave history this piece is right up your alley.  I happen to like artist who choose to embark on different projects in a historical context. In my opinion it’s the duty of every artist to reflect the times in their work.  
as a visual aide to give the visual imagery of some form of slave memoirs as you attempted to follow the rhythm of her voice in unison with the architectural contours of the slave shack in the backdrop. 

Fig. 1.3 Joscelyn Gardner

 Joscelyn Grarderner Fig. 1.3 is a multi-media artist. Feel free to google the introduction to her 2004 exhibition from her show entitled White Skin, Black Kin "Speaking the Unspeakable." Though born in Canada to Canadian and Barbadian parent her roots still lay in her Caribbean ancestry.  A great deal of her work deals with the very issues with which she addressed in her film Black Mary.