Jerry-Faye Flatt | Intertwined in Black Lives Matter: Penny Heather
Artist Penny Heather stands in front of her painting on the window of Chess Piece Pâtisserie. Photo by Hailley Fayle.
A new painting on the window of Chess Piece Pâtisserie will cause those who visit to think about more than just their morning coffee.
The acrylic painting, made by Fredericton artist Penny Heather, depicts one black and one white hand blended and intertwined, with the words “We are strongest together” and “Black Lives Matter.”
The painting shows support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and beyond, and raises awareness about the issues happening in Canada and on the East Coast.
“I’d say [Fredericton] is diverse, but there's definitely more of a white population, so I think some people maybe aren't even aware that this is an issue that's affecting their neighbours, and people in their own community,” said Penny.
“Seeing stuff like this creates a discussion that not only is it something that we need to be thinking about, but that there is positive support towards it.”
Penny has also created similar paintings on the windows of The Royal Barbershop and Sequoia Fredericton.
A global conversation
Protests broke out across the globe when George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25 by a white police officer. The officer kneeled on George’s neck for over eight minutes. George cried out for help and said he was unable to breathe, but the officer did not remove his knee, according to a New York Times article.
There has been a compelling worldwide call for justice for George and the many other people of colour who have been killed at the hands of police. In New Brunswick, two Indigenous people were killed by police in the span of eight days – Chantel Moore on June 4 and Rodney Levi on June 12.
The protests in the United States started happening about a week and a half before Penny was asked to make this painting. While people around her were considering whether or not to post about it on their social platforms, she was trying to decide where her own narrative fit into the larger conversation. Creating this piece helped her find out.
“For me the [simplest] way to comment on it was to do through art, which is my main means of processing my own experiences.”
The idea for the design came from thinking about her own identity.
“Because I'm of mixed race, it feels like it was partnering these two parts of me into one design.”
Penny said she’s never struggled with her identity and finds it strange when people comment on her being Black, or conversely when people comment on her being white. The painting helped her create a personal harmony between both of these identities.
“I’m never really identifying as either of those things, because I'm both.”
Artist Penny Heather said the painting helped her create a personal harmony. Photo by Hailley Fayle.
Chess Piece Pâtisserie co-owner Patti Hollenberg says she wants to support the arts community and support Black and Indigenous folks and people of colour.
“I wanted people to feel like they have this stigma-free space, just to feel welcome,” Patti said.
Penny said her painting ads a hopeful perspective to the Black Lives Matter conversation.
“With communicating with each other we can create something that's quite great, and quite positive, and can actually make changes. . .art I think can communicate things quite simply and effectively.”
Paintings like Penny’s will allow those who visit Chess Piece to think and reflect on how they can work to actively dismantle racism in their own communities, whether that be through challenging their own unconscious bias and colonial mindset, speaking up in a workplace or amongst friends and family.
White folks should contribute to this movement by providing spaces and platforms for more art like Penny’s – art that makes you question how much you are actually supporting and speaking up for the Black, Indigenous and people of colour in your communities.
Jerry-Faye Flatt is a summer reporter for CreatedHere Magazine. She’s a recent St. Thomas University grad who double majored in journalism and communications. Flatt spent her final year at university as the Managing Editor of The Aquinian, STU’s official student newspaper, after working as the Arts Editor in her previous year. When she’s not busy out getting the latest scoop, you can find her playing in bands or driving around in her red 1981 Ford econoline van. If you have a story tip, you can contact her at flatt.jerryfaye@gmail.com.