Song played in background of video "It's Just Begun" Written by Gerry Thomas, Jimmy Castor, and John Pruitt, Performed by the Jimmy Castor Bunch from the Album "It's Just Begun" 1972
Photographs and Video by Nikki Williams
Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! Look at one of my Babies ... Well, she's not a baby anymore. By now, she has to be in her early thirties. This first hanging of the artwork of "Beautiful, Also, Are the Souls of My People," at Columbia University, was in February 2010. How could this young woman be in her thirties when I am still in my forties? Ah, the Magic of Denial!!!! How thoughtful she looks, how caring. I hope the world is ready for her thoughtfulness.
Sweetness, remember, you are still beginning....
This was not my first art exhibition or program at Columbia University. I started presenting programs back in 1996. But this was the first group of students whose Spirits shaped and touched my heart in such a special way. I can't say why they did, but I am assured that God knows why - and for this reason, I am thankful. These young students who started academic lives at Columbia University, were from such diverse backgrounds - working together - forming their own sense of community. They had the whole world ahead of them - I hope that they still feel that they have. What I loved about my babies, those young people, was their fearlessness, their willingness to do something that they never tried before. This was the first time that they curated an art exhibition - decided where the artwork should be placed, and the story it would tell. I hope that their own narratives still tell stories of "Never Before's"
Ah, Beloveds, if in any way, you can feel my Spirit, I am Soul Sending you this message: "Take Heart ... it's just begun...."
Progress can be seen, all because of their willingness to stretch, reach, climb, and trust. They asked each other questions, sought advice, gave and received council. No roles or hierarchy. Just a coming together of ideas. I can hear them saying as they curate their first art exhibit, "Ms. Nikki said that "Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People," is inspired by the poem "My People," written by Mr. Langston Hughes. So, how can we hang this artwork in a way that affirms our own beauty and soul. How can we reimagine this visual poem? We will both reach up, finding ways to climb until our sights meet. We are here, in the safe soil of our growing. Look at us, art/working together! I hope we make Ms. Nikki will be proud!"
Dear Hearts, don't climb down now, never climb down. Keep your beautiful dreaming heads up ... That's where Beginnings start ...
Here we are, we made it! The Opening Reception, the first stop on the tour of "Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People," photographs in collage celebrating the resilient beauty of the African American experience. Curated by young people of African, Asian, and European descent. When I walked into that space for the first time, it was for the Artist Talk. I was so dang on proud! I never get involved in the hanging of my artwork and boy, these students who were no more than 20 years of age, did a phenomenal job! What does that tell you? It tells me over and over again, "Art is the Language of the Spirit Talking!" What a beautiful night. One of my best times when it comes to my art exhibitions. Lord, ain't we had fun! Some of us were up until 3:00 a.m., just a-talking, and a-laughing! I guess we knew that this time would never come again, so we draped our Selves over soft couches and chairs, ate pizza, and simply savored the Blessing of being in each other's company. At the time of this writing, one of my babies will be celebrating his graduation. He is receiving his Ph.D, in May of 2025! Whoo! Hoo! Dr. Emeka Ekwelum, that's my baby!!! I have witnessed and watched his Spirit grow and blossom now for 15 years. God is so Good to have gifted my life with this beautiful Soul. The Universe brings people together for a moment, or if you're lucky, a lifetime. I am so grateful for that then time, and yes, for the times to come. Until we meet again ... 'til soon!
And so, like the sky and river finding renewal in the turning page of morning's Dawned Promise, may we all be given the Grace to Begin ... again!
- Nikki Williams
After "Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People," was packed up, (love those students), we took it from one part of Harlem up home to Sugar Hill Harlem. We gave it a slight face lift, a little nip and tuck, smoothing and straightening, made room for its siblings (new art pieces and poems), and got the exhibit ready for still more new beginnings. It was a lot of fun presenting creative writing workshops, artist talks, and performances at The South Brunswick Public Library, in South Brunswick, New Jersey, the Art Gallery in the Town of Greenburgh, White Plains, NY, and back uptown to Harlem where we had a ball at Gallery M. - just in time for the summer and Harlem Week. (photograph of the "Darker Brother" above. photograph of the "Langstonathon" below)
I love producing programs. And I also love directing - especially when there is trust on both sides. Gallery M., gave me the opportunity to begin again and put into place new ideas of the kinds of programs that I wanted to present with the exhibit. My brand of "Literary Marathons" started at Gallery M. These literary marathons give me the opportunity to share my opportunities with my creative colleagues, when and wherever possible. So, in conjunction with the exhibit and in celebration of Mr. Langston Hughes, I produced three programs: An author book reading entitled, "The Darker Brother," (the title is borrowed from a line in Langston Hughes' poem, "I Too"). Black male authors, actors, poets and writers, shared their work and spoke about being Black Men in Literature, an Artist Talk, and my very first Literary Marathon. I invited my colleagues who were primarily from the world of theater and film, to participate in I titled, a "Langstonathon." The program was a three hour, non-stop, back to back, presentation of Langston Hughes' poetry and prose. Because my Creative Colleagues are so fabulous, fierce, ferocious, and fly, I prefer not to rehearse - just let the creative energy fly. I am exhibiting artwork this summer and producing another Literary Marathon in September that pays tribute to the musical genius of Mr. Stevie Wonder. As Black Folk are known to say, I know, "Them Children is going to put they foot in it!"
"Beautiful, Also,..." grew and continued to journey. From 2011 to 2021, the exhibit began, ended, and began again. There were solo exhibitions, workshops, and performances at the Countee Cullen Library and the Gordon Parks Gallery. An Artist Talk as part of the Bronx Trolley Tour. There were exhibits at 1199 Bread and Roses, The Broward Country Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (pictured below). A ten year retrospective entitled, "And a PraiseSong Shall Rise Over a Cappella Skies," at both Ryan Health Adair and Frederick Douglass locations, and an exhibit at the Children's Art Carnival (due to a grant made possible by former Council New York City Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr., 36th district) - thank you Sir, for your service and integrity.
From the dawn and wonder of this exhibition, to the wisdom horizoned at dusk, "Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People," has been such a Blessing - a sunrise and sunset of beginnings and seeming endings. And yes, I have been graced to exhibit new bodies of work, write additional books, and produce other festivals, but the beginning of where this exhibit started at Columbia University, is still close to my heart. They say that your first born will always hold a special place. Parts of the exhibition are now permanently in a 111-page, hard cover coffee table book. My babies, grown in their thirties, as they are now, continually remind me, as Scripture states, that "All Things Are Possible." Between the cover and pages of the book are my whispered Prayers for their continued beginnings. This exhibition has also graced me with laying eyes and hands on new people. Ah, the people that I have met, Lord. But the hands, yes, the hands, who actually touched the artwork, the eyes that looked at the art in order to determine the spaces that it should occupy; and the hands that lovingly held and placed the artwork on the walls, the voices of encouragement along the way .... And the birthing and rebirthing of new artwork, the wombing, and bringing forth - all incredible Blessings that I never take for granted. And these Blessings Beloved, go hand in hand with the job and the responsibility of being an Artist. To take up the Calling, to receive the grace to co-create with Spirit comes with an Oath - it is the job of the Artist to bring Beauty to a weary world and Hope to its heart. To bring into existence that which is waiting ... Artists feel shadow deep but we are also buoyantly Blessed to recreate and reimage the Light that finds peaceful coexistence with the Dark. I believe that is one of the messages in Mr. Langston Hughes' now famous poem, "My People." Mr. Hughes wrote: "The night is beautiful, So the faces of my People. The stars are beautiful, so the eyes of my people. Beautiful, also, is the sun. Beautiful, Also, are the Souls of My People."
And so, do not lament long for that which has rightfully returned to the Eternal. For what was seen is gone only for a short time. It is gone only to be reintroduced to its Source, a Source that has been in patient wait in It's longing for the Beloved. With hand and heart open, receive this Promise: As you have been returned, the birthing of Beginnings, has already begun. Look to the Splendor and Order of Nature. Learn from her resilient lessons of dressing, shedding, and redressing all under her seasonal claiming ... Ah Beloved, take HeART, our "New Again's" are here ... Can't you feel it?They are as close as our next breath.
- Nikki Williams