Artistic Remix: Lehna Huie's Journey to Uplift Black Identity and the Pan-African Diaspora | Inspiring Stories of Liberation, Migration, and Remembrance

Welcome to a podcast where art becomes a language of its own. This is 'The Truth in This Art' with your host, Rob Lee and today’s special guest Lehna Huie, a multidisciplinary artist and cultural worker of Jamaican heritage, focuses on uplifting stories of black identity and exploring connections within the Pan-African and Caribbean diasporas. Her work delves into themes of migration, non-linear time, and remembrance, aiming to recover untold narratives erased and distorted by colonialism. As an arts educator, Huie is deeply devoted to using arts and social change as a path to liberation.

As we delve into this episode:

• Delve into Lehna Huie's artistic style, a captivating "remix" of mediums and cultural influences, shaped by her Jamaican heritage and New York City upbringing.
• Explore how Lehna's work celebrates black identity, seeking to uplift and share the compelling stories of black culture and history.
• Uncover the challenges faced by black artists in the commercial art world, as they strive for representation and recognition amidst the commercialization of their art.
• Take a closer look at the personal significance of Lehna's piece "Water Spirit," a profound reflection of her exploration into black history, medical apartheid, and ancestral influences.
• Examine Lehna's improvisational approach to art, where she seamlessly weaves together fabric, found objects, and plant matter, infusing her work with unique textures and depth.
• Learn about Lehna's dedication to building deep connections and a vibrant art community, as she collaborates with fellow artists and organizers to foster meaningful relationships.
• Shed light on the underappreciated area of young black women artists in Baltimore, deserving recognition and support to showcase their exceptional talents and contributions to the art world.

This is one episode you won't want to skip! Lehna joins host Rob Lee to discuss her background and artistic style. Lena shares how her Jamaican heritage and upbringing in New York City have influenced her work, which she describes as a "remix" of various mediums and cultural influences. She also talks about the importance of representing black culture in art and the challenges of navigating the commercialization of art as a black artist. Lehna shares a personal connection to one of her pieces, "Water Spirit," and how it reflects her exploration of black history, medical apartheid, and ancestral influences. The conversation also touches on the improvisational nature of Lehna's work, the importance of deep connections and community in the art world, and the underappreciated area of young black women artists in Baltimore.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lehna's website

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The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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