Â鶹´«Ã½

This exhibition was on view June 1Â鶹´«Ã½“September 17, 2021

A photo exhibition by Dondre Stuetley, Â鶹´«Ã½˜15

We Wear the Mask
by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,Â鶹´«Ã½”
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

Artist Statement

My body of work examines the reclaiming of black identity and space within a societal oppressive state. Through portraiture, I question the roles of patriarchy, racism, homophobia and gender discrimination on the dismantling of black subjectivity. Each black and white portrait is taken around New York City. A mecca for differential black identities, I find my subjects in everyday walks of life. Found objects are symbolically used as props, discussing the struggles and perseverance of African Americans reclaiming a sense of self. Cotton, pearls, and band-aids covers thematic issues over systematic brutality, sexual politics, and gender nonconformity.

Biography

Dondre Stuetley is a visual artist, currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Through portraiture he examines the interplay between race and gender. Exploring realms of self-identity, his work investigates issues of vulnerability and the role of societal stigmas. StuetleyÂ鶹´«Ã½™s work has been exhibited in the New Orleans African American Museum and The Living Gallery. He is currently a member of the Enfoco Professional Development Series. Stuetley received a BA in from Â鶹´«Ã½ in 2015.