When Art, Family, and History Collide
There is a certain level of expectation that whenever a new exhibit or show opens, the marketing engine behind it is going to emphatically tell you that you need to drop everything and attend, because this one is not to be missed. Sometimes, the show lives up to the hype, and other times, not so much. The Kinfolk House, which opened on March 5th, happens to be one of the true gems that actually manages to exceed your expectations at every turn and most certainly is not to be missed.
The grand opening and special art collaboration, combines the art of Sedrick and Letitia Huckaby, a husband and wife duo and artist powerhouse, within the confines of Sedrick’s grandmother’s original, historic home near Polytechnic High School in east Fort Worth. The 100-year-old house was recently restored to a glorious state that keeps the heart and soul of the old structure in place, but adds a veneer of newness and polish that makes the space that encloses the art just as much a part of the exhibit as the collection itself.
Sedrick Huckaby's artwork at Kinfolk House
I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with one of the principal creators and artistic contributors of the Kinfolk House, Sedrick Huckaby in the days leading up to the opening. Sedrick, of course, is already well known in art circles for his papier mâché work, and there are several examples of that work on display. One in particular features a facsimile of his Grandmother sitting at a large dining table, with a glorious shiny aluminum picnic set out in front of her. Without uttering a word, you somehow feel like the former owner is welcoming you into her home and offering you a heaping plate of food as you enter.
But there is more to this initial art collection, to be sure. Sedrick’s oil paintings beckon you deeper into the house all along the way, with there massive size and copious amounts of paint piled high on them. The papier mâché influence is clear in his paintings as well, as the oils that make up the images often extend beyond the canvas in overlapping piles of paint, creating an almost 3D effect. Arranged intermittently between his portraits, you will find paintings which are thematically focused around the practice of creating T-shirts and other wearable memorabilia to celebrate loved ones who’ve passed away before us.
Letitia Huckaby’s art pieces capture her subjects in a way that makes them feel intimate and personal, like a collection of postcards from someone you know well, and have just pulled them out of a shoebox to reminisce and reflect with them. And of course, there is the house itself, with its small bathroom that has a Lincoln penny inlaid floor, to the parlor that has been converted into a Chapel, complete with pews from Sedrick’s grandmother’s church…the entire space is part of the experience.
Letitia Huckaby's artwork
Just don’t call it a gallery. According to the Huckaby’s, their decision to call it a Collaborative Project Space is very intentional. Moving forward, they want the space to bring out creatives from their community and encourage collaboration at every turn. It can be collaborations between painters and sculptors, but also poets and filmmakers, storytellers and musicians. In Sedrick’s own words, “even between Creatives and Business.”
Kinfolk House
The name of the place is also significant and has multiple interpretations. As a home that has been in his family for multiple generations, it is certainly a place where Sedrick’s literal kin have spent holidays and other family gatherings together, but the term ‘kinfolk’ has also been co-opted into popular vernacular to mean ‘the people who are close to you’, says Sedrick.
For example, if you are walking down the street, Sedrick says, “someone might use the term kinfolk in the same way that they would say ‘Homeboy’ or ‘Cuz’. That just means that there is a closeness to your relationship, whether you are related biologically or not. We want that kind of closeness to be a part of the experience of being here.” Kinfolk House, does indeed, welcome all with arms wide open.
More information can be found at www.KinfolkHouse.org
Video & Article
by: Mouty Shackelford
