Bill Rasdell has spent over three decades traveling throughout the African Diaspora, photographing the people and places that define cultures, traditions, and histories. His work is no stranger to Harrison Center gallery walls, and this month he is returning with a show in Speck Gallery, Holding It Down: Sisters in the African Diaspora. Rasdell has compiled dozens of images documenting his travels throughout Cuba, Ghana, Israel, the United States, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Capetown, and more for the exhibition.

A common theme emerged during Rasdell’s journeys. The artist found a strong tradition of women holding entire societies together – through the telling of oral histories, the maintenance of homeplaces, the raising of children, the selling of goods at markets, the tending of crops, etc. Rasdell states that these images are not just about the tremendous efforts women undertake to sustain families, villages, and cultures; the photos also represent the tender moments, compassionate times, and celebrations that color the lives of the women pictured.

William Rasdell, *Griot Traditions - South Africa*, photography

Griot Traditions - South Africa provides the viewer with a snapshot of the latter. Rasdell takes an almost painterly approach to the subject matter of a woman reading aloud text from the South African children’s book Amagrablish. He gives the gentle moment a thoughtful title: Griot is a West African term used to describe those who recount oral histories. In Rasdell’s work, these everyday moments are frozen in time, preserved as monuments to the laudable actions of women across the globe.

William Rasdell, *Bringing the Spirit - Cuba*, photography

I am particularly captivated by the exuberant emotion of Bringing the Spirit - Cuba. Drawn to the country for its music, dancing, and culture, Rasdell has spent considerable time in Cuba. It is hard to ignore the elation of this piece. The sitter’s wide-reaching, open-mouth smile competes in vibrancy with the golden hue that adorns her gown. In discussing the work, Rasdell conveys that this image was taken in Callejón de Hamel, an alley in Havana. Every Sunday, a street party (or rumba) is thrown in Callejón de Hamel. These weekly celebrations mirror the vibrant backdrops of the alley walls, which have been bathed in Afro-Cuban art by Salvador Gonzáles Escalona. The woman’s vestments reflect reverence to the Santerían Orisha (saint) Oshun. Oshun is usually depicted adorned in a golden dress. She is an idol of femininity, sensuality, dance, and love. Rasdell captures the essence of Oshun in this work, additionally incorporating a blurring effect in the background that conveys active motion. As is true in so many other images in this show, the artist has perfectly captured the spirit of a fleeting moment and the cultural rhythms that brought it forth.

The images in this exhibition paint a picture of Rasdell as an artist with deep veneration for the celebrations, hardships, and subtleties of the women he has captured through his lens. I hope you will join me in appreciating his decades of work shedding light on the enriching impact of daily life and customs throughout the African diaspora.

Holding It Down: Sisters in the African Diaspora is on display in Speck Gallery during the month of January. All works are available for purchase and can be viewed online through our online gallery and in-person during regular gallery hours from 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday.