People stay ready, there’s a movement to start,
Bring your courage, your fire, your heart.
You don’t need permission, just take your stand,
The power’s in the people, hand in hand.

The chains might rattle, but they won’t hold tight,
When love and resistance shine through the night.
Truth’s our engine, hope the tracks we ride,
We’ll break through the darkness, side by side.

Part 1

The pictures are illustrations of crucifixions. Historically Black men have been crucified. It may have been dying stacked in slave ships, it may have been hanging from a tree during slavery, it may have been jailing after Reconstruction, it may have been in the media, it may have been psychological. The talk that went with these images was about my personal psychological crucifixions.

Part 2

Women have been crucified through time also, be it body shaming, be it cultural taboos, be it cultural appropriation, be it political correctness.

Part 3

When your dad gives you millions of dollars you think that they are toys for you to play with. Because you’re rich you think you have access to women that you can fondle, sexually abuse and dominate. You think you can trample on the American flag and on democracy. You’ve been a thug all of your life. Any Black person who did any of these things would have ended up in prison garb.

More information about Imagining Ancestors https://4comculture.com/pok-chi-lau

Pok Chi Lau Photographs

Pok Chi Lau’s website

For further information on Togo and the Black Diaspora visit https://4comculture.com/17595-2

Cuba

Plants and Lovers at Garden Party 107 S Madison St, Spokane WA Oct 6, 2023 5pm Oct 6 – 29 Wed – Sun 11 am Visit Garden Party

Fly on the Wall Part 1 at Hamilton Studio 1427 W Dean St, Spokane WA Nov 3 2023 5 pm Talk at 7 pm

Fly on the Wall Part 2 at Carl Maxey Center 3114 E 5th Ave, Spokane WA Mon – Fri 10 am – 4 pm Gallery Premier Opening Dec 1, 2023 5 pm

Plants and Lovers at Garden Party

Artist Statement

Robert has always had an interest in social justice, community development and the visual arts. His explorations started with a Brownie Hawkeye camera through digital imaging and Artificial Intelligence Art. He has explored film sizes and materials, printing processes from the mimeograph machine through letter press, offset to inkjet. He’s explored imagery from illustration to the pictorial and the conceptual. This body of work, Eros, was inspired by his wife’s love of the garden and the non-violent teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King and his sermon on love – AGAPE, EROS, PHILIA.

Eros is an aesthetic love of beautiful literature and art. It has also come to mean a romantic love that we experience when we find someone that is attractive and to whom we pour out all of our love.

Biography

Robert Lloyd was an organizer and documentary photographer in the Chicago Freedom Movement from 1962-1967. In 1974 he completed an MFA in Design and Photography at California Institute of the Arts and began teaching photography at Eastern Washington University. He founded, directed, and curated The Grand Photography Gallery at Eastern Washington University and The Lloyd Gallery at 123 Arts.

From 1996-2000 he founded and published a community newspaper, the Spokane African American Voice. He retired from Eastern Washington University in 2004 after 30 years of teaching photography and digital imaging. After his retirement he photographed in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, China and Japan and he photographed for The Black Lens News. His work has been recently exhibited at Washington State University’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in the Black Lives Matter Artist Grant exhibit, Charles Ball in the letter L in the Black Lives Matter Mural in Spokane Washington, and in Our Voices Our Visions, the exhibit he curated for the opening of the Carl Maxey Center featuring 25 BIPOC artists. He can be reached at rdlloyd@comcast.net and website 4comculture.com

Robert Lloyd’s Multimedia Images Price List

8 1/2 x 11: First Friday Exhibition Price $35.00 each unframed

Robert J. Lloyd’s portfolios are online at: https://4comculture.com/253-2

Available online in these formats:

Premium art papers:
8 1/2 x 11 				$ 50.00
11 x 17  				$ 75.00
Diptych 			        $100.00
Triptych				$125.00
Quadriptych		                $150.00

Rag or Watercolor Paper or Sunset Canvas w/border:	
11 x 14					$100.00 
16 x 20					$125.00
20 x 24					$150.00
24 x 36					$200.00

Canvas stretched on #4 bar gallery wrap: 
16 x 20					$220.00 
18 x 24					$245.00
24 x 36					$450.00

Additional sizes and paper surfaces available. 
Matting and framing available. Ask for quote.
Shipping available additional. 

Plants and Lovers Exhibition by Robert J. Lloyd

Garden Party Oct 6 – 29, 2023 Wed – Sun 11 AM

107 S Madison St, Spokane, WA

Robert has always had an interest in social justice, community development and the visual arts. His explorations started with a Brownie Hawkeye camera through digital imaging and Artificial Intelligence Art. He has explored film sizes and materials, printing processes from the mimeograph machine through letter press, offset to inkjet. He’s explored imagery from illustration to the pictoral and the conceptual. This body of work explores Eros and was inspired by his wife’s love of the garden and the non-violent teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King and his sermon on love – AGAPE, EROS, PHILIA.

Eros is an aesthetic love of beautiful literature and art. It has also come to mean a romantic love that we experience when we find someone that is attractive and to whom we pour out all of our love.

First Friday Exhibitions by Robert Lloyd

More of Robert Lloyd’s Images

Why Black Art for Your Home

By Robert Lloyd

The importance of African Americans displaying art by and about their culture in their homes is paramount for providing identity to their children, as well as educating them on the history and heritage of the African diaspora. Hanging artwork that reflects a positive image of blackness can help foster self-esteem in children who may otherwise feel disconnected from or misrepresented by mainstream media. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for parents to teach lessons about resilience, pride and perseverance in times when many communities are facing adversity due to systemic racism.

For generations prior to us, our ancestors have been denied access into museums or galleries where they could learn more about our cultural roots; however today we have access through technology which has opened up new avenues for exploration without leaving home. By hanging artwork that celebrates various aspects of black life such as music, dance and fashion within one’s own home gives families a chance explore these topics together while also instilling values like respect for diversity within younger generations. Furthermore this helps create conversations around race relations with family members who might not understand why certain issues are important but can be exposed through visual representation.

In conclusion, hanging artworks created by African American artists on walls at home allows individuals from all backgrounds including those from minority groups, to gain insight into what makes up a unique culture. It serves both educational purposes – teaching people how different cultures interact-and personal ones – helping build self esteem among young people whose identities may be underrepresented elsewhere. Through this practice we will continue celebrating Black excellence while inspiring others towards greatness regardless of skin color.

So to keep you up to date I will be publishing an African American portrait every Tuesday.

So to keep you up to date I will be publishing an African American portrait every Tuesday.

So to keep you up to date I will be publishing an African American portrait every Tuesday.