Back in May, we shared the news that following decades of a rich, singular artistic output, celebrated visual and performance artist Lonnie Holley had signed to Jagjaguwar. With his music described as a bridge between Alice Coltrane and Gil Scott-Heron, Holley has today shared a powerful new video for his strong new single and our Song of the Day ‘I Woke Up in a Fucked-Up America’ which features contributions from fellow cosmic musician Laraaji, jazz duo Nelson Patton, the late visionary producer Richard Swift, saxophonist Sam Gendel and producer/musician Shahzad Ismaily.
Directed by Matt Arnett and Ethan Payne and co-produced by Arnett and Holley it opens in an ageing industrial warehouse where Holley awakes surrounded by a multitude of objects, like some giant art installation or maybe a more appropriate term would be a museum as the work featured was created by 17 artists including that of Holley.
Even the quilt that’s draped over his body has a significance which may not be apparent until you read the credits and the mention of the Gee’s Bend quilters. The Quilts of Gee’s Bend are considered to be unique, and one of the most important African-American visual and cultural contributions to the history of art within the United States (wiki).
In fact, like Holley, many of the artists featured are members of “Souls Grown Deep Foundation” which is dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting the contributions of artists from the African American South, and the cultural traditions in which they are rooted.
Those featured include: Lonnie Holley, Joe Minter, Thornton Dial, Purvis Young, Ronald Lockett, Mary T. Smith, James “Son” Thomas, Charles Williams, Mose Tolliver, Jimmie Lee Sudduth, Mary Lee Bendolph, Mozell Benson, Gee’s Bend quilters, Richard Dial, E.M. Bailey, Joe Light, Viva Vadim and Hawkins Bolden.
Much of the artwork and sculptures bring a powerful presence to the video, many with strong links to slavery and emancipation which heighten the nightmarish feel of the song, a response to the wall and Trump’s America – get me out of this dream.
Find out more about them here: http://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artists
Read more about Lonnie and his earlier work here on Folk Radio.