Spilling the Tea: The Kwanzaa Edition* - Day 1 - Umoja (Unity)

Hi everyone, Hilary’s wife Ara again. As promised, the takeover of her instagram account continues with my first pairing of a Hilary Harkness painting (or two or three) with a Kwanzaa principle along with a few of my musings for you to sip on as I continue Spilling the Tea: The Kwanzaa Edition. 

Day 1 - Umoja (Unity) To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. 

Like a lot of people, I’m working from home these days. Hilary’s on one end of the apartment painting and I’m on the other end squawking at my laptop. I love what I do, but there are days. (Wo)man, are there days. The drawing for Balls O’Clock hangs above my workspace. In those moments of unease and despair, I look at it closely. I see myself. Literally. I’m a sometimes model for Hilary’s many figures. I’ll let you guess which ones (hint: Inside the Artist’s Studio by @JoeFig2000 can help you out). There’s one figure in particular that catches my eye. Her arms can barely support the weight of her fatigue, her frustration and her understanding that she and the rest of her shipmates are stuck in a game of very long odds. But she’s not alone to shoulder the burden. She’s surrounded. There’s no time for petty games or politics. Survival requires unity - of mission, of purpose, of recognition that some are stronger than others. But like the women depicted in Hilary’s other World War II inspired cross-sections, they will all face the same certain doom if they don’t get it together. Together. I stop staring at the drawing. I’m reminded that I’ve also got a squad. I’m not alone. I get back to squawking. We can do this. 

Paintings featured (just a few of the many magnificent WWII-inspired ones): Balls O’Clock (2015); Red Sky in the Morning (2011); Crossing the Equator (2003)

*This and the subsequent “Spilling the Tea” entries originally appeared as a series of Instagram posts.