John Baker, James Cooper III, and Princessa S. Williams

Sharing Our VIEW: Reflections on Past, Present, and Future
Dedicated to the memory of Natalie Vinson Trueheart

In 1998, I organized the exhibition Sharing Our View at the Burchfield Penney Art Center to celebrate local African American visual artists of the past, present, and future. The concept was conceived after many discussions with artists, some of whom are no longer with us, about art, artists, and the community. How do we as black artists achieve respect, equality, and inclusion in the art community? With their shared experiences it was questioned why we are continuing to reinvent the wheel. How do we recognize the contributions of talented artists and artwork held in high regard by members of the community within the city’s established arts and cultural institutions?  The title Sharing Our VIEW represented a way to address these questions and share the diverse work of the featured artists with larger audiences. 

Recreating the exhibition 25 years later shows how far we have come, and how much further we can continue to go. Curator Tiffany Gaines expanded the scope of this exhibition to include the artists from the original exhibition alongside a new generation of artists who follow in the footsteps of those that came before them. Including more generations of participants is a rewarding experience for the community. It allows visitors and fellow artists to experience the rich history of black artistic production in Buffalo. There are many more talented artists that extend beyond those exhibited here. We acknowledge, appreciate, and respect your work. You are without saying a part of Sharing Our VIEW. 

Art of…STORYTELLING

As a product of the Buffalo Public Schools and its art programs, as well as a former art teacher, I recognize the power of visual art to tell our stories. I felt this mural project was an excellent opportunity for some of our high school art students to learn the history of storytelling and to tell their own stories. I wish I would have had the chance to work with a museum and with professional artists when I was their age. Through this experience, I hope they are empowered in their voices and see that professional careers in the arts are possible. I was inspired at the end of the project when they said 20 years from now, they would be doing Sharing Our VIEW for students like them.

Thank you to the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the exhibiting artists, student participants, supporters, and collaborators, who made this multigenerational celebration of artistic legacy possible. I was once asked about my legacy and what I have accomplished as an artist. Upon reflection, I appreciate every opportunity granted to me. The most important to me is paying it forward. My hope is that years from now, another artist can benefit from what I’ve done in my career. The 25th anniversary of Sharing Our View commemorates all that continues to be possible. And for that, I am grateful. 

John Baker
Artist, curator, art & museum educator
Sharing Our View (1998) curator