Columbus – Local artist April Sunami wrapped up a three‑month residency in the historic East Side home once occupied by the late Aminah Robinson. Beginning in January, Sunami worked six days a week in the sun‑lit rear studio, cataloguing Robinson’s extensive book collection and taking daily naps on the living‑room sofa.
While she did not cook in the kitchen – a space tiled with Robinson’s own artwork that has deterred some previous residents – Sunami says the experience pushed her out of her comfort zone. “It was either carryout or something I brought from home,” she laughed, recalling a fellow resident’s joke about being haunted.
New works on display
During the residency Sunami completed ten paintings that will be shown in the exhibition “Living Mythologies” at the Lindsay Gallery, opening Friday, Nov. 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. She also experimented with bookmaking and produced a number of linocuts. The collection reflects a shift in her practice, as she allowed herself to use materials – beads and sea shells she had kept for years – that she previously considered too precious.
“I’ve had these shells from Florida in my studio forever,” Sunami explained at the gallery. “I always thought I’d save them for the right piece. The residency gave me permission to go for it.” She credits Robinson’s fearless, multidisciplinary approach – painting, fabric art, floor installations and wall writings – as a source of encouragement.
Artistic focus and personal growth
Sunami’s portrait work centers on Black women with flowing, galactic‑inspired hair, often embellished with beads, shells or mirrored fragments. The figures command attention and embody the lesson Sunami says she’s learning: to take up space unapologetically. Many of the portraits are based on photographs of friends such as Tifani Kendrick and Michol Childress, but Sunami also sees the series as a self‑portrait of her own evolving journey.
“In the past people would ask, ‘Is that a portrait of you?’ Now I see it as a portrait of where I was and what I was going through internally,” she said. “I’m not naturally gregarious, but these women taught me how to be present and confident.”
Disconnecting from social media
Sunami admitted that a social‑media binge in November was affecting her mood and creativity. She chose to disconnect while in Robinson’s house, spending her time away from phones and outside information. “I was doom‑scrolling to the max,” she said. “When I was there, I was not on my phone, and there was no information feedback from the outside.”
The exhibition arrives amid a chilly Ohio winter and a broader cultural climate that Sunami describes as “chilling.” Yet the warmth of the paintings offers a counterpoint, reflecting both the personal resilience of the artist and the supportive community that gathered to celebrate her work.
“Living Mythologies” runs through December at the Lindsay Gallery, providing Columbus residents an opportunity to experience Sunami’s bold new vision and the legacy of Aminah Robinson in one space.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
