Vivian Pitman, one of a family of eight has been an artist for 14 years. As a self-taught artist, Vivian believes that her gift of art is from God. While in her formative years of education, she excelled in art and drama. At the age of 18, Vivian was offered a bit part in a movie as an extra but never went through with it. She never aspired to be an actress. She loves to write plays, poems, and make costumes and props.
While preparing the exhibit for Black History month, Vivian learned that her great uncle Alonzo Ralph Ellis was a Tuskegee Airman who, while in battle, his eye was badly infected or wounded. She decided to include the Tuskegee Airmen in this exhibit.
Vivian speaks concerning her emotions while sculpturing and painting the face of Emmett Till after he had been beaten. She stated, “out of all of my art work, only one piece made me cry, Emmett Till’s picture. Sometimes one can be lost for words, even if I owned all the dictionaries in the world, I couldn’t explain this. Thinking about all that Emmett went through made me angry and sad. The men who killed Emmett wanted his body and soul.”
Vivian says that Black History to her is “the suffering of the African slaves that were brought to the U.S.; Henry ‘box’ Brown, how he mailed himself in a box for freedom (this made her laugh) as she imagined being in a box labeled “handle with care” while the mail carriers tossed the box every which way. Henry probably laughed once he realized he was a free man on arrival at his final destination.”
Vivian’s Poem: “
To African American Women”
To all those who hope and believe in dreams
Holding and gripping to our own self-esteem
We search, we wonder about our male mates
The beauty and dignity that lies within our fate
To the Black man I will say, Stand up and be strong
Stop blaming others when things go wrong
Remembering our ancestors that were slaves that died
The pain the agony the tears they cried
We have days they have never seen before
Having the keys to freedom which unlocked many doors
The mind is a terrible tool to waste my brother, my sister
Use it wisely in haste
Special thanks to Bruce Massis and Shona Nicol for allowing me this opportunity to display my talent once again at Columbus State Community College library. Special thanks to photographer Heiderose Forby, Barbara Thomas (my mother), Pastor Collette Jones, Donna Ward Brown and Margaret Ivory who encouraged me to never give up on my dreams.
This exhibit will showcase on the first and second floors of the library now through the end of February.
The strong, personal art Vivian Pitman creates focus on many pivotal events in Black History in the United States. She presents the viewer with graphic images and sculptures that reflect both the strength of individuals and the horrors inflicted on the African American population through man's inhumanity to his fellow man.
Her exhibit is being presented in conjunction with the Library's special exhibit on the great man, late Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall who, throughout his legal career, fought for equality of all people.
Here is a presentation of Vivian Pitman's work in this exhibit. All of these works have been photographed by Heiderose Forby, photographer.
If you are interested in purchasing any of Vivian Pitman's works in this exhibit, please contact Shona Nicol by phone at (614) 287-2461 or by email to snicol2@cscc.edu.
Other Vivian Pitman Exhibits held at Columbus State's Library:
General information about Vivian Pitman
Exhibit with Suzanne Gallagher and Barbara Thomas - August/September 2012
Artist's Reception for Vivian Pitman
Saturday, February 6, 2016
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. -- Library (Columbus Hall)
Visitor Parking is available on campus.
See map below.
