Susan Mask

Oberlin Village, a freedman’s community formed after the Civil War, played a significant role in the social and political development of African Americans. Reclaiming history through genealogy and the stories of people who persisted in the face of challenges both fascinates and inspires me for the lessons they provide today. The Windows of Oberlin is a photograph of a 150-year-old Oberlin home. The portrait, Imagining Viney, is rendered on the deed to property that a resident business woman fought a legal battle over and won. My work includes figures, influenced by gestural style, using pencil, ink, watercolor, and mixed media.