Narrative Power: Earl O. James at Akron Soul Train

Sculpture has a unique narrative power. The physicality of an object in three-dimensions taking up space and demanding gravity pay attention to it can help create an impact on the viewer that is more rare and even guttural than the most vivid graphic image.

Pathways and Passages by Earl O. James on view at Akron Soul Train through February 15th is an exhibit full of communicative sculptures that tell thoughtful stories in refreshing, subtle and poignant ways. The show “explores the migration of people by way of commerce-based abduction, slavery, opportunity-based immigration, or conflict-based displacement. How people move has varied with time. Unfortunately, reasons like war, oppression, and want to remain timeless and their voyages exist to this day. My focus in this exhibit is my impression of these ‘crossings;’ the boats, and impressions of boats, that ferried people from continent to continent and river to sea or shore to shore,” shares Earl James in his artist statement.

All of James’ work included in the exhibit has a grace in form and a sense of movement that pulls you into the work. Elegant shapes that look like or are reminiscent of boats are mixed with branches, chairs, cups, plants and even heads in a variety of included works spaced throughout the gallery.

Laden, a wood, steel and ceramic work features a large off-white boat form presented upright on a thin pedestal. The boat has what appears to be large roughly shaped black nail-heads all over the “hull” and series of ten small heads spaced across the deck or top. The boat is long and elegant in shape and looks to be reaching to hold as much weight as possible. Nothing is spelled out for you here, and that is the strength of this work. It’s left for us to look, listen, and interpret what the artist is sharing.

Journey From Here, is a sculpture that features a metal chair with a bright blue seat. Five skeletal boat forms powder coated yellow are stacked on top of the seat. James again leaves a lot to your imagination here. Is this a person thinking of traveling or getting away, but weighed down by the prospect? Is there is a more sinister narrative here? Regardless, the choice of bright yellow for the boat colors in contrast with the blue seat, all on a dark metal chair helps to create a sculptural tension that evokes meaning. All that’s left is for you to fill in the gaps of what they are.

Also included in the exhibit are series of works on paper. Each one has slightly different imagery though, and like the sculptural work, boat forms feature heavily. Adrift #1, depicts a green boat form toward the top of the work, a black human form that is lying back and seemingly floating up toward the boat and a large brown branch image stretches across the bottom of the composition. All three of these images have been placed in a white field.

While this work is somewhat minimal, like the rest of the show the narrative is anything but. Like a type of information design the works share the artist’s ideas in poignant and direct ways. There is a quiet beauty in each one of them that is both hopeful and somewhat haunting.

There is a directional feel to most of this work. It’s as if the artist is pointing in a direction and asking you to listen and look. Life In Time, features a silver anvil with a plant growing out of one end of it. The roots of the plant come through the other side and drape down over the base of the anvil. Unlike the other sculptures this one has direct correlation to life working to defy what holds it down. It’s hard to deny the impact of gravity on an anvil.

Pathways and Passages is an elegant and beautiful show full of work that is highly symbolic. The thoughtfulness of the artist comes through in the work included and the potential of the narrative being shared. It’s wonderful to see such an expressive and powerful grouping of sculptures.

Earl O. James: Pathways and Passages
January 10 – February 15, 2025
11 am – 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday
Akron Soul Train
191 S. Main Street
Akron, OH 44308