MAURICE MOORE

call & response

A prolific writer, visual and performance-based artist, Maurice Moore draws upon his many talents, as well as a universe of Black experience and expression in the creation of his works on paper for his show, Call & Response. Figural gestures made in marker on layered tracing paper, reminiscent of caligraphic mark-making and hand-written musical scores, form a vernacular system living and breathing in non-linear time. The marks give shape to human forms: Black bodies of all types, hxstories, ages, abilities, and identities. Those bodies sometimes collide and congeal to form organic masses and patterns, and other times align in organized assemblages. Drawings are layered upon other drawings, each piece’s imagery and form relating to the other across time and space. The works are part of a critical analysis by Moore, centered on the concept of “drawing while Black” and “writing while Black”. It’s a follow up to his “Bad Paper” series, in which he sardonically asks, “what’s with all the ‘white’ paper??” In his essay published to Unlikelystories.org (2020) titled, “Drawing While Black Revisited: Reflections of an Academic Snap! Queen”, the artist/author writes “(Drawing with) Black skin feels/felt like weight”. This sentiment is reflected in the way the thin, white, wispy tracing paper upon which his works endure barely contains the heft and gravity of the highly saturated black ink.

To learn more about Maurice Moore and his work visit:

https://maurice-moore-mkx7.squarespace.com/

@maurice_moore_art on Instagram

For inquiries regarding the works in Call & Response, please email the artist directly at artmoore@ucdavis.edu