We’re looking forward to introducing you to Serron Green. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Serron, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I believe that I am walking a path now. But there was certainly a time when I was just wandering. Making art in some form is something that I’ve been doing since I was a child. Whether it was something as simple as taking all of my Grandmothers garbage bag ties, and twisting them together in ways that I would make them into tiny little men. Or, reading, and learning how to draw comic book characters on my own. Then at some point doing graffiti, and all of the experimentation that came along with that. Those years, plus all of the years that followed combined many different forms of creative expression. There’s even a time during my life when I was writing poetry, short stories, and published a book of fiction. At the time when I was doing all of these different forms of creative forms of expression, it never felt as if I was on a path, but they were just things that I could do. In my young mind, I didn’t think it was anything special. I almost felt as if everyone could do it. As I got older, learned more, gained more education and culture, I then came to the realization that everyone couldn’t do some of those things so easily. A few years ago, during the pandemic, just like everyone else, life was very difficult for me. The isolation, all of the madness that I was witnessing. And the worst of it all, watching loved ones suffer and eventually pass on.
I had been making art for years, but never saw it as a purpose. But the pandemic put a lot of things into perspective for me. It forced me to feel the responses that I was getting from my work. So in the beginning of 2021 is when I moved into my first REAL studio space. That was the first time that I started taking it serious. It was the first time that the path became somewhat clear. It was when I absolutely knew, that all of the things that I had experienced, over all of those years had led me to that moment. I realized that I was “wandering” on my path. Not sure of how I got there, but I was there, and heading in the direction that was meant for me. Once I figured that part out, I began to actually “walk” on my path.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Serron Green. I would consider myself a visual storyteller. Although, technically I would be considered a multidisciplinary artist. I work in a myriad of different mediums, most notably paintings, found object installations and sculptures. I think what makes what I do “interesting” or “unique” so to speak. Is that for me, the concept is what dictates the medium. When I have an idea, or am inspired, the first thing that I do, is think about what medium will have the best opportunity to make the most impact with those that see the finished product.
Currently I am working on two seperate series within the normal framework of my work. One series, titled “Young Leroi” is comprised of a series of paintings that were inspired by Leroi Jones, aka Amiri Baraka. He was a poet, teacher, activist, playwright and the list goes on from my hometown of Newark, NJ. With this series, I use a few different mixed media techniques on canvas and wood panel to express some of Mr. Baraka’s ideas. The Black Power movement, the mistreatment of Black bodies, and some of the stigmas associated with Black people in the United States to name a few.
The other series that I am working is inspired by the Untitled (African American flag) that was created by artist David Hammons in 1990. The flag combines the colors of the Pan-African flag (Red, Black, and Green) with the pattern of the flag of the United States to represent African diaspora identity. I use the flag as a metaphor for protection and strength. These works, which are predominantly on paper, are used as clothing, such as superhero style capes on the backs of children, or in the form of boxing trunks, and gloves.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that shaped how I see the world would be an experience that I had while serving in the United States military. I was stationed in a place that was the total opposite of where I was from. It was a culture shock for 18 year old me. I thought that I was doing something good, something right by volunteering to serve. It was something that I had seen many men in my family do. My father, my Uncle, and some of my cousins all served in various branches. Growing up, I had never encountered any kind of racism. Where I lived, my neighbors were Black, white, and latino. The thing we had in common was that we all didn’t have much. It wasn’t perfect, but life was good for what we did have, and we all got along. My closest neighbor and friend was white. His mother and my Grandmother were really good friends.
Going into the service and meeting white people that had never seen a Black person in person was odd to me, but I got comfortable with that pretty quickly. The military sort of forces you to do that. The drill instructors always stressed that everyone was green. While in basic training, and in advanced individual training, I met lots of people from lots of places. And never once was there a problem about race. But a chance interaction with a white soldier, that I had known for some time, and that I thought that we were friends, changed how I saw the world. Or better yet, how It shaped my thoughts going forward even now to this day.
During (AIT) Advanced Individual Training, I had gotten myself into a bit of trouble, nothing serious, but trouble nonetheless. My punishment was that I had to scrub the stairs of my dorm with a toothbrush. And yes, this is was real thing at the time. As I was cleaning the stairs that friday, everyone else was heading out to have fun and do whatever. Everyone would step over or around the soaped up stairs that I was on. Then came the white soldier. He ran right thru all of my cleaning. I was caught off guard, but I wasn’t angry. My response was more about us allegedly being “friends”. I thought he was busting my chops. But when he responded to me saying something along the lines of why would he do that, he said “Fuck you n*gger!” I was stunned for a moment. More so because I never had a problem with him, and I genuinely thought we were friends. A fight ensued of course, and it ultimately lead to his dishonorable discharge. That moment really shaped how I viewed the world. It shaped how I saw myself, and how others saw me. And to this day, I often use that feeling in my work.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self, everything that you will experience will lead you to a great life. Some of it will be hard, and some of it will hurt in a way that may feel like it will never get better. But it will, if you you just keep going. Never give up, and stay the course. There’s a win at the end of the road, and it everything prior will have been worth it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The belief that I’ve committed to is what I am currently doing. my work, my art. My self expression of my peoples experience. I’ve committed myself to making the feel. Feel good about themselves, and the others that came before them. There are times that the way I choose to do that may be hard to swallow, but that is a part of the greatness of us, so I don’t leave anything out for that reason. The time that it will take is never ending because we, Black people are never ending. SO as much as I want certain things to happen now, the reality is that the time doesn’t matter. Only the process and the execution of the idea, until it is time for the next one.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Although it took some time for me to figure it out. I am certainly doing what I was born to do. Besides, I’ve never been one to do what I was told to do anyways.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newarkartistsdatabase.org/artist/serrongreen/
- Instagram: @serrongreen
- Facebook: @serrongreen
Image Credits
Photo credit:
Paul Chinnery
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