Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2023.004.002 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Description |
This painting "Hold Me Down" by Jason Flack depicts four people that are climbing/surrounding a tall apple tree. A grayscale cityscape is visible in the background. Some of the buildings are labeled "Bank," "Police," "Liquor," "Business," "School," and "Pawn." There is a black billowing cloud of smoke visible in the upper left corner, indicating that a building in the city is on fire. The two uppermost figures are attempting to climb up the apple tree. Each of the uppermost figures also has a figure standing below them. The uppermost figure on the left side of the tree is black and features masculine traits. He is wearing a red backwards ball cap and a yellow shirt with black text. The text on the shirt is mostly obscured from the viewer, with only "BL" and "PO" visible, but it appears to say "Black Power." The figure is wearing lightwash jeans and red, white, and black Nike sneakers. The figure below him appears to be trying to pull the first figure down from the tree trunk. This figure is also black and features masculine traits. He has long black dreadlocks with red ends and black facial hair along his chin. He is wearing a bright green tee shirt with a partially obscured red logo that looks like half of the body of a crab. He is also wearing a gold chain with a gold machine gun attachment around his neck. He is also wearing lightwash jeans and black and white sneakers. Scarcity is implied on the left side of the tree with the two black men. This side of the painting includes the clouds of smoke, as well as the liquor, pawn, and adult-themed businesses. There is only one apple on this side of the tree. Both of the black men are wearing baggy jeans and their underwear is visible. The man climbing looks visibly distressed, almost as if he is in pain, while the man below him looks angry. There are no additions of color in the grayscale cityscape on this side of the tree. The obverse side of the tree offers a noticeably different scenario. There are also two figures on this side of the tree. The uppermost figure is a white man climbing upward successfully, and he has climbed higher than the black man that is attempting to climb. This man has yellow hair and is wearing a light blue shirt, jeans, and brown shoes. There is a black rainbow on his shirt that is mostly obscured. This man is wearing what appears to be an "I Voted" button on the upper right portion of his shirt. The climbing white man is assisted by another white man below him. The standing man has brown hair and a brown mustache. He is wearing a gray bucket hat, a yellow shirt, and brown cargo shirts. There is black text on his shirt that is partially obscured, with only the letters "CK," "VES," and "TTER" visible, indicating that the full text reads "Black Lives Matter." Success is implied on the right side of the tree with the two white men. This side of the painting does not include clouds of smoke. The businesses/institutions on this side of the painting/cityscape include the police, a bank, a business, and a school. There are five apples on this side of the tree, and the climbing man has almost reached them. The man climbing looks happy and encouraged, while the man below him looks peaceful and supportive. There are subtle pops of yellow color in some of the windows within the grayscale cityscape on this side of the tree. |
Artist |
Jason Flack |
Dimensions |
H-48 W-30 inches |
Collection |
Sammie L. Nicely Collection |
Title |
Hold Me Down |
Place of Origin |
USA/Tennessee |
Material |
canvas, paint |
Subjects |
American Art Appalachian Art |
Search Terms |
Appalachian Art |