Indigo Seven: Gilded Agility

By Artist D. Lammie-Hanson

June 28 – September 22, 2024

Opening reception: Friday, June 28, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Free

In the evolution of my artistic exploration within the Indigo Seven Series, “Gilded Agility,” I embark on a journey inspired by three intertwining veins of science that have long fascinated my creative spirit. The genesis of “Gilded Agility” traces back to the Renaissance luminary, Leonardo Da Vinci, and his iconic “Vitruvian Man.” Delving into Da Vinci’s dual roles as an artist and scientist, I found profound inspiration in his meticulous approach to depicting the human form scientifically, all while delicately rendering his observations in metalpoint. His fusion of scientific precision with artistic finesse left an indelible imprint on my creative psyche. 

A second source of inspiration emerged from the scientific revelations of Sir Isaac Newton, specifically his exploration of the electromagnetic spectrum of color. It was the often-overlooked seventh color, Indigo, that captivated my imagination. Deep, mysterious, and rich in its unique qualities, Indigo became a crucial palette element in “Gilded Agility,” paying homage to Newton’s nuanced understanding of color dynamics. 

The third scientific vein that informs this series delves into the intricate musculature of dancers. As a former dancer myself, the revelation of the profound beauty and strength inherent in the human body unfolded during mesmerizing performances by the American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Revisiting Da Vinci’s approach, I embraced the 15th-century technique of metalpoint, meticulously crafting images of dancers using 14K and 24K goldpoint against indigo-hued substrates. This synthesis of technique and subject matter creates a visual dialogue between the ethereal grace of dance and the enduring allure of precious metals. 

The culmination of these influences materializes in “Indigo Seven: Gilded Agility,” a body of work meticulously crafted to make its debut at the International Museum of Surgical Science. The convergence of Da Vinci’s scientific legacy, Newton’s color spectrum, and the captivating anatomy of dancers finds its rightful home in the IMSS, where the marriage of art and science resonates with profound significance. This exhibition marks a full-circle moment in my artistic journey, encapsulating a harmonious blend of history, technique, and the enduring fascination with the intricate beauty of the human form.

About the Artist:

D. Lammie-Hanson, a Harlem native, began her professional artistic journey in 1990. Notably, she exhibited at the UN Geneva Palais des Nations in Switzerland, addressing homelessness. In 2007, she earned the title of Artist of the Year at BAM DanceAfrica in Brooklyn. 

Over the past decade, Lammie-Hanson has focused on metalpoint art, showcasing at Scope during Art Basel Miami; GW Carver Interpretive Museum, and Wiregrass Museum of Art in Alabama. Her work has also been displayed at prestigious institutions like the New Orleans African American Museum, Ashe Cultural Arts Center, McKenna Museum of African American Art, Arts New Orleans (formerly the Arts Council of New Orleans), and Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. 

In 2018, twenty-five of her artworks, including twenty-two silverpoint drawings, were published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper and later in a book for the city’s Tricentennial. In 2019, she portrayed iconic musicians during the Essence Music Festival’s 25th anniversary as part of Arts New Orleans Salon V2 residency. 

Based in Chicago, Lammie-Hanson was accepted into the Hyde Park Arts Center’s “Center Program” in 2021, culminating in the group show, “Dreams.” Her drawing “Dear Beautiful Black Boy” entered the permanent collection at the Hilliard Art Museum located at the Louisiana University in Lafayette, LA in 2022, making her their first living artist. In the same year, she joined Little Black Pearl’s artist-in-residence program, creating one of the world’s largest masterpieces in silverpoint, “Dared to Be Black and Shining,” which debuted at the Chicago Art Dept in January 2023. 

In 2024, her goldpoint piece “Exhilaration” from the Indigo Seven series was included in the three-month exhibit “Personal Structures” at the 60th Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy. Continuing her metalpoint exploration, she introduces “Gilded Agility,” a new collection within the Indigo Seven series, debuting in June 2024 at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago, focusing on the movement of ballet and modern dancers.

Learn More: http://www.dlammiehanson.com/

IG: @dlammiehansonfineart

LinkedIn: @dlammiehanson

TikTok: @dlammiehanson

About the Contemporary Arts Program: The International Museum of Surgical Science supports a commitment to contemporary art and artists through exhibitions and programs that use the frame of contemporary artistic practice to examine new perspectives in medical-surgical science and our relationship to the body. The Museum’s Contemporary Arts Initiative includes rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, as well as an ongoing Artist in Residence program.

This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal assistance listing number, 21.027 awarded to the International Museum of Surgical Science by the US Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of $125,000.00, representing 83% of total project funding.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

The International Museum of Surgical Science acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.