During their residency Amanda Chestnut will delve into personal struggles with Post Traumatic Slave Disorder, and the lived experiences of her father and ancestors. She will be questioning and examining her own life, through questioning the ancestral sacrifices carried in her DNA, called to action by the ringing line: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord”, from The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Amanda Chestnut’s work focuses on how the history of race impacts modern narratives. Interested in upending and interpreting traditional definitions of the archive, she pairs archival images and text with contemporary imagery and her own perspective to convey the history, emotion, and lasting socio-economic impact of the past.

Funds for this residency came from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; the Max and Marian Farash Foundation; and Joy of Giving Something.