BIO: As a native of Spartanburg, SC, Rosetta Nesbitt is a printmaker whose outlook as an artist is strongly influenced by nature, women of her culture, and the historical impact of agriculture in the South on the lives of these women.

With an Associate degree in Horticulture, Rosetta is currently working toward her Bachelor of Arts/Studio at Converse College, Spartanburg, SC. By using a mixture of medium, often in a layering process, Rosetta juxtapose the female form with found objects, nature plant material and hair to create images that serve as metaphors for the life of black women.

 

ARTIST STATEMENT: As a visual artist, Rosetta uses various printmaking techniques to create images that serve as metaphors of thought patterns for women of her culture.

There are many memories buried in soils of the South; the deeper one digs, more “dirt” is revealed.
It has been noted that the “Old South” was built politically, culturally, and spiritually around the institution of slavery. The negative representations and lack of positive images of black women in Western art may have left mental scars that impact how these women perceive themselves today.

Could the current desire for superficial self-improvement among black women be a direct result of historical misrepresentation? Did stereotypes from the past play a vital part in the breakdown of current family structure among African Americans? These are a few of the concerns that I address in my art.

As a studio artist, I share a body of work that explores my concerns for social, political, religious, and economic issues that impact the lives of many women within my culture.