Scott Joplin

Ellen Banks, who was part of AAMARP's first group, painted a piece inspired by Scott Joplin in 1982. Many Black artists at that time created images of an idealized Black nation, but Banks chose to work with abstraction. She found freedom in making art based on musical scores. This abstract artwork shows the freedom to reject strict definitions of "Black art." It highlights the variety of voices in AAMARP’s community and shows how the program supports experimentation and individuality.