CHARLOTTE, N.C:There’s a hole in Anderson, South Carolina. It opened suddenly in August when Chadwick Boseman, one of the city’s favorite sons and an international star for his role as the Black Panther, died after a quiet battle with cancer at just 43 years old.
Two months later, that void is slowly being stitched together by local artists who picked up their brushes to honor Boseman with a new outdoor art exhibit in downtown Anderson, a city of about 28,000 people.
Local artist Joey Withinarts started painting his take on Boseman’s image just hours after the news broke of his passing. His depiction is one of nearly 20 on display in the project sponsored by the city.
"The feeling behind it, words can’t even explain, even the way we bring it all together in different styles, it was just something everyone had to see,” Withinarts told The Associated Press.
Boseman rose to Hollywood stardom after taking on such iconic roles as Jackie Robinson, who integrated baseball, and the Black Panther. The Marvel superhero movie became one of the top-grossing films in history and he inspired millions with his character's signature “Wakanda forever!” salute.
The accomplished actor never spoke publicly about his battle with colon cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2016 and continued working while privately battling “countless surgeries and chemotherapy,” his family said in a statement.
Boseman's resolve was awe-inspiring to Dawson.
“He's showing us that no matter what you’re going through, whatever you’re fighting through, if you love what you love, don’t ever give up on your dream,” Withenarts told the AP.
The exhibit, which opened to the public Thursday, features nearly twenty local South Carolina artists. The pieces lining the walls of the Wren Pavilion offer different takes on Boseman’s life, from his teenage years to his iconic superhero role.
Local artist Troleum Dawson, who is a colon cancer survivor himself, says the project has brought the community closer.
“It shows all the different faces that he had and the smiles,” he said.
Many of the paintings show Boseman dressed as T’Challa, the king of Wakanda. Others capture his red-carpet smile, while one portrait depicts a young Boseman playing basketball at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson. That piece was given to the mayor and will be displayed at Boseman's alma mater. Exhibit organizer Herman Keith Jr. sees Boseman's life as a message to young kids living in small towns like Anderson and beyond.
“The impact that he had on the world coming from the same place that we come from, under some of the same situations and conditions that we come from, and to see that he was able to affect the world the way that he did, it was very encouraging,” Keith said.
The artwork is being displayed on digital prints adhered to the walls of the pavilion. The city hopes to keep the exhibit open for at least a year.
AP Newsroom
Sat Oct 24 2020
A boy stands in front of two paintings of Chadwick Boseman during the opening of an art exhibit honouring the actor in his hometown of Anderson, S.C. on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. - AP
Pesawah dituduh buat kenyataan menghasut di WhatsApp
Seorang pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini terhadap tuduhan membuat kenyataan menghasut di menerusi aplikasi WhatsApp pada Selasa.
9 tentera terbunuh nahas helikopter di Colombia
Helikopter itu terputus hubungan dengan pangkalan pada tengah hari dan kemudian didapati terhempas berhampiran daerah Santa Rosa.
Venue Piala Thomas, Uber di Chengdu dilanda 'demam' panda
Yang paling mencuri perhatian ialah magnet peti sejuk yang menampilkan Yu Rong Rong bermain badminton.
Houthi Yaman serang dua kapal pemusnah AS
Houthi berjaya menyasarkan serangan terhadap dua kapal pemusnah AS dan kapal CYCLADES di Laut Merah serta MSC Orion di Lautan Hindi pada awal Selasa.
Ringgit rendah berbanding dolar AS pada awal dagangan
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7665/7710 berbanding mata wang Amerika Syarikat (AS) daripada 4.7650/7700 semalam.
Bakal jemaah haji OKU syukur dipilih jadi tetamu Allah
Abdul Samad MM Abdul Aziz, 53, yang merupakan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Penglihatan bersyukur dan teruja apabila dipilih seorang daripada 31,600 jemaah haji dari Malaysia tahun ini.
Pendakwa raya ICC temu bual kakitangan hospital di Gaza
Pendakwa raya dari Mahkamah Jenayah Antarabangsa (ICC) telah menemu bual kakitangan dari dua hospital terbesar di Gaza.
Israel bimbang ICC keluar waran tangkap berkait perang Gaza
Israel menyuarakan kebimbangan bahawa Mahkamah Jenayah Antarabangsa (ICC) bersiap sedia untuk mengeluarkan waran tangkap bagi pegawainya atas tuduhan berkaitan dengan pengendalian perang terhadap Hamas.
Liputan Haji: Bakal fokus kepada cabaran dan kebajikan jemaah wanita
Bagi petugas media mewakili Astro AWANI, untuk tahun ini, musim 1445 hijrah, yang terpilih ialah Editor dan Penerbit Astro AWANI, Dr Azlinariah Abdullah dan Azlinda Salim bersama 12 yang lain daripada agensi media.
Che'gubard mengaku tidak bersalah pertuduhan Akta Hasutan 1948
Dia didakwa membuat penerbitan menghasut di akaun Facebook atas nama Che'GuBard di Mutiara Villa, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur pada jam 6.30 petang 26 April lalu.
Oscar 2021: Riz Ahmed, pelakon Muslim pertama tercalon kategori Pelakon Lelaki Terbaik
Pelakon dan pemuzik kelahiran Britain, Riz Ahmed muncul sebagai pelakon Muslim pertama menerima pencalonan Academy Awards ke-93 bagi kategori Pelakon Lelaki Terbaik.
Wakanda Forever! Montaj khas Black Panther hadiah Disney buat Chadwick Boseman
Ia merupakan sebagai satu tanda penghormatan kepada Chadwick Boseman yang meninggal dunia akibat kanser usus.
Peminat zahir rasa sedih atas pemergian Chadwick Boseman
Rata-rata mereka mengucapkan takziah kepada seluruh keluarga mendiang.
'Rest in power, King' - Pemergian Chadwick Boseman ditangisi rakan artis
Kematian Boseman diratapi komuniti kulit hitam yang menganggap beliau seorang legenda dalam memperjuangkan nasib golongan itu.
'Black Panther' Chadwick Boseman meninggal dunia akibat kanser usus
Mendiang dilaporkan berada bersama isteri dan ahli keluarganya sewaktu menghembuskan nafas yang terakhir.
Cayalah! Hero Black Panther akui belajar Silat Harimau untuk aksi tempur
Filem Black Panther terbitan Marvel Studios punya kaitan dengan seni mempertahankan diri Nusantara iaitu silat.