During this tumultuous time, celebrations of Juneteeth and the archival presences of newly freed black people are more significant than ever. Not only is it a time to reflect on present circumstances, but to also recall the past and what our ancestors in America survived for us to exist today. To that end, Nate Young’s current exhibition at Monique Meloche Gallery, “The Transcendence of Time”, is an effort of memorialization that bridges the gap between the past and the present. The exhibition is a deeper investigation into excavated bones from the horse that once carried the artist’s great-grandfather from the South to the North during The Great Migration, a 64-year exodus of over 6 million Black Americans. Young explores his family’s particular journey and identity, with fidelity to the fluid nature of truth. Influenced by entries in his great-grandfather’s journal, Young strives to weave together a shared experience across time.
