Florin Road Community Beautification Project - My Tribute to Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs

 Margaret Burroughs is a true African American and American treasure. Her spirit forged the voice of the African American artist and broadcast their spirit of creativity from Chicago to the world.

I'm considering going with this portrait of her early career.

Margaret Taylor-Burroughs was an American visual artist, writer, poet, educator, and arts organizer. 

Born: November 1, 1915, St. Rose, Louisiana, 

Died: November 21, 2010, Chicago, Illinois, United States

8' metal slab. Regarding the chair's body, I like the colors in her shirt and the way the background fabric is like her shirt. I may change her face to a younger pose but use the shirt on the first one.

• 4' metal slab. The Seat is one of her drawing studies paintings.

• 4' metal slab. The front that covers the leg is one of her woodcuts, and I will carry the color to paint the designs. 

• 8' metal slab. Regarding the chair's body, 

I like the colors in her shirt and the way the background fabric is like her shirt.

• 4' metal slab. The Seat is one of her color studies paintings.

• 4' metal slab. The front covers the leg. 

Margaret Burroughs created a voice for African Americans that was absent until she established the DuSable Museum in her home. This home welcomed luminaries like artist Charles White, Gordon Parks, Augusta Savage, and many more who related to her commitment to developing the voice of African American artists.

Margaret Burroughs was an artist who positively captured children's lives in the African American community. However, her fame never affected her promoting the young artist of every artistic discipline.

She authored books for children like What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black. Dr. Burroughs's creativity can be seen in her artwork, which shares our appreciation for use in the settings by which individuals interpret their cultural identity.

Fascinating is the fact that Burroughs established two museums, the DuSable Museum and the South Side Community Arts Center in Chicago. Creating venues that allow African American creative artists to fashion their culture to be previewed inside their community was critical to Burroughs' thinking.

The Burroughs' mansion, located at 3806 South Michigan Avenue, was the first home of the DuSable Museum. Still, its history is also attached to the Pullman porters, who regarded the mansion as the Quincy Club. It is from this socially empowering event, which took place in its history, that creating a museum was necessary for African Americans not to have to ask permission to have their artistic voice allowed and accessible.

Margaret Burroughs is a true African American and American treasure. Her spirit forged the voice of the African American artist and broadcast their spirit of creativity from Chicago to the world.

The Florin Road Community Beautification Project is a placemaking project to improve a stretch of Florin Road from Tamoshanter Way to Franklin Boulevard through public art, beautification efforts, public outreach, and youth engagement. This project is funded by Clean California, a transformative initiative to remove litter, create jobs and beautify California.

The project represents a partnership between Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum, Florin Road Partnership, Florin Square Community Development Corporation, Luther Burbank High School, and the City of Sacramento with a mission to reduce waste and debris, beautify and improve public spaces and advance equity for the areas underserved communities. 

The project will include art installations, community pop-up events, cohesive branding along the Florin Road corridor, upgraded drought-tolerant landscaping, and public seating. Additionally, area youth will be engaged in all aspects of the transformation process to effect lasting positive change. 

Shonna McDaniel's, Founder and Executive Director of the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum- is the project manager for the Florin Road Community Beautification Project.