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They never wrote his name down.
Plantation records ignored him, church registries skipped him, and census takers reduced him to a tally mark.
Born 1872 near Tarboro. The son of a man who had once been property. He learned to read from a traveling minister who came through on horseback. He became the unofficial record-keeper for Black families who didn’t trust the courthouse.
He was the man people went to when disputes needed settling, when grief needed holding, when history needed remembering. He carried stories in his mouth the way others carried books.
When the 1898 violence in Wilmington spread fear across the state, Isaiah told people, “Write nothing down that can be burned.” He carried memory orally, deliberately.
He remembered who was sold. Who resisted. Who escaped. Who stayed and rebuilt.
While traveling through Pennsylvania, he was savagely beaten for speaking up for himself during a confrontation with a group of white men. The attack left him with lifelong health issues, and his dominant eye disfigured. Blood vessels never healed, and at times, his eye would run blood.
Men like him were silenced in official history.
In The Elders, he represents the generation of African American men whose influence shaped neighborhoods, families, and futures. Yet whose names rarely appear in textbooks.
Keeper of What Was Not Written
Portrait of Josiah Turner
Oil on hand-primed canvas
14 x 11 inches
Original, one-of-a-kind artwork
Unframed
Signed by the artist.
A Certificate of Authenticity
Ready to hang.
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Kalan Mikael is a North Carolina-based abstract realism visual artist, whose artistic journey has led him to become a three-time headlining artist at the esteemed Capital Culture House in Madrid, Spain and currently showcasing with Kalexander Galleries, in Atlanta, GA, USA. Displaying fifteen (15) artworks during his solo exhibition, located at the Lilburn Activity Building, spanning the month of September through October 2024. Through his work, Kalan aims to evoke powerful emotions and touch the depths of the soul. One of Kalan's most significant contributions was the inclusion of his profound and evocative piece, "When Will You Ever See Me?" in Tribes Magazine #16, The Black Lives Matter Issue in 2022. This artwork aimed to spark dialogue and introspection, shedding light on the pressing issues of our time. Kalan as an artist, is driven by a desire to push the boundaries of perception and challenge conventional concepts. Kalan strives to create pieces that transcend the ordinary, inviting viewers to see familiar patterns and ideas through a new lens. By transforming the familiar into something extraordinary, Kalan aims to ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity in the beholder. Kalan's artistic process is a journey of exploration and experimentation. Drawing inspiration from a multitude of sources, including personal experiences, social issues, and the world around him. Through meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, Kalan brings his visions to life, infusing each artwork with depth, meaning, and a touch of soul.