African American identity lives on in Harlem through Black-owned businesses and art. A mirror artwork titled “I Saw Myself Expand” celebrates the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This mirror piece, along with four others, all pay homage to Harlem’s iconic locations, and the mirror exhibit is on display at Café Melo, which has been open now for two years. This Black-owned Harlem space, according to their site, is fueling creativity, community and connection through art, wellness, and culture. From Decatur, Georgia, artist Saint James, 27, used mosaic tiles, glass pieces and fire glass to bring his art to life. He aimed to capture the magic and creativity of Harlem with his mirrors following a similar design featuring an important place or person at the top.
The Schomburg Center idea in “I Saw Myself Expand” was inspired by James’s analytical views on the research building’s “innovation and expansion through innovation and education.” Artists and writers were on James’s mind as he put together art puzzle pieces to create his interpretation of the Schomburg and its corresponding affirmation in glass. Stevie Wonder, Solange Knowles, cityscapes, nature, and “Harlem Mecca of the New Negro” by Alain Locke are all featured on this mirror.
“In all the mirrors, things are coming from different times and [are] compounded into one piece together,” said James. “I took an African-ish approach to time and this belief that the past, present and future are all happening right now; we’re not separate from our ancestors, we’re not separate from the people who are going to come back for us.” James uniquely designs a channel for Black excellence and how the Harlem Renaissance still affects artists and creators in the present day. Engravings and designs related to the Schomburg and other iconic figures have “I am” affirmations at the bottom of each artwork. A beam of light, made from fire glass represents Harlem’s greatness, starting small and then expanding diagonally across the mirror. “Let’s keep expanding,” said James.
James’s choice of using a mirror instead of a canvas or paper is meaningful and intentional. “It’s all about initiating this reflective period or reflective state for people viewing it,” said James. The viewer must reflect on themselves while viewing what the mirror is presenting. “I want them to be reflecting on themselves and reflecting on everything that they’re seeing in the mirror themselves, the engravings and the words,” said James. “You can go between looking at the images on the mirror and looking at yourself and oscillate between those two and hopefully see yourself.”
Brenika Banks photos
Another piece, “I Saw Myself for Myself’s Sake” is dedicated to the 135th Street Station at St. Nicholas Park. The affirmation for this one reads: “I am supposed to be here, I am enough simply for being […] I am inspired and empowered by healthy routines.” James describes how someone visiting the exhibit should view this mirror: “I was thinking about the everyday person getting on the train, going to work, getting off work—trying their best, and what that person should see in themselves or needs to see after a long day of work.”
Dwight A. Smith, owner of Café Melo, calls the “I Saw Myself for Myself’s Sake” his favorite one. “For me, it’s the colors, the Jet magazine [engraving] – the transit, train station, hustle and bustle, it has it all.” Smith, born and raised in Harlem, likes the normalcy and realness of 135th Street and how many people commute and pass through this station. He refers to the 135th Street station as a “common denominator” and how riding the subway, especially for those who aren’t from NYC is “an experience.”
James’s previous experience teaching film and photography to fourth graders at Harlem Children’s Zone and wanting to expand their young minds inspired his mirror artwork. Using a green screen, he showed the children how to put themselves on billboards, bus stop posters and on the marquee at the Apollo Theater. “This [mirror] project came from that,” said James. “It was an evolution of wanting other people in Harlem to see themselves on the same plane as cultural giants, as institutions within the community.”
Smith was very impressed with James’s mirror artwork when he initially unveiled them. Smith admired the designs James had for his art and the essential messages behind all five mirrors. The powerful meanings resonated with him, and he wanted the art on exhibit at Café Melo. “The fact that a young man at this stage in his life wanted to create something to dedicate to these institutions that have plenty of history and wants to send a positive message—it was a no brainer for me,” said Smith.
“If you look historically in Harlem, especially during the Jazz Era, it’s not only people who were born in Harlem that contributed to the culture,” said Smith. He is grateful for those who came from different places, providing different perspectives that added to the greatness of Harlem. He believes James represents the iconic community extremely well.
“He’s definitely acknowledging Harlem is a mecca of culture and he’s here to add to it,” said Smith. He also mentioned the importance of James and his art preserving the rich culture and history of Harlem, especially as gentrification continues.
For more info, please visit www.cafemelo-harlem.com.