-
MAC BALL: DOWN BY THE WATER - JAMES RIVER SUITE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD DREAM -
The Story Behind the Painting
Virginia’s rivers, particularly The James River and its canal system were embedded in ante-bellum Virginia and provided an escape route for enslaved people before the development of the railroad system. The Underground Railroad was a system of routes, passages and contacts through which enslaved people could undertake a brave and dangerous journey on foot, by water, wagons and railcars to Canada and their freedom.
When I was first visiting Richmond to research this show I wandered out onto the Tyler Potterfield (Tea-pot) Bridge to survey the river. I was entranced by the reflection of the CSX Viaduct in the water below--an underwater railroad, hidden beneath the surface of the river. I walked further out and was startled when a large Canada Goose flew by very close to me. Surprised to see quite a lot of Canada Geese in the river, the wheels started turning in my head. Canada was the dream destination for countless enslaved people who wanted freedom from slavery. The geese seemed to me to symbolize this yearning and what had happened there. I paired the image of the reflection with a goose rapidly moving through, possibly back to Canada.--MB