Alberta Whittle

Overview

Alberta Whittle's ancestors arrived from rural Barbados in the 1920s, and earlier; but by the 1960s, they'd truly arrived. Bridgetown was culture, Bridgetown was class. Bridgetown was respectable-and respectability? Respectability was safety.

Nicola Vassell Gallery is pleased to present Alberta Whittle: Respectability won't save you: a Caribbean haunting, an exhibition of paintings, tuftings, drawings and video work curated by Arianna Nourse.

For the artist’s grandfather, Gladstone Fitzroy Barker, there would be no combing of hair outside; no shiny clothes on his family before 6 pm; and certainly no island mysticism. In silken armour - the cousins hoped - no officer would frisk you. Follow the codes - the aunties whispered - and nobody gets hurt.

Years later, and a land apart, Gladstone’s granddaughter questions the price extracted by her forebear’s call to “self-contain”. For her solo debut in New York, Alberta Whittle summons a journey of assimilation, resistance and healing for herself, her family; indeed, for any of us prodded to “cover up” to get-by.