Taken from a black-and-white family photograph, the
painting of Paige Pettibon’s maternal grandparents
evokes the “Black and white” world they lived in when
their romance blossomed. Pettibon’s Salish grandmother
and African American grandfather met in Seattle during
a time when society was starkly defined, and
separated, by color lines. Undeterred by the social
order, they fell in love and manifested the strength
of their union through the founding of a
multigenerational, multiracial family that encompasses
all colors. At the time, this young couple, posing
lovingly for a simple photograph, may not have known
their legacy would be so rich, vibrant, and bold, but
Rhoda’s reflective gaze and Richard’s protective
posture tell us they knew it would not be as simple as
“Black and white.”
—LILLIAN SPARKS ROBINSON
