the conduit II (Abigail McGrath)
the conduit II (Abigail McGrath)
Portrait of the writer, Abigail McGrath
36 × 24” Mixed Media on Birchwood
Ink, Paper Collage, Gold + Silver Leaf, Scrabble Letters
The Conduit II: Abigail McGrath
Original mixed media painting by Martha A. Wade
Created for the Women’s LIVE Artist Studio exhibition on Martha’s Vineyard, this portrait honors the legacy of writer, producer, and cultural force Abigail McGrath. Known for founding Renaissance House — a writers' retreat rooted in Black creativity and community — McGrath made space for generations of Black women to write, heal, and be heard.
This piece was part of a series celebrating Black women writers who created on the Vineyard, a concept developed by my business partner Dana Todd Pope. Abigail saw the portrait before her passing in 2023 — and I’m grateful she received her flowers while here.
Titled The Conduit, the painting speaks to her role as a vessel for spirit, creativity, and legacy. Her presence lives on in the stories she told and the space she created for others to tell theirs.
“Giving Her her Flowers” Exhibition
Martha’s Vineyard | Oak Bluffs Public Library | Sept 2024
This exhibition opened August 1, 2024 featuring ten women artists celebrating Black women writers with ties to Martha's Vineyard. Curated and presented by Dana Todd Pope of the Women's LIVE Artist Studio, in partnership with the Oak Bluffs Public Library Sankofa Festival and HBCU Legacy Week On The Vineyard.
ARTISTS
Martha A. Wade, Dana Todd Pope, Candace Hunter, Kristen Williams, Reisha, Marissa Kendrick, Shanel Romain, Rhonda Gray, Jennifer Turner, and Jennifer Warren
