A Time
A Time
Was Had
Was Had
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Embedded Files
An event to give living legacy-holders their flowers; a portrait revealed before the people who love them.
"Promoting art collecting and re-positioning artist in the community as storytellers and crafters of sacred objects."
The origin
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"My father was an amazing artist and parent. That was his legacy. When I was very young, he took his own life.
You never really know what someone is carrying. Life is fragile, and the grief that follows tragedy can be a weight that closes the heart — making it hard to speak of the ones we've lost. In that silence, a person's legacy never reaches those who need it most. I grew up without my father, my family too burdened by grief to speak of him, and I never felt the full weight of who he was. But in time, I came to learn — he was a great man. I only wish I could have venerated him while he was alive, so those who loved him could have felt his legacy while he was still here.
I became an artist, as he was — his gift living on in me. And I turned that gift back toward him, using the very art that was his legacy to honor it. That wish became Legacy Restored: to venerate him by venerating others in his honor. To capture the legacy of great people while they are still with us to receive it. Some I have known for years. Some I am only now meeting.
I give them their flowers, because they are the kind who replant them — so their beauty grows and reaches people they will never meet."
"I give them their flowers, because they are the kind who replant them for others to enjoy."
— Robert "justRo" Stephenson
Portraits for the Culture — where this all began. A Filmed story traded for a portrait to start a collection, the origin of the ceremony. A Time was Had grew from this. See the full story here.
The ceremony
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A room gathered, a life venerated,
A room gathered, a life venerated,
a legacy revealed.
a legacy revealed.
Celebration
Celebration
The people arrive — family, elders, friends — for the one being honored.
Revelation
Revelation
The portrait is uncovered for the first time, in front of them all.
Veneration
Veneration
Their deeds are spoken aloud, and the room gives them their flowers.
Why a painting, not a photograph
The portrait is a sacred object.
The portrait is a sacred object.
Across West African traditions, certain objects carry the essence of a person — not metaphorically, but literally, through intimate contact with the living.
Every brushstroke is contact. Every hour of study is intimacy. By the time a portrait is complete, it has been in relation with its subject in a way no photograph can replicate. What you receive is not a commissioned painting. It is the first object in a legacy.
The preservation
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The night honors the person.
The night honors the person.
The book keeps the legacy.
The book keeps the legacy.
Every ceremony feeds a hardcover volume of a the "A Time Was Had" coffee table book — portraits, spoken citations, and oral histories gathered from the night. A counter-archive, so these legacies endure for people they will never meet.
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"Records are not just ink on paper or files in an archive; they are the blueprints of our existence. When we take agency over our stories through art, ritual, and testimony, we refuse to be a footnote in someone else's history. Rohaun’s work is a vital act of reclamation—reminding us that the most enduring way to shape the future is to ensure our present is recorded with truth, dignity, and our own hands."
The invitation
You are called to witness.
You are called to witness.
Taking part means opening three things: your time, your story, and your people. You'll sit for a short conversation session — in person, by video, or by email — with patience and presence.
The rest is already held. The venue, the photographer, the night itself — set around your life. Your only task is to invite the ones whose witness means something: family, elders, friends.
On the night of the reveal, you receive your portrait in front of them. Nothing to purchase. Nothing to perform.
FAQ
What is a photobook? The photo book will be a hardcover coffee table book that is collection images, short essays, and scanning content.
What is a portrait reveal? The portrait reveal is the process of painting a portrait of a person of interest without them seeing the portrait until the day of a scheduled event. The portrait subject, friends, family, and associates all see the final portrait together, sharing a very intimate moment with the celebrated person. Symbolically giving them flowers.
What is a live painting? A live painting is a painting create during a event. All that is needed a power, and clear area of about 10 feet for setup.
Does it cost to participate? Participation in a portrait reveal or live painting event may incur costs for materials, photography, and potentially travel and lodging, depending on the location. The artist will cover these expenses for certain events. Please note, the artist receives no payment for the portrait or time spent painting. All photographs, videos, and interviews from these events are intended for inclusion in the photobook. The final portrait is given to you to keep as a symbol of receiving your flowers.
What's my goal with this? The artist receives no payment for the portrait or time spent painting. All photographs, videos, and interviews from these events are intended for inclusion in the photobook.
Why am I being asked to participate? This photobook celebrates the preservation of legacies, ensuring they endure through oral histories and digital records for future generations. We invite your participation specifically because you have dedicated your efforts to upholding tradition, culture, and heritage. By archiving and sharing your collective stories, this project offers a beautiful tribute—giving "flowers" to those actively preserving culture and illuminating their profound, lasting impact across the diaspora.
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