everyday people two at the carr center
Dayton and Detroit NAACP Collaborative Art Exhibition
The intent of this 2-part 2-city exhibition is to amplify African narratives and personal experiences while illustrating cultural diversity. These images further describe humanity’s interconnectedness through common everyday occurrences which can be the catalyst for its potential toward inclusiveness and compassion.
Love can feel like being submerged in a warm bath with peace lighting on your fingertips. The flat background allows the hyperreal figure to appear 3-dimensional. The stark contrast between the woman’s deep skin tone and dark clothing against the vibrant orange is stunning.
Hartway Sr. draws on African and Meso/Native American ancestry evidenced in this mixed media sculpture. This fierce warrior combines knightly armor along with protection from dust and sand whose costume appears to be blowing with the wind.
Energy generated by rich orange reclining next to deep, velvety blue highlights luxurious, softly folding fabrics as well as the wearer’s confident, easy manner. The sleeping dog in the upper right corner lends compositional interest.
The gallery has posted hours 12N-5P for Thursday but was locked up tight when I got there at 1225P. The obliging concierge told me this is not unusual. This means I did not view the work in person but pulled images off the internet, which is disappointing because what I could see through the door looked great. This does not diminish the importance of the exhibition however I’d make sure someone is there before going to see it.
Musical performances in the gallery space during the exhibition enhance the visual experience.
“These pieces are remarkable. Selecting just eight paintings from such a compelling art collection proved to be an arduous task. The artistry is breathtaking, profoundly portraying the multifaceted beauty, resilience, and shared humanity within Black love and its inherent struggles. My musical selections, chosen from my own compositions, aim to resonate deeply with the emotional power and individual character of each piece. These works feature a rich instrumental tapestry woven from the musical instruments: trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass, drums, and percussion, with three compositions further enhanced by the expressive power of the human voice.” –Rodney Whitaker
On view through June 19th at Carr Center Gallery 15 E Kirby Detroit
*images from website
direct quote from gallery materials
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