Inside Art with Michael Rose - “Expressions in Black” Launches in Warwick

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Michael Rose, Art Contributor

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

Juried exhibitions provide a great opportunity to explore local art through the eyes of expert curators. In a partnership between the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and the Warwick Center for the Arts (WCFA), an exciting exhibition celebrating Black artists is on view now through June 18 in the heart of the state. The show, titled Expressions in Black Art, offers wonderful breadth and highlights the richly varied talents of Black artists working in the region.

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Assembled by juror Monique Rolle-Johnson, an inventive artist who also has work on view, the show features artworks in a range of media, from drawings, paintings, and photography, to textiles and assemblage. Artists who are both well-known in the community and those who are newer to the art scene are shown alongside one another. This makeup offers an enlivening opportunity to consider different modes of expression in use among contemporary Black artists.

 

The exhibition is a product of RISCA’s Atrium Gallery Traveling Exhibits Program. Per RISCA’s website, “The mission of the Traveling Exhibits Program is to have artists and their work to be known and recognized in other cities, and for communities to interact where organic partnerships and relationships can develop and advance.” Expressions in Black Art achieves this goal, bringing the latest work by artists from across the state to a central and accessible exhibition space in downtown Warwick.

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

A number of awards, also selected by Monique Rolle-Johnson, highlight individual objects in the show. Joseph Mushipi received First Place for his painting “Escape from Humanity”, RISD Illustration Chair Eric Telfort took home Second Place for his oil on canvas “Time Out”, and Karen Harris was awarded Third Place for her mixed media work titled “Fish and Banana”. Alongside these prizes, a wonderful textile piece by Radiant Jasmin earned an Honorable Mention. Each award-winning artwork has its own unique value and together they illustrate the qualities in which the exhibition’s curator was most interested.

 

Alongside the pieces distinguished by prizes, there are plenty of other highlights in the show. Each visitor will undoubtedly come away with their own favorites, making for an engaging conversation about the competing merits of the featured artworks.

 

One of the most appealing works on view is a skillfully crafted relief print titled “Treasure” by Titilola Martins. The image features bold lines and eye-catchingly colorful forms that pop against a mostly black and white backdrop. For those who enjoy the art of printmaking, it is a must-see piece. Priced at $350, Martins’ work is also accessible to a broad collector base.

 

A series of three photographs by artist Brittanny Taylor is another bright spot in the exhibition. Each image of Taylor’s sitter Ericka is a different take on the theme of reflection. It is a beautifully composed collection. Taylor is an astute observer and documenter of people, and in her images she tells stories about individuals that sensitively reveal her subjects. In addition to making fine art photographs, Taylor is also a gifted fashion and lifestyle photographer who has worked with clients in Boston, Providence, and New York for many years.

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

Other pieces by Cynthia Ross-Meeks employ natural materials like feathers, horns, and shells. Ross-Meeks is an artist and educator who creatively honors her own Native American ancestry. In a statement shared in the catalogue for the exhibition, Ross-Meeks describes her submissions in part by saying, “Feathers are the materials I’ve chosen as a representation of the spiritual protection needed for my people—they are the spirit of the Creator; and a way to connect with creative forces. These shields represent the sacred circle of life, and the path from birth to death.” Her assemblages are singular among the artworks exhibited in this show.

 

The inclusion of artists at varying points in their careers also gives the show a sense of depth and range. Work by recent RISD graduate Abenda Sohn is displayed adjacent to that of Nixon Leger, who has enjoyed a lengthy artistic career.

 

Although Rhode Island is a relatively small place, RISCA’s Traveling Exhibits Program is an important resource in circulating artistic talent to different venues that attract nearby audiences. For those who live and work near the Warwick Center for the Arts, Expressions in Black has made a wonderful selection of local art available to peruse right in their back yard. For Rhode Islanders from other parts of the state, the exhibition is well worth the drive.

 

Expressions in Black is on view at WCFA through June 18, 2022. The Warwick Center for the Arts is located at 3273 Post Road in Warwick, and gallery hours are Wednesdays - Saturdays from 11 am - 3 pm each day. Admission is free. Learn more about this exhibition at www.warwickcfa.org.

 

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