e·qual·i·ty
/əˈkwälədē/
noun
the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.
Equality. It is such a simple word but yet somehow it is also incredibly complex. The interpretation of its definition varies by the lens of the viewer, influenced by a lifetime of interactions & experiences that lead to variable societal presuppositions.
Societally there is a baseline expectation that when it comes to Human Rights & Justice, the definition of equality will prevail. However, in reality America’s history is littered with instances of the oppression of human rights and miscarriages of Justice that have led to a proverbial state of Inequity for Black Americans.
in·eq·ui·ty
/inˈekwədē/
noun
lack of fairness or justice.
This exhibit is a visceral photographic exposition into our nation’s history of Inequity and the pervasive adverse social & emotional impact it has had on generations of Black Americans. The works featured in this exhibit are authentic raw depictions of what it feels like to be Black in America captured through the lens of Black creatives experiencing moments in time throughout our nation’s history.
THE ARTIST
STEPHANIE ELEY
AMERICAS BACKBONE
This body of work is focused on the restructuring of iconic sculptural artwork. In this series we replaced the traditional figure with that of the black women and African cultural icons. This imagery not only showcases the beauty and strength of black women but also welcomes a conversation to the development of America by means of those who served their lives as enslaved people.
INVISIBLE TO OTHERS
What happens when sight becomes fragmented- does one who is visually impaired then have the upper hand in understanding? I challenge the notions of what it means to be impaired and question ones ability to adapt to an alternate environment. A visual impairment is not only blind, but spans across a variety of visual comprehension. By expanding the limitations of a two-dimensional medium, this work thrives off of the familiarity that sensation allows.
Sensation is knowledge, thought is visionary. Invisible to Others presents an alternative perspective, liberating the mind and redefining the unification of visual art amongst communities. It is not a feathered blur, but memory and sense.
KERIS SALMON
WE HAVE MADE THESE LANDS WHAT THEY ARE: THE ARCHITECTURE OF SLAVERY
This body of work explores family histories and their complex layers of relationships, unveiling the many significant links between black peoples’ past and present. Salmon examines her connection to her own past, her partnership with her husband and ancestors’ ownership of slaves, and her relationship with her children, and a future generation that will continue to grapple with an identity born from a tragic history.
ALLEN COOLEY
PORCH TOP LIFE
Georgia, like many of the southern states had traditions that were thick and weighed heavy in the air. One thing that could never be ignored to me was what I called, “The Porch Top Life” of the south. There was this innate desire to hold on to things, reuse them, recycle them, keep them around beyond what I felt was their lifespan.
BUILDER LEVY
New Yorker Builder Levy has been photographing America and her inhabitants for the past 50 years. His social consciousness took him to significant areas of our country during tumultuous times His commitment to aesthetically [or artistically] documenting the world around him earned him the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2008.
The works selected for this exhibit highlight Black existence in America in the 60’s, that the lack of investment in Black communities, and the struggle supporting a war in a country that doesn’t support you.
DR. OMAR HOWARD
MENTAL HEALTH SERIES
This collection of work explores what it feels like to be a Black man struggling with depression & mental health issues in America.
FOUR SISTERS
A celebration of life.
