Artists Spotlight

from Paradise News Magazine - October 2022 Edition

Hanging Around

Viola Burley Leak, Watts Riot, 2021, ©Viola Burley Leak

PICTORIAL QUILTS The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art’s new special exhibition, Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West is a first-of-its-kind-exhibition exploring Black history in the West with quilts depicting mighty women and men of color in history. The vivid, intricately detailed works of art have never been seen before and were created by the Women of Color Quilters Network and curated by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi who founded the group in 1985.

“Quilts and quilt making are important to America and Black culture because the art form was historically one of the few mediums accessible to marginalized groups to tell their story, provide warmth for their families and empower them with voice through cloth,” said Dr. Mazloomi.

The 50 quilters represent artists from California to Florida and the art goes beyond needle and thread, weaving found objects such as lace hankies into the quilts. The women depicted are part of the fabric of every facet of society and will change the heart and mind of the spectator as they explore the exhibit.

Meet Abby Fisher of San Francisco, the second Black woman to write a cookbook who fled slavery and was a pickle maker; Madame C. J. Walker, the first U.S. self-made female millionaire who just got her own Barbie doll in their Inspiring Woman Collection; Hattie McDaniel, Oscar’s first Black winner; Clara Brown, Angel of the Rockies, one of the first African American women to settle in Colorado and became a very successful business woman; and Annie Box Neal, proprietor and manager of Arizona’s Mountain View Hotel, a secluded grand resort recognized as the “epitome of western opulence” in its day and that received distinguished guests from all over the world.

Enjoy many events associated with the exhibit including GRAMMY award-winning Dom Flemons’ musical journey from the trails of Old West in “Black Cowboys” 10/4; a photo memory quilt workshop with Lauren Austin 10/22; a mini-quilt workshop “Fanciful Faces” with Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks 11/5; an author talk with Laura J. Arata, Ph.D. on “Race and the Wild West” 11/13; and a Black Western movie series and discussion in Dec.: “Harlem Rides the Range” 12/6, “Buck and the Preacher,” and “Rosewood” 12/20.

AWESOME ARTISTS The fall arts season in Paradise debuts many stars. The Florida Orchestra celebrates its 55th season with Itzhak Perlman playing some of his favorite movie music. Greg Holland replaces Judy Lisi to lead the Straz Center into a stellar Broadway season (Six!). Erica Sutherlin breaks new barriers as American Stage’s first black female director and Helen R. Murray is their new producing artistic director this October. Anne-Marie Russell joins The Museum of Fine Arts as interim director, previously executive director of the Sarasota Museum of Art. Freefall Theatre’s diverse line-up includes an original musical about L. Frank Baum’s creation of Oz, a holiday musical “The Night Before” and “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsberg” 10/5-10/23. For more art news and SHINE St. Peterburg Mural Festival, check out Caron Schwartz’s column and PN’s event listings.