In a timely exhibit, YoloArts in collaboration with Women in Leadership, Davis (WiLD), presents paintings, watercolors, and screenprints honoring African American women heroes, civil rights leaders, and women who have been killed by the police. Art. In. Action. opens March 11 at The Barn Gallery in Woodland.
Originally exhibited on a freeway overpass in Davis, during For Our Mothers, For Our Sisters, For Our Daughters, a protest march held last August, the artwork also commemorates the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the centennial of the passage of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. Women honored in this special collection of protest art includes Harriet Tubman, Breonna Taylor, Kamala Harris, Rosa Parks, to name a few. The exhibition will also present video footage of the march.
The exhibition features the work of artists: Hisani Stenson, Stephanie Thayer, Kate Mellon Anibaba, Seana Burke, Danielle Fodor, Sasha Santer Hill, Nelson Loskamp, Anya McCann, Aislinn Murray, Jennifer Nachmanoff, Gilda Posada, Ruth Santer, and Eden Sunday.
Project: Hope and Black Lives Matter, two books of drawings by a collaboration of students in the Department of Design, UC Davis, are also included in this exhibition. The books were created by 43 students in three Design 15: Form and Color courses facilitated by professor Melissa Chandon and artist Harold Linde.
Art. In. Action. is being presented in collaboration with Women in Leadership, Davis (WiLD), a group supporting women leaders, African American women and other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). WiLD mentors women of all ages through logistical and community support, empowers young women to pursue leadership roles, and educates the community to bring awareness to systemic barriers of success facing women of marginalized groups through community events.
“We need to put faces to the names of Black women who have been victims of police brutality as well as Black women who led the civil rights movement and brought the Voting Rights Act into being. This is why this installation at the Barn Gallery is so important,” said Dzokerayi Minya, co-founder of WiLD. “We hope families and the community will see this art and take the conversation home about how past and current laws affect Black families and in particular Black women.”
A virtual preview of the exhibition will air March 11 at noon on Facebook and Instagram, @YoloartsCA. Minya, exhibition artists, and local activists will talk about the artwork and the organization’s mission to empower BIPOC women leaders and bring awareness to systemic barriers facing woman and girls of color in the community. The recorded preview will be available on yoloarts.org and social media throughout the exhibition’s run. Exhibition artwork can also be viewed online at https://yoloarts.org/online-galleries.
“I first saw this artwork displayed on a freeway overpass in Davis during the march last August and was reminded of the power of art to move and educate people,” said Janice Purnell, creative director at YoloArts. “This exhibition offers an extended opportunity for everyone to see these works up close, learn more about the stories and bravery of these women, and gain a deeper understanding of the goals and vision of Women In Leadership, Davis.”
On May 12, Minya and guest artists will talk about the role of art and stories in our social movements at the monthly Knowledge @ Noon series. Art. In. Action. closes on June 19 with a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration 12:30-3 pm at The Barn Gallery.
The Barn Gallery is located at 512 Gibson Road in Woodland. The gallery is open Thursday afternoons 2:30-5 p.m. and two Saturday afternoons monthly; eight people are allowed in the gallery at a time. Face coverings and social distancing is required. For more information contact ya@yoloarts.org.
To learn more about WiLD go to: https://www.wildeventsdavis.com