A cohort of 21 female artists in Indianapolis are involved in the Women of Color Art Exhibition at Indianapolis Public Library’s Central branch. A reception will be 5 p.m. Nov. 16 in the library’s Center for Black Literature and Culture.
Curated by Rebecca Robinson, Latoya Marlin and Mijiza Holiday, the exhibit celebrates the artistic contributions of women of color — several ethnicities are represented in the gallery — in Indianapolis.
“We really wanted to pay tribute to a lot of the working artists here who are women,” Robinson said. “We’re a force to be reckoned with. … But it’s been difficult to have our work seen and appreciated. We talked about this for a while, and we collectively said, ‘Why don’t we get together and recruit artists?’”
Each of the three curators made a list of artists they wanted to see in the exhibit and reached out them. The exhibition is a combination of work from seasoned artists to women who have never had their work in a gallery. The gallery is a brainchild of We Are Indy Arts Group, a collective of artists led by Anthony Radford, a longtime employee of Central Library and founder of Meet the Artist.
See the exhibit!
The opening reception for the Women of Color Art Exhibition will be 5-7:45 p.m. Nov. 16 at Indianapolis Public Library’s Central branch, 40 E. St. Clair St., in the Center for Black Literature and Culture on the main floor. The event is free and open to the public.
Visitors can expect to see a variety of mediums in the gallery, including paintings, metal and paper works. For its first year, Robinson hopes the exhibit inspires people to step outside their comfort zones.
“I personally believe art has become a voice for a lot of people and allows people to take a walk in someone else’s shoes,” Robinson said. “It keeps a dialogue going. Whether it’s topics about social inequality or fighting for something you really believe in, art seems to be something everyone can relate to or have empathy for.”
At the reception, visitors will have the chance to meet some of the artists — an opportunity Robinson said furthers important conversations about art, life and our collective journey.
“Art is the universal language,” Robinson said, “and it really helps bring people together.”
Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
