July 21 - September 23, 2007

This vibrant exhibition celebrates African American identity as reflected in 38 works made from clay, fiber, wood, glass, and found materials. The diverse backgrounds and personal histories of the 10 featured artists, some emerging, some established, are also highlighted. The innovative artistic expressions of these artists are rooted in the materials, structure, processes and history of the craft tradition. At the same time, the artworks explore unexpected relationships between craft and painting, sculpture, conceptual and installation art. The 10 artists featured are: Sharif Bey, Tina Williams Brewer, Beverly Buchanan, Nick Cave, June Gaddy, Robert Peppers, Cheryl Riley, Joyce J. Scott, Lydia Thompson, and Michele Tejuola Turner. Five of the artists, already established figures in the crafts field, were invited to participate in the exhibition while the remaining five were identified through a national call for artists.

Color: Ten African American Artists will allow visitors to better understand how history, culture and the artistic practice interrelate, as well as provide insight into the sources that inspire and inform the creative process. Tina Williams Brewer is nationally recognized for “story quilts” that focus on the history and ancestry of African American life. Brewer embellishes her quilts with her own tie-dyed fabrics, bright prints, layered surfaces, and abstract compositions that are filled with line and movement. Michele Tejuola Turner uses traditions from West Africa and carves folklore narratives onto African gourds, then embellishes their surfaces with ornate patterns. Joyce J. Scott’s beaded figures address social problems that plague urban America while Robert Peppers’ sculpture references intolerance, adversity, and empowerment. Beverly Buchanan’s house construction calls attention to the powerful forms of wooden shacks and to those who once lived in these dwellings. June Gaddy’s period dress combines the documentary power of photography with the ability to reflect the times through clothing. Cheryl Riley’s work addresses the civil rights era of her childhood and the destructive force of racial discrimination. Sharif Bey explores the contrasting values and ideologies of today’s popular Black youth culture. Nick Cave uses found objects and discarded beaded and sequined garments to produce two-dimensional assemblages reminiscent of tapestries and frescoes. Lydia Thompson’s work revolves around the human figure, creating shapes of adobe architecture that mimic the human body and the passing of time. The exhibition was organized by the Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.