The Black Oklahoman

For Immediate Release:

October 12, 2011

Inclusion in Art

Contact: Nathan Lee 405 886 0870

inclusionart@hotmail.com

African American Art Exhibition at Gaylord-Pickens Museum

Afro-Americana Explores Slices of Black Culture Through Visual Art

Oklahoma- Inclusion in Art, in conjunction with Gaylord Pickens Museum, will host an exhibition of innovative art work that explores African American culture. This exciting presentation includes work from noted and emerging Black artists from Oklahoma. The opening reception for Afro-Americana is 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Gaylord Pickens Museum. The exhibition will run from January 12, 2012 to April 21, 2012. Gaylord Pickens Museum is located at 1400 Classen Drive in Oklahoma City.

The artists of Afro Americana are from different backgrounds and represent the diversity of Oklahoma’s Black artists. Curator Nathan Lee sites the different backgrounds as one of the strengths of the exhibition.

“Afro Americana includes artists of African American and African descent. It’s a wonderful example of the widespread growth of creativity in Oklahoma. In the past many visual artists of color particularly those of Black descent were completely off the radar. Now they are becoming more proactive in seeking venues and developing their professionalism.”

The work of Afro Americana is a showcase of many different styles and mediums. Influences range from traditional folk art and quilt making to more contemporary works. Some of the featured artists include Suzanne Thomas, Joyce Carley, Nigerian artist Alex Kathilu and Lola Jenkins. Suzanne Thomas is a college professor at Rose State College whose current work is a series of paintings inspired by iconic figures such as Billie Holiday, Dorothy Dandridge, and Diana Ross. Joyce Carley draws on influences both African and Afro American to create paintings that celebrate both cultures and draw similarities between the two. Alex Kathilu’s paintings are a celebration of his love of jazz music and his native West African rhythms. Lola Jenkins is a quilt maker whose rich tapestries become literal paintings of made of fabric and cloth. Her subject matter ranges from landscapes to people that she has come across in her travels as an artist.

Other artists featured include Ronna Pernell, Robert Hill, Arisha Burlingame, Andrew Akufo, Rene Refour and others.

Afro-Americana marks a milestone for Gaylord Pickens Museum and a shining example of Oklahoma’s changing artistic landscape. The event is free and open to the public.

*Inclusion in Art is dedicated to promoting racial diversity in Oklahoma’s visual arts community. Through exhibitions, workshops, creative projects and lectures, Inclusion in Art continues to support artists of color find the resources available to assist them with their artistic endeavors. We are also dedicated to connecting communities through socially conscious presentations that challenge the mind and embrace progressive thought. Formed in 2004, Inclusion in Art has been responsible for renewed interest in art coming from the minority creative class, the creation of the first database of contemporary artists of color living in Oklahoma, and it has been recognized as one of the most successful initiative dedicated to racial diversity in Oklahoma arts.

For more information contact Nathan Lee at inclusionart@hotmail.com or 405 886 0870