Artists featured in the Farmington Community Library's Black History Month display have created brilliant multimedia doors, oil paintings depicting ancient stories and more.The African American Arts Exhibit features 26 pieces by 15 Metro Detroit artists, which are on display in showcases and on walls of the main branch of the library in Farmington Hills. It's presented by the Arts League of Michigan, based at the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Arts Center in Detroit.
“The Black History exhibition in the Farmington Library is a great opportunity for the Arts League to help make audiences aware of artists with whom they might not have had contact,” said Oliver Ragsdale Jr., president of the league. “Part of our mission is to promote community awareness of African American artists and this cooperative effort does just that.”
DIVERSE EXHIBIT
Faye Carrothers, curator, said the league has put up the display for a few years.
“I was trying to get a very diverse exhibit,” she said of the variety of art this year.
A new artist to the league is Minerva D. Evans of Detroit. Her 80 -by 32-inch doors are made with textiles, acrylics and metallic paint.
One depicts a black woman and is called “Malaika,” which means angel. All of the work is for sale; the door is $550. Carrothers said the works Evans displays at the library are part of a larger exhibit of doors.
Ivan Stewart of Southfield has an oil painting on display, showing “Isis and Osiris — The Resurrection,” an oil on canvas depicting the two Egyptian deities.
A showcase in the main lobby area displays art that includes a quilt called Soul Sisters, done in African fabrics and other cottons.
There are also photographic images, sculptures, silkscreens, glass pieces and more.
MORE TO SEE
Carrothers said that the Carr Center, 311 E. Grand River in Detroit, currently has a display of quilts. One of the exhibitors there is Joyce Snodgrass of Farmington Hills.
“Right now we have over 50 quilts covering two floors,” she said. “It's an outstanding exhibit.”
“Most are for sale and many are very reasonable.”
She said in addition to exhibits, the league has classes, arts and cultural activities and events.
