The Cincinnati Arts Association’s Weston Art Gallery in the Aronoff Center for the Arts will premiere two new exhibitions on Friday, June 23, from 6 to 9 p.m.: African-American Folk Art in Kentucky will be presented in the two lower galleries and feature the varied artistic talents of ten, self-taught African-American artists from Kentucky; and an impressive site-specific work by Patrick Dougherty, of Chapel Hill, NC, will dramatically transform the street-level exhibition space. (See separate press release for the concurrent Patrick Dougherty exhibition.)
Organized by the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead, KY, African-American Folk Art in Kentucky represents a unique and diverse selection of painting, sculpture, and works on paper selected by curator Adrian Swain. The ten artists featured in the exhibition have arrived at art-making from a variety of backgrounds and occupations that include farmer, janitor, housemaid, laborer, builder, social service supervisor, pro-basketball player, and mortician. Each artist brings their unique perspective and talents to the folk art tradition. Participating artists include O’Leary Bacon of Newport, KY; Joan Dance of Paducah, KY; Marvin Finn of Louisville, KY; Helen LaFrance of Boaz, KY; the late Willie Massey of Brown, KY; Zephra May-Miller and Mark Anthony Mulligan of Louisville, KY; Willie Rascoe of Cerulean, KY; and Lavon Van Williams and the late Charles Williams of Lexington, KY.
African-American Folk Art in Kentucky is presented with the support of the Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Foundation. A full-color catalogue accompanies the exhibition and is available for sale.
