Ella Maria Ray’s Art Say To You?
What Will
T
he Art Exhibition “Us Just” Sankofa – Heritage Revealed Opens at the Marlboro Gallery on the campus of Prince George’s Community College – 301 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro , MD on Tuesday March 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. The exhibition will is free and open to the public and runs through April 11, 2013. More than 50 original pieces of art from Dr. Ray’s four (4) ongoing series. This is a must see exhibition. Dr. Ella Maria Ray’s students quickly find the connection between her ceramic sculptors and their lessons. This is because Dr. Ray uses literature and art interchangeably when she is teaching her students in African American Studies to have a better understanding of both the African and African American cultures at Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO. Dr. Ray earned a B.A. from Colorado College and
a M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. At first glance, her work feels, deep, dynamic, and familiar. Dr. Ella Maria Ray’s work encourages her audience to view her art as one of many tools that are used throughout the world to express history and culture. “I want people to see and respect the multitude of ways we can and should document our history to reveal our heritage,” says Dr. Ray. Her creations are fired-clay ceramic visions designed in masks and figurines. Bold and intriguing in style, her ceramic sculptures include Africana signs, symbols, shells, and colors in unique textural style that allow one’s mind to move into their own personal space of understanding the Africana experience. They create emotions that can erupt our known reality and consciousness to reveal our heritage through surreal awareness.
28 Feb. 21, 2013 - Feb. 27, 2013
“I give viewers the opportunity to look at my art and ponder, what the piece is saying to them at a ‘soulular’ level, because it is that ‘soulular’ level that makes the profound difference for each of us,” Ray says. Dr. Ray approaches her passion for art and anthropology in a very thorough and committed manner. “My love for anthropology and art has allowed me to delve deeper into exploring African and African American history and culture in ways that broaden the understanding of humanity for myself and others. Through the experiences that displaced African Americans have had and continue to have, it is important to know that we are not alone.” Dr. Ray has re-created patterns of Africana ancestors with her intellectual and aesthetic energy to teach us how to reflect on:
AROUND THE REGION
The Washington Informer
Courtesy Photo
www.washingtoninformer.com