Just Pushing Paint: CJ Fletcher Solo Exhibition

THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESENTS

JUST PUSHING PAINT CJ FLETCHER SOLO EXHIBITION SEPTEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 31, 2022

THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESENTS

JUST PUSHING PAINT CJ FLETCHER SOLO EXHIBITION SEPTEMBER 9 - DECEMBER 31, 2022

OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 6:00 - 9:00 PM

GALLERY HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Group Gallery Talks by Appointment. For more information: julia.youngblood@kcaah.org

Support for this program provided in part by:

TOURISM, ARTS AND HERITAGE CABINET

Artwork on Cover: My Signature, Acrylic on Canvas, 16” x 24” by CJ Fletcher Just Pushing Paint, Acrylic on Canvas, 28” x 40” by CJ Fletcher Photograph of CJ Fletcher, by Julia Youngblood All catalogue photographs courtesy of Julia Youngblood

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE From the 1920s to the 1950s, Old Walnut Street in downtown Louisville was a center for African American culture and business. Black-owned businesses thrived, and the music venues and theaters brought people of all cultures to the area. Urban renewal in the ‘50s ended much of this, but we haven’t forgotten our past.

In 1994, the African American Heritage Foundation (AAHF) began with the initial goal of preserving African American sites, communities, and culture. AAHF started with maintaining historic structures in the Louisville African American community and using historical markers to recognize important sites.

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is the next step in this preservation process, with the goal of acting as a source of revitalization and education for the Kentucky African American community and beyond. An evolution of the Louisville and Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee, the Heritage Center is a place for African American spoken word, visual, and performing artists to collaborate and give the rich heritage of African Americans the voice and platform they deserve.

The Heritage Center’s campus sits on the historic Louisville Street Railway Complex, a centerpiece for the fight for transportation equality in 1876. Since the renovation of the 55,000 sq. foot campus, we’ve worked to raise public awareness about the history, heritage, and cultural contributions of African Americans in Kentucky and the African Diaspora. The Heritage Center is also a vital, contemporary institution, providing space for exhibitions and performances of all types.

Located at 18th and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the Heritage Center overlooks the area that once was Old Walnut Street. This area holds special significance for Kentuckiana’s African American community. Through the efforts of the Heritage Center, with help from the community, we hope to make it a place of cultural significance. The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is dedicated to the sole purpose of showcasing our community’s triumphs. Here, African American history has the platform to share its monumental achievements with the community in which they took place.

OUR MISSION KCAAH’s goals are to enhance the public’s knowledge about the history, heritage, and cultural contributions of African Americans in Kentucky and the African Diaspora. In addition, to KCAAH’s commitment to preserving the traditions and accomplishments of the past, the Center is a vital, contemporary institution, providing space for exhibitions and performances of all types.

ABOUT CJ FLETCHER A native of Nashville and long-term resident of Louisville, Kentucky, CJ Fletcher graduated from the University of Kentucky with distinction in Fine Arts. After graduation, CJ continued to study art at the University of Louisville and has been an integral part of the Louisville art industry and community for over 50 years.

Her first solo exhibition was at the Floyd County Museum in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where she sold 18 of the 19 works shown. In addition, CJ has exhibited her work throughout the country in major juried exhibitions, including New York’s “Up Close and Personal,” Boston Black In America Art Expo, Sankofa Fine Art Expo, Philadelphia’s Fine Art Expo, Capital Jazz Festival in Maryland, and as Featured Artist at the Atlanta Georgia Art Expo. Closer to home, her paintings have been exhibited at Actors Theater, Louisville Visual Arts Association, and Kentucky Crafted Market.

Over the years many publications have highlighted CJ’s accomplishments and art. In 2013 CJ was featured on the front cover of the book “One Hundred Fascinating Women,” and in June of 2014 she was featured on the front cover of Today’s Woman magazine. CJ has received numerous grants, awards, and recognition for her art, her entrepreneurial enterprise, community service and philanthropic contributions to society. Among those who have acknowledged CJ are the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Pennsylvania Chapter; The Links; AKA; Black Achievers; Louisville,Visual Arts Association; Kentucky Foundation for Women; Kentucky African Americans Against Cancer Award and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage where CJ served as a Chairperson for the 1999 Advisory Committee, and served on the Board for six years.

In 2002 the National Presbyterian Center Headquarters commissioned CJ to create art for the World Peace Poster, which was printed in 33 languages and distributed throughout the world.

CJ is passionate about arts education and community organizations. Over the years she has taught, served as a juror, volunteered and donated work to organizations such as Louisville Central Community Centers, Bridgehaven, Wesley House, Kentucky Crafted, Kentucky Foundation for Women, The Kentucky Arts Council, St. Anthony’s Outreach Center, Maryhurst, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Public Art, NETWORK Inc. (New Energy to Work Out Racial Kinks), St. Stephen Baptist Church, Jefferson Community and Technical College, the Shamrock Foundation, Metro United Way, The Crusade for Children, Fund for the Arts, Juneteenth Festival, and the Lincoln Foundation.

While painting and managing a successful career in the arts and contributing to the community, CJ Fletcher also worked with Metro Government for thirty-five years.

For 17 years, CJ was married to artist Eugene Thomas. Before his passing, the couple often opened their home gallery to share their paintings with friends, neighbors, and art collectors. CJ continues to carry out this tradition.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“

For over 40 years, I have painted to respond to my calling, to satisfy my soul, and to create work for a dedicated clientele focused on spirituality and based on my 3 C’s — composition, color, and contrast. When I face a blank canvas and hold that paintbrush, I ask God what’s next, and after that, I’m just pushing Paint.

With a genuine ambition to paint, I create art from thoughts, feelings, and things that cross my path in life, but most importantly, I look at what is going on in my life and the world. What steps do we take, and what doors do we open? In viewing my paintings, I invite you to look beyond what you initially ascertain and see something different each time you look. Just Pushing Paint features several new series —“Eyes on You,” “The Steps We Take,” and “Enter into the World of Color.”

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Painting is a challenge that I face with a positive attitude, a challenge that provides stepping stones to my better self and, by extension, a better community. I love to paint and will always strive to enhance what I do to make our community a better place to live.

- CJ Fletcher

INDEX 1............................................... A Rose Forever 1............................................... Chaos 2.............................................. Clouds of Color 3.............................................. Coming Out of Darkness 4.............................................. Coming Out 4.............................................. Connections 5.............................................. Could This Be Forever 6.............................................. Enter Into the World of Color 6.............................................. Eyes on You 7.............................................. Five Generations 8.............................................. Her Favorite Colors 9.............................................. Honoring Georgia O’Keeffe 9.............................................. Into the Unknown 10............................................ Just Pushing Paint #1 10............................................ Just Pushing Paint #2 11............................................. Linked as One 12............................................ Me, Myself & I 12............................................ My Signature 13............................................ Mystifying 14............................................ New Life 15............................................ Purple Haze 15............................................ See No Evil 16............................................ Step Up 17............................................ Subterranean Travel 18............................................ Survival 19............................................ Synchronicity 20........................................... Tealed Together 21............................................ The Doors We Enter 21............................................ What Did the Man in the River See? 22........................................... Who Will I Be 23........................................... About Exhibition Coordinator, Julia Youngblood

A Rose Forever Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 20” $550

Chaos Acrylic on Canvas 18” x 24” framed $450

1

Clouds of Color Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40” $850

2

Coming Out of Darkness Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 36” $850

3

Coming Out Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $1800

Connections Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 60” $3200

4

Could This Be Forever Acrylic on Canvas 16” x 28” $300

5

Enter Into the World of Color Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 36” $1200

Eyes on You Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 36” framed $850

6

Five Generations 5 Acrylic Paintings on Canvas with Chain 78” x 14” $350

7

Her Favorite Colors Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 36” framed $450

8

Honoring Georgia O’Keeffe Created for Bridgehaven Mental Health Services Providing Hope and Recovery for those living with mental illness Mixed Media Installation Not For Sale

Into the Unknown Acrylic on Canvas 12” x 36” $1200

9

Just Pushing Paint Acrylic on Canvas 28” x 40” framed $700

Just Pushing Paint #2 Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 60” Not For Sale – Private Collector

10

Linked as One 5 Acrylic Paintings on Canvas with Chain 78” x 14” $350

11

Me, Myself & I Acrylic on Canvas 16” x 24” framed $400

My Signature Acrylic on Canvas 16” x 24” $750

12

Mystifying Acrylic on Canvas 16” x 20” framed $500

13

New Life Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 12” $350

14

Purple Haze Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $850

See No Evil Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $1800

15

Step Up Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 36” $1600

16

Subterranean Travel Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40” $850

17

Survival Acrylic on Canvas 15” x 30” framed $650

18

Synchronicity Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 36” $950

19

Tealed Together 5 Acrylic Paintings on Canvas with Chain 78” x 14” $350

20

The Doors We Enter Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $1200

What Did the Man in the River See? Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 48” $1200

21

Who Will I Be Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40” $1800

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ABOUT EXHIBITION COORDINATOR

Celebrating the Black Experience Exhibition Coordinator, Julia Youngblood Julia Youngblood of Youngblood Harmonizing Arts is a nationally recognized KET and Corporation for Public Broadcasting American Graduate Champion; a recipient of the University of Louisville African American Theater Department Lift Every Voice Award; 2022 InSightFull Business Accelerator Equity in Arts Cohort; and 2022 Indiana Arts Commission On-Ramp fellowship recipient. Youngblood has a BA from Bennington College and MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is an arts educator, photographer, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, and multidisciplinary exhibiting artist with solo and group shows in Kentucky, Vermont, New Mexico, and California. Her most recent solo exhibition of paintings and printed textiles, Held in the Sway, was at Lodgic Everyday Community Loft Gallery in April 2022.

For sixteen years, Julia directed ArtsReach, a community arts engagement program at Kentucky Performing Arts. She has served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, The Kentucky Arts Council, and LexArts, and is currently a KPAN advisor on cultural equity. In addition, Youngblood facilitates arts engagement with the community and provides Jin Shin Jyutsu wellness sessions. She is passionate about individual and community healing, the transformative power of art, and living our best lives through harmonizing mind, body, and spirit.

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