“The Colour of Art ” exhibit closes, new exhibit opens at Gibson Gallery

“Ladies of Glass” runs through Aug. 6

By Ron Giofu

A local group known as “The Artists of Colour” concluded their latest exhibit at the Gibson Gallery Sunday afternoon.

Seven members of the group participated in “The Colour of Art” exhibit with a closing reception being held last weekend.

Group chair Dennis K. Smith pointed out “the exhibit featured seven artists of colour” including a new member who has been around the group since she was nine-years-old – Wanda Relf.

Along with Smith and Relf, the works of Lois Larkin. Connie Turner, Manzella Vincent, Susan Washington and Lana Talbot were featured for the brief two week exhibit.

There was no specific theme, Smith pointed out, as participants were free to paint whatever they liked.

“Their goal was to paint their stories,” said Smith. “These are seven narratives from the Artists of Colour.”

Smith said they had their first exhibit 15 years ago and have built on that since then.

That includes a growth in membership as there were ten artists when they began, with The Artists of Colour’s membership now at approximately 30 members.

“It’s been two weeks,” Smith said of the exhibit. “I hope it’s gone well.”

The Artists of Colour are working on a project entitled “The Struggle for Inclusion” and Smith said they hope that will be unveiled next February.

It is a continuation of their first phase of the project, known as “Journeys,” with that focusing on Black history. The first phase was once featured in the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

“We’ve been here for as long as the explorers,” said Larkin. “We are making an attempt at sharing our history, not just Black history, but

Canadian history.”

Washington said being a part of The Artists of Colour has been “a wonderful learning experience for me” and said she started painting with Smith in her 50’s. Turner agreed, noting she travels to various locations to get themes for her work.

“Art is so wonderful,” said Talbot. “Colour is like music.”

Vincent added she also has learned from Smith, and “my brain has been exploding with the things we do as a group.” She said she worked with the group before but only recently has become a member.

Relf, now 23, started learning from Smith early, adding “it’s very nice to be part of the group.”

The Artists of Colour was formed in 2008 and describes themselves as a “collective voice” to “express our history and realities through the visual and oral language of art. It is our desire to showcase the works of not only Black artists, but all visible minorities and artists of diverse backgrounds, both the professional and the novice.”

The latest exhibit is J. David Green’s “Ladies of Glass” with that exhibit running through Aug. 6.

The opening reception for the new exhibit is this Sunday at the Gibson Gallery from 1-3 p.m.

The Gibson Gallery is also inviting fibre artists to be part of the juried “Fibre Optix” exhibit, which is scheduled to run from Oct. 5-Nov. 5. The submission fee is $12 with cash prizes of $200, $100, $50 and $25.

For more information on the Gibson Gallery, please call 519-736-2826 or visit www.gibsonartgallery.com. The gallery is located at 140 Richmond St. in Amherstburg.

More information on the Artists of Colour can be found at www.theartistsofcolour.com or through the group’s Facebook page.