***For Immediate Release***
“Hands Up, Don't Shoot: Artists Respond”
A Visual Art Exhibition Presented by the Alliance of Black Art Galleries
Contact:
allianceofblackartgalleriesstl@gmail.com
Freida L. Wheaton phone: 314.494.4660
Pat Smith Thurman phone: 314.974.6058
October 13, 2014
"Hands Up, Don’t Shoot: Artists Respond Art Exhibition"
October 17, 2014-December 20, 2014
October 17, 2014-December 20, 2014
"Today Mike. Tomorrow?" by r2c2h2 tha artivist. 11" x 14". MIxed Media. Purchase It As T-Shirt For Only $20: http://www.tfund.com/
Freida L. Wheaton, Founder and Exhibition Curator
Who is the Alliance of Black Art Galleries?
The Alliance of Black Art Galleries (the Alliance) was founded August 20, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri. The organizers expressed a shared focus of exhibiting culturally relevant art and supporting artists whose career aspirations would benefit from broader exposure in galleries. The three primary reasons for starting the Alliance were: (1) to identify areas of cooperation and collaboration; (2) to share information of mutual interest; (3) and to express and demonstrate publicly the mutual support the galleries have for each other.
There are eight Founding Member Galleries: 10th Street Gallery (Pat Smith Thurman and Solomon
Thurman); 14th Street Artist Community Gallery (William Burton, Jr. and Robert A. Ketchens);
Bentil’s Jah’z Art Private Gallery (Sami Bentil and Annetta Vickers-Bentil); Exodus Gallery (Carlton
Mitchell); Gya Community Art Gallery (Dail Chambers); L. D. Ingrum Gallery & Studio (Lois D. Ingrum); Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center (Robert A. Powell); and Salon 53, a private
residential art gallery (Freida L. Wheaton). Freida L. Wheaton is the Founder of the Alliance.
The Hands Up, Don’t Shoot: Artists Respond arts initiative is the second thematic exhibition of the
Alliance, the first being a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of St. Louis. The
Alliance received the St. Louis Magazine 2014 A-List Award for arts collaboration.
Why this Exhibition?
The Alliance issued the call in August 2014 under the banner Hands Up, Don't Shoot: Artists Respond. The Alliance invited visual artists to respond to the killing of 18-year old Michael Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, MO and to the worldwide reaction of the public, law enforcement and the media. This historic awakening, with Ferguson, MO as “ground zero” compelled Freida L. Wheaton, founder of the Alliance, to initiate St. Louis artistic documentation of the ensuing events as protest art.
“Protest Art” has historically been a means of documenting social and political movements, and we are calling upon all artists to bring their voice – visual art – to the Movement. We are recording what future generations will view as “Ferguson:” not the St. Louis County municipality, but a 21st Century
Movement for law and justice.
What issues were artists asked to consider?
The artists interpreted the Michael Brown killing and Ferguson without restrictions. Within the context of Hands Up, Don’t Shoot the overriding issues were civil rights, voting, oppression, justice issues, prosecutorial conduct, free speech, racial disparities, police brutality, community empowerment, the right to assemble, and other issues.
What is your expectation? What does the Alliance hope will happen as a result of this Exhibition?
The Alliance hopes that all St. Louis area residents and visitors to the City will seek out this art at the 18 venues. We expect that the Venues will be a destination point; and that the City - and that includes
Ferguson - will be a destination point because of Hands Up, Don’t Shoot: Artists Respond.
Consequently, the Exhibition will be another basis for positive, meaningful dialog.
We expect that generations in the future will be able to look back and see this art as telling a story; that the 2055 viewer would feel the pain, the horror, the disbelief, the passion, the regret, the same feelings and questions we are having today, and that the art will speak to them about law and justice.
What about other forms of art?
The Exhibition will include visual art only: paintings, drawings, collage, photography, sculpture, and new media (films digital experiments, etc.). Other art forms have been fundamentally engaged in the Ferguson issues from the beginning: spoken word, poetry, dance, theater, and music. The Alliance appreciates the other art forms and they will be presenting at each of the opening receptions for
Who are the Artists?
The artists are from across the country, with most being from the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
Participating artists includes artists from Illinois, Iowa, California, Texas, Maryland, New York,
Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and New Mexico. A complete list of Hands Up, Don’t Shoot:
Artists Respond artists as of October 13th is as follows:
ARTIST CITY & STATE
1.) Najjar Abdul-Musawwir Carbondale, IL
2.) Eugenia Alexander East St. Louis, IL
3.) Anna Asche Lake Saint Louis, MO
4.) Sharon Attaway Catonsville, MD
5.) Howard Barry Northwoods, MO
6.) Jenna Bauer Ballwin, MO
7.) Michael Bauermeister Augusta, MO
8.) Sami Bentil St. Louis, MO
9.) Michael K. Bisbee Magdalena, NM
10.) Salicia Black St. Louis, MO
11.) John Blair Webster Groves, MO
12.) William Burton, Jr. St. Louis, MO
13.) Kenneth Calvert St. Louis, MO
14.) Jon Calvert St. Louis, MO
15.) Aaron Cecil Kansas City, MO
16.) Darryl Chamberlain Lee's Summit, MO
17.) Dail Chambers St. Louis, MO
18.) Dana Christian New York, NY
19.) Kevin Cole Atlanta, GA
20.) Briana Collier St. Louis, MO
21.) Stajah Curry St. Louis, MO
22.) Dennis Redmoon Darkeem Bronx, NY
23.) Dion Dion Ballwin, MO
24.) Najee Dorsey Columbus, GA
25.) Laura-Harris Gascogne Overland Park, KS
26.) Jarred Gastreich St. Louis, MO
27.) Johnny Ray Gill Los Angeles, CA
28.) B. Curtis Grayson, III Union, NJ
29.) Robert Green St. Louis, MO
30.) David Griffin, Jr. Northwoods, MO
31.) Sheri “Purpose” Hall Grandview, MO
32.) Lenard Hinds St. Louis, MO
33.) Lois Ingrum St. Louis, MO
34.) ARTIST CITY & STATE
35.) Daniel Jefferson Florissant, MO
36.) Melvin Jefferson Florissant, MO
37.) Christopher Jerry Forrest Hill, TX
38.) Alan Johnson Ferguson, MO
39.) De'Joneiro Jones St. Louis, MO
40.) Erica Jones O'Fallon, MO
41.) Christopher Jerry Forest Hill, TX
42.) Robert A. Ketchens St. Louis, MO
43.) Venise Keys Normal, IL
44.) Katrin Butler Powell (Kuumba) St. Louis, MO
45.) Joseph LaMarque Berkeley, MO
46.) Michelle Lewis St. Louis, MO
47.) Linda Lighton Kansas City, MO
48.) Deborah Nelson Linck Normandy, MO
49.) Gundía Lock-Clay St Louis, MO
50.) Tony D. Lockett St. Louis, MO
51.) Dave Loewenstein Lawrence, KS
52.) Karen Louis St. Louis, MO
53.) Heidi K. Lung Ferguson, MO
54.) Maya Mackrandilal Chicago, IL
55.) Darnell Malone Edwardsville, IL
56.) Sandra P. Marchewa University City, MO
57.) Johnathan Mayers Jefferson, LA
58.) Hayveyah Mcgowan Kansas City, MO
59.) Hugh Merrill Kansas City, MO
60.) Kris Moseley St. Louis, MO
61.) Bill Murphy St. Louis, MO
62.) Margaret Nicholson Maryland Heights, MO
63.) Glenn North Kansas City, MO
64.) Lola Ogbara St. Louis, MO
65.) P31 St. Louis, MO
66.) Elisa Peebles/ New York Group Brooklyn, NY
67.) Edna Patterson-Petty East St. Louis, IL
68.) Jerry Prettyman Baltimore, MD
69.) R2C2H2 Tha Artivist (Ronald C. Herd II) Memphis, TN
70.) Janet Riehl St. Louis, MO
71.) Marilyn L. Robinson University City, MO
72.) Byron D. Rogers Florissant, MO
73.) Sonié Joi Ruffin Kansas City, MO
74.) Brian Sandilands New Prospect, NJ
75.) Phil Shafer Kansas City, MO
76.) Lamont Shannon Normandy, MO
77.) Sean Starowitz/Lauren Tweedie Kansas City, MO
78.) Sun Smith-Foret Elsah, IL
79.) Street Cred Bay Area, CA
80.) Dustin Spagnola Asheville, NC
81.) Delores Stith-Rutlin St. Louis, MO
82.) John C. Sutton, III Kansas City, MO
83.) Krystal Sutton Unincorp. St. Louis County
84.) Eva Joy Sutton Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
85.) Serhat Tanyolacar Iowa City, IA
86.) Teamworks Unlimited Kansas City, MO
87.) Ryan Tenney Kansas City, MO
88.) MwazaCarol Thompson-Robinson Saint Louis, MO
89.) Lance Omar Thurman St. Louis, MO
90.) Pat Smith Thurman Chesterfield, MO
91.) Solomon Thurman Chesterfield, MO
92.) Michael Toombs Kansas City, MO
93.) Joy Lalita Wade University City, MO
94.) Tianxin Wang St. Louis, MO
95.) Doretha Washington St. Louis, MO
96.) Keith Westbrook Philadelphia, PA
97.) Freida L. Wheaton St. Louis, MO
98.) Jerod A. Wheaton Sun Valley/LA, CA
99.) Darryl White St. Louis, MO
100.) Billy Williams St. Louis, MO
101.) Jacquelyn Williams St. Louis, MO
102.) Bruce Allen Wilson Jr. Chicago, IL
103.) Ron Young Florissant, MO
Where can the art be seen?
The Hands Up, Don't Shoot: Artists Respond visual art exhibition is making history by the sheer number of venues being utilized for one exhibition. We know of no other such artistic collaboration in the arts in the City of St. Louis (inclusive of St. Louis County and Ferguson) or the State of Missouri - - or in any other state. Venues are art galleries, public libraries, universities, and cultural institutions. The Alliance appreciates this outpouring of support.
This Exhibition may be seen at 18 venues in St. Louis City and County, including in the City of
Ferguson, MO. Ferguson itself has been deemed a venue. Eighteen is the number of years Michael
Brown, Jr. lived. Each venue represents one year of Michael Brown’s life. Fourteen venues are exhibiting October 17 - December 20, 2014. The remaining four venues will exhibit Hands Up, Don't Shoot: Artists Respond during Black History Month, February 2015.
What are the venues for October 17 - December 20, 2014?
The venues with exhibitions opening October 17, 2014 are:
1.) 10th Street Gallery
419 N. 10th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101
Reception Friday, 10/17, 6-8pm
2.) 14th Street Artist Community Gallery
2607/09 14th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106
Reception Friday, 10/17, 6-9pm
3.) Exodus Gallery
5075 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
Reception and films Saturday, 10/18, 5-7pm
4.) Ferguson Municipal Public Library
35 N. Florissant Rd., Ferguson, MO 63135
`Reception Friday, 10/17, 1:30-3 pm
5.) The Griot Museum of Black History
2505 St Louis Ave, St Louis, MO 63106
Reception Saturday, 10/18, 2-4pm
6.) L. D. Ingrum Gallery & Studio
4937 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
Reception Saturday, 10/18, 3-5pm
7.) Portfolio Gallery & Educational Center
3514 Delmar Blvd, St Louis, MO 63103
Reception Friday, 10/17, 5-7pm
8.) Regional Arts Commission
6128 Delmar Blvd, St Louis, MO
Reception Saturday, 10/18, 4-6pm
9.) Saint Louis University Museum of Art
3663 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
Reception Friday, 10/17, 5-7pm
10.) Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
2658 Delmar Blvd, St Louis, MO 63103
Reception and films Saturday, 11/15, 3-6pm
11.) St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Gallery ADMIN
3400 Pershall Rd., Florissant, MO 63135
Gallery Talk & Reception Wednesday, 11/19, 1:30 pm
12.) St. Louis Public Library at Central
Carnegie Room
1301 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Reception Friday, 10/17, 3-5pm
13.) University of Missouri at St. Louis - Gallery FAB
201 Fine Arts Building, Normandy, MO 63121
Reception Saturday, 10/18, 1-3pm
14.) Vaughn Cultural Center ***R2c2h2 Tha Artivist Has Art In This Venue***
3701 Grandel Square, St Louis, MO 63108
Reception Friday, 10/17, 7-9pm
The City of Ferguson (deemed a Venue)
Ferguson, Missouri 63135
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