From History to the Dream

Doba Afolabi was born in the mountains of southwest Nigeria. While still in art school, he became known as one of the "Zaria Rebels," a group of Nigerian artists known for their experimental style and bold color palette. Mason Archie, in addition to his natural gift, attributes his success to a single-mindedly intensive study of the materials and techniques utilized in traditional landscape and Realism paintings executed by the 19th c. Naturalists. Francesca Britton works in a range of medium, including: charcoal, watercolor, pastels, and acrylic paint. Margaret DeLorme creates beaded jewelry designs that masterfully incorporate color, pattern, rhythm, and texture. Richard Fitzhugh is a Washington D.C. native, and graduate of the Howard University School of Architecture. Imposing his vision of urban landscapes on paper, Fitzhugh's deep sense of community is reflected in his vivid palette, and in his 25 years working with disadvantaged youth. Robert Freeman has been showing with Zenith Gallery and nationally for over 35 years, and has been included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the National Center for African American Artists; Boston Public Library; Brown University; and the DeCordova Museum. Cassanda M. Gillens is a self-taught artist, whose paintings clearly show her love and connection with the Low Country, with their depiction of the vivid colors of the southern seasons. Hubert Jackson has been shown in countries such as Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, New Guinea, and Rwanda, as well as throughout the United States. Gloria Kirk has been the recipient of numerous awards for artworks in media and in genres as diverse as: portraiture, still life, photojournalism, landscapes, architecture, and conceptional photography. Christopher Malone asks us to move past seeing dolls as just playthings for children, but rather to view them as spiritual objects, capable of inspiring deep thoughts and heady visions. Karen Starika has over 25 years experience as a preservation architect. Her digitally enhanced photographs present her view of architecture as a work of art and a moment in time, through her own voice. Curtis Woody refers to his artworks as "mixed media quilt paintings," and in his words: "the beauty of mixed media art is the flexibility it offers to start with things around you and expand from there." Joyce C. Scott's prints in the Hip Hop Saints and Fallen Angels Series confront, refute, and speak to preconceived notions of notoriety and virtue, from the point of view of (some) urban African American youth.