"Reading Between The Lines: Image and Text by Contemporary African American Artists" brings the visual image and the written word together in art works of great directness and elegance by four of today's most progressive artists. For them, the incorporation of text and image is a natural result of deeply introspective and intellectual approaches to their lives and communities. Each artist utilizes these distinctive elements to fulfill her natural role as visual artist, story teller, educator, historian and cultural healer. Each artists has looked deep within herself and her community, and has turned a critical eye toward history, social norms, contemporary race relations, political events, figures and promises. The artists explore a wide range of issues including relationships, family, community, gender roles, AIDS and global politics. Interwoven throughout their work are also issues more clearly defined by American race relations including slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, past and present stereotypes, media representation, ethnic identity and contemporary race relations. These exceptional artists explore diver and vital issues with wisdom of a teacher, the craft of a story teller, the frankness of a journalist, the understanding of a sociologist and the anger of a protester. Exhibition held in the Main Gallery space.
