A Black History Month exhibit featuring the work of eight Southern African-American artists will be on display at the Gaffney Visitors Center and Art Gallery, 210 W. Frederick St. Gaffney. The free exhibit, sponsored by the Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA), opens Tuesday and runs through Feb. 23.
"The Eight Southern African-American Artists: Past, Present, Future" exhibit includes artists both Southern born and ones who have made the South their home. The artists include Liani Foster, Pat Kabore, Shanequa Gay, Ludovic Nkoth, Antonia Modesto, and Tracey Timmons. Additionally, two Cherokee County artists who have passed away, brother and sister Leroy Marshall and Inez Littlejohn, are remembered in this exhibit.
The exhibit includes both established artists and emerging artists. Several are members of the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg and/or West Main Artists Co-op in Spartanburg.
Each artist is represented by five to seven pieces. All works are fairly recent reflecting their current interests. Visitors will be able to view paintings, jewelry, mixed-media works, fibers, and prints.
Self-taught folk artist from Gaffney, Leroy Marshall died in 1988. A major exhibit in the 1980’s introduced his work to the public and established his reputation. Although a paraplegic, he conducted workshops in area schools. His innovative mixed-media paintings are included in private and public collections including the South Carolina State Art Collection.
Marshall’s sister, Inez Littlejohn, who was also self-taught, died in 2011. Her works depict life around her as she experienced it. Her mixed-media works are visually complex, well designed, and decorative. The exhibits committee was interested to learn that she sometimes completed subjects in Marshall’s works that he felt uncomfortable doing.
A reception for the exhibit will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 21. The artists will participate in a gallery talk about 3 p.m. They plan to give short presentations about their works or about their artistic backgrounds.
The gallery is opened from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information about this exhibit, CAVA membership or art classes, call the CAVA Gallery at 864-489-9119 or 864-489-9817.