Fri 8/4 @ 5-7:30PM
Akron Soul Train, which provides short residencies to artists of all types to work on and present specific projects, is opening a two-handed show by a pair of its artists-in-residence: printmaker Ewuresi Archer and sculptor/ceramicist Kristen Cliffel, both Cleveland-based. And as a bonus, it’s presenting a show called Skin Color by Althea Jones in its CapSOUL gallery.
Archer’s show, You Are Invited; Your Hands and Mouth Are Not, celebrates her native Ghanaian culture in brilliantly colored images showing the country’s every-day activities, with an emphasis on its cuisine.
“By making art appreciating Ghanaian food, I am not only nourishing my mind, but also honoring the diverse and authentic flavors, traditions and their cultural significance,” Archer says. “Through a visual feast of paintings, sculptures and prints each artwork will immerse a viewer in a sensory experience that allows one to appreciate these foods in all their glory.”
Kristen Cliffel’s Domestic Endeavors; Feats and Service continues her career-long exploration of the different facets of women’s lives and how society constructs them. In this show, she contrasts the myths of domesticity with its reality, both positive and negative. It features her “Domestic Operations Merit Badges,” made from plywood, ceramic, paint and gold leaf.
“These pieces are a sort of bragging hall of fame/shame to the trials and tribulations throughout my history of being a wife and mother, things I have had quite a bit of experience with, good and bad,” she says. “I was never allowed to be a scout but always very jealous of the juicy badges that were worn by my peers. They seemed to be outward physical acknowledgments of success in certain specific areas of cultural prowess. If only we were given these controlled rubrics to fulfill in parenting, partnering, and adulting.”
Finally, Jones’ interactive show looks at the full spectrum of skin color and the nuances within what we perceive as “race.” She will be inviting people for conversation while color-matching their skin color with acrylic paint; she’ll have several sessions during the run of the show. Find information about them here. She hopes do match 1,000 people throughout the project.
The shows go on view Wednesday August 2, and run through Saturday September 9. The opens reception takes place Friday August 4. For more information go to akronsoultrain.org.