BLACK PEARLS OPENING RECEPTION FEATURES EXHIBITS, ARTISTS, LIVE JAZZ: Indy Parks Honors the Accomplishments of African-American and Minority Artists

By: Paula Freund

Meet the artists with the accompaniment of live jazz this Friday at Indy Parks’ opening reception of Black Pearls, a celebration of local African-American and minority artists. The exhibition opens to the public with a free 6 to 9 p.m. reception Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the Garfield Park Arts Center.

Celebrate Black History Month with Indy Parks by learning about Indianapolis-area artists and their work. The Steven Weakley Jazz Trio will perform as you peruse the Art Center’s three galleries, filled with works created by local African-American and minority artists.

“Visitors to the Black Pearls exhibit will be amazed at the level of technical mastery, the breadth of stories being told and the strong influence of traditional African cultures,” said Garfield Park Arts Center Manager Tom Weidenbach. “In this historic year, the Garfield Park Arts Center is proud to host such a timely and noteworthy exhibit.”

Who: African-American and minority artists

What: Black Pearl Opening Reception

When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2009

Where: Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive

Black Pearls is on display from Feb. 7-Feb. 28 during regular Arts Center hours. Admission is free.

In its fourth year, the exhibit will feature work by:

Terry Martin, airbrush and mixed media;

Donald Burlock, painting and graphic design;

Danicia Malone, mixed media;

Michael Jordan, painting and drawing;

Rochelle Morrison, mixed media;

Kevin J. Wilson, drawing and mixed media;

Linda Evans, textiles;

Fred Katrina, drawing;

De’Amon Harges, ceramics;

Lobyn Henderson, mixed media;

Anthony Radford, painting;

Carl Hazelwood, mixed media;

Valerie A. Ball, painting;

Bruce Armstrong, mixed media;

Deloris ‘Lodi’ Drane, mixed media;

Cherif Abib Ba, painting;

Kimerly Ba, mixed-media;

Jerome W. Chambers, painting and photography;

Nannette Y. Blair, painting;

William Stephens, photography;

Bernade Bogan-Flournoy, painting;

D. DelReverda-Jennings, sculpture;

Abie Robinson, photo print and watercolor;

Qway Kester, painting and photography.

Arts Center Hours: 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The Arts Center is located at 2432 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46203, in the heart of Garfield Park. For more information, call (317) 327-PARK or visit www.indyparks.org.