Crealdé School of Art will unveil a new exhibit entitled The Art of Hope: A Regional Juried Exhibition Commemorating the First African-American U.S. President, Barack Obama on October 8, 2010. On display through January 17, 2011, just in time for his second year anniversary in office, the two-venue exhibition will be shown at the Alice and William Jenkins Gallery and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center’s Visiting Exhibition Gallery in Winter Park. It will reflect the social and global significance of the election of the first African-American U.S. President.
This unique exhibition will feature the two- and three-dimensional works of 32 visual artists from all ages and mediums, representing the eastern United States. Curator and juror Bobby Scroggins has selected approximately 50 works to display in both galleries. The works were chosen from among hundreds of pieces received by Crealdé through a call for action to submit art earlier this year.
A noted sculptor, Scroggins is a visiting instructor at Crealdé School of Art and Associate Professor of Art at the University of Kentucky. He holds the distinction of being the first African-American artist to be commissioned for a public monument in Missouri.
According to Crealdé’s Executive Director Peter Schreyer, “This exhibition, closing just days before the anniversary of the President’s second year in office, serves as a tribute to the historic imprint his election made on this country. Regardless of political affiliation, his election holds major significance to our nation’s history and it is a privilege to use the work of these artists to mark this significant observance.”
An opening reception will be held for the launch of the exhibition on Friday, October 8 from 6-9 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The reception will start at the Alice and William Jenkins Gallery at Crealdé School of Art with an artist awards presentation from 6 to 7:30pm and then move over to the Hannibal Square Heritage Center (in Winter Park’s historic African-American community) for a live jazz reception with the Chuck Archard Trio from 7:30 to 9pm. This exhibition is funded through a Tourist Development Grant from Orange County Government, and the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
