Arete Celebrates Black History Month With a Commanding Trio of Black Female Artists

NEW HOPE, PA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / January 28, 2021 / New Hope, PA., January 28, 2021 – “Arete means “to live in virtue” and we opened the gallery to showcase art that improves the human condition.” says CEO Kim Plyler. True to the mission, February’s showing is a triple threat of powerful Black female perspectives through photos, poetry and mixed media.

Photographer Estizer Smith’s stunning series Back to Lowndes County pays tribute to the work her parents did for the Lowndes County Alabama Office of Economic Opportunity during the height of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s. In one of the most violent, racially divided areas of the country they helped poor black families move into better homes, start businesses and register to vote.

“You don’t just take photos, you journal about what’s important and what you want to express through the photos you take.”

-Estizer Smith

Initially inspired by photographs her father had taken during their time in Alabama, her return to Lowndes County became a journey of capturing living history through the people she met and the stories they shared.

In her debut book of poetry and prose, I Am the Rage, Dr. Martina McGowan explores what it means to live inside injustice through her raw, unfiltered experiences as a Black woman and community activist fighting against social, racial, human and sexual injustices in America.

Although words often seem to fail me when I try to speak

The writing still comes by instinct

An instinct long-buried

Not safe for polite society

-Martina McGowan

This powerful collection of 30 poems written during the social unrest of 2020 is illustrated by Diana Ejaita whose work has been featured in Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Economist.

Natalie Alleyne’s work is a delicious mixed-media playground of wood, metal, handmade paper, acrylic and ink. Equal parts salt of the earth and whimsy, her eclectic mix of imagery captures elements of nature, music and humanity. In the mid-90s Natalie left a budding career in corporate advertising for island life in St. Maarten.

“People thought I was crazy, but it felt right.”

-Natalie Alleyne

The rich, vibrant culture filled with colors and textures fueled her artistic passion and influenced her style. She returned to her early passion for painting clothing - an entrepreneurial effort that helped put her through school, but quickly made the transition to fine art and has never looked back.

You can explore Arete’s Black History Month exhibition throughout February, Thursday-Sunday from 10a to 5p.

** Exhibit opens to Public on Thursday February 4, 2021 and runs through March 2, 2021.

Private Tours start February 1, 2021

ABOUT ARETE

Arete Gallery is the perfect marriage of virtue and art. The gallery was established by the team of Sahl Communications, Inc with the purpose of showcasing artists whose work elevates humanity. From raising awareness on environmental causes to supporting disabled veterans, our mission is to shed light on the issues of today through the eyes of the artists. United through the common purpose of building a better world, Arete’s global community of artists create a spectacular mix of expression including classical paintings, modern art, textiles, sculpture, photography and even the written word. When health and social restrictions are lifted, Arete also functions as a community space, hosting events, classes and engaging the community in art awareness programs. For more information go to www.aretegallery.com