top of page

In Person Art Shows Opening Back Up...

Writer's picture: Tory VonerTory Voner

Updated: May 24, 2021

It is my pleasure to inform you, I have a piece in a show again! It will up until June 12th, at the Brush Gallery in Lowell, my first art family in my travels. It is called "Community", and was juried by: Ekua Holmes -- Artist, illustrator, curator and an active member of Boston’s art community. Beth C. McLaughlin -- Artistic Director and Chief Curator of Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. Marjorie Rawle -- Based in Greater Boston and is the Terrana Assistant Curator at the Fitchburg Art Museum. I actually created the piece for this show when I was really struggling with my emotions during the lockdown, when George Floyd was so outrageously murdered in cold blood on video. I am thankful the judicial system seemed to actually recognize that, I was honestly very worried they wouldn't. Our system is so corrupt, and when I painted this, I was deep in my sorrows of that. I knew I couldn't rally with others, as my anxieties were at an all time high, and honestly throwing myself into the middle of that, during the lockdown of the pandemic of all times, I knew I would have a panic attack. So this is how I expressed myself.

Black Lives Strength, 2020, Acrylic on wood panel, 18" x 24"

I call this piece, "Black Lives Strength," and I had some inspiration from my good friend and painter, Adjei Adjetey, of Multi-Hue System. He suggested I look up Adinkra symbols for inspiration, because I was also researching African Art and history at the same time. I love symbology, I think it is an amazing universal language to utilize, so I kind of went all or nothing with this one! The major symbol behind the figure represents strength, which is what I in my heart would like to send all of my healing energy towards. Okodee Mmowere means the "talons of the Eagle." Okodee Mmowere shows power, bravery, and strength. This means that the eagle is the most powerful bird of the sky, and it gets its strength from its talons. This symbol is usually used by Oyoko clan in Ghana as their clan emblem.


I struggled with how to visualize what I wanted to show on this mans figure. I wanted to show that he carries all the scars of his past, but in the end, they really make him beautiful, for all of what his ancestry has been through. The red abstract shapes coming in at him from all sides are the communities that have forever been fighting against him, and the rest of the black community. There is a huge fight ahead of them, and I hope to do all I can in the near future to support them in any way I can.

"Spring Bouquet," 2021, 18" x 18", Acrylic on canvas

My next solo show will be July 21 - August 15, at the Art All Gallery, in the small Greenwald gallery in the back. And BIG NEWS: I will be having a reception sometime during this window, I will announce it soon! I wanted to do this last summer, but with how COVID affected everything so greatly, I decided it wasn't worth the effort then. Now, I believe it is worth it, especially because I can have a reception. I know many want to get out, and get inspired. We all need to, to push ourselves out of these dark times. The last few months, I have not been producing nearly as much as I usually do. I constantly feel sluggish, uninspired, only able to take things moment by moment. I am betting many of you sympathize with me! I also am speaking with the head of the Dracut Arts in Dracut, MA, and I am hoping to fill in a slot for them next January. It will be here before we know it! Enjoy the summer, and get out there to see a show and be inspired. We have been without many inspirations, for way too long.



Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Heading 2

bottom of page