Unearthing

Unearthing

Opened April 2022

Self-discovery is an integral part of life. No matter how far along in life you get, you begin to realize that self-awareness is a journey that shapes how you show up in the world. The artists in this exhibition combined photography and collage techniques to create unique self-portraits and artworks displaying parts of themselves the eye can’t always see.

This eight-part mixed media workshop brought together a diverse group of women from across the city. Dr. Jabani Bennett led participants in learning how to create stylized self-portraits that were inspired by the works of Lorna Simpson and Janine Antoni. In the likeness of Janine Antoni’s “Inhabit”, 2009, which displays Antoni inside, and surrounded by a doll house in what seems to be a child’s room, “Inhabit” reflects themes that participants discussed and explored such as the complexities of being women, maturing, mothering, and grief. The finished pieces in this exhibit are abstract collages that show and tell stories reflecting all the topics discussed within their workshops.

Through the Community Connections program, the Speed Art Museum seeks to positively impact our community by creating artistic platforms that amplify the voice of individuals and groups that have been largely unheard. We do this by strengthening our connection with others by building reciprocal relationships based on shared understanding & compassion.

This project was funded by a grant from the E. A. Michelson Philanthropy’s Vitality Arts® Initiative.