February First Friday:
Celebrating Black Artists
Friday, February 2
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
During February 2024, Arts on Main will be exhibiting works by
Krystal Bilberry, Amina Coleman-Davis, Aleyah Grimes, Candy Parker, Alexis Rogers, Angelique Scott, and Melchisedek Shabazz.
Arts on Main's February show, "Celebrating Black Artists," highlights the talent, vibrancy, and diverse styles of Black artists based in the mid-Atlantic with ties to Virginia. Through fiber, oil, acrylic, woodcut prints, ink, and pottery, these seven artists share profound and deeply personal messages about society, joy, personal growth, and the universe.
Come see this exciting show by artists who have never before shown at Arts on Main! The opening of the exhibition will take place at Arts on Main on February 2nd, 2024, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served and wine + beer will be available for purchase.
Thank you to our Monthly Exhibit and Music Sponsors, Katrina and Ronald Brown!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
KRYSTAL BILBERRY
Art has held a special place in my heart since childhood. It was rare to find me without crayons and a doll as a little kid, or a sketchbook and pencils as a teen. As I was growing up, art was a safe place and gave me courage when things were difficult for my family. Art became my joy, a hiding place where I could feel special, and lit a path for me to change my future. I was the first in my family to attend a four-year university (James Madison University BFA 2005 and MEd 2007). After graduate school, I took up painting as a pastime, which eventually led me to sell my artwork at small fairs and festivals.
Find Krystal’s work at https://www.krystalbilberryart.com/
AMINA COLEMAN-DAVIS
Amina Coleman-Davis b. 2001 Richmond, VA. I was born and raised in the East End of Richmond, Virginia and found my interests in the arts by observing the creative talents of my family. My family is full of musicians, singers, and dancers so from a young age I was heavily encouraged to continue pursuing my dreams in fine art.
Their support combined with my own dedication and tenacity allowed me to graduate from Henrico High School’s Center for the Arts Visual Arts Program in 2019 with massive artistic accolades, including a national medal from Scholastic’s Art & Writing Program, a wonderful experience at Radford University’s Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and participation in multiple exhibitions.
I was awarded my BFA in Painting and Printmaking with a Minor in Art History by Virginia Commonwealth University in December of 2022. Whilst enrolled I thrived creatively and received major acknowledgement of my artistic dedication in the form of multiple awards including The Black History In the Making Award, Outstanding Achievement in Art Foundation Award, and consistent Dean’s List recognition.
I am currently based in Richmond, Virginia. My most recent adventures include organizing my first solo exhibition Soft Spot: Excavations of Tenderness, getting the opportunity to chat yarn and identity with Lisa Woolfork of the Stitch Please Podcast, and illustrating the second edition of Tisa Melton's poetry anthology Through My Lens.
Find Amina’s work at https://www.aminacolemandavis.com/
ALEYAH GRIMES
Aleyah Grimes is a multimedia artist based in Richmond, Virginia with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Working primarily with paint and fiber, she creates expressive and tactile works centered around vulnerability, growth, and stillness while simultaneously reflecting these themes in nature, the universe, and the unknown. She aims to build a body of work where the subjects are becoming one with their surroundings, emphasizing this through body language and materials, while still portraying a range of human emotions and states of being. She has also shown her work at several institutions including VMFA’s studio school, the Visual Art Center of Richmond, Main Street Station, and Southside Contemporary Art Gallery.
Find Aleyah’s work at https://www.aleyahgrimes.com/
CANDY PARKER
Candra Parker is a quilter and longarmer living in Richmond, Virginia. She works as a non-profit development professional and grant writer in order to buy fabric. Candra co-facilitated the creation of the Central Virginia Modern Quilt Guild in 2015. She currently serves on the board of directors for The Modern Quilt Guild and she is a Fun-Aunt to 23 beautiful humans and one golden retriever.
ALEXIS ROGERS
"Black women are the envy of the world. Our essence, our vibe, our flow - that God gifted melanated glow! We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
I am a Black, female painter who seeks to create work that expresses the love, pride, and joy embedded into the experience of black womanhood. Using predominantly hair as a signifier and as a vessel, I am on a mission to uplift and celebrate the big and small elements of this unique experience. Through my own personal experience and the testimonies of fellow black women, I find constant inspiration through our collectivity, sisterhood, style, rhythm, and presence. I hope that when viewing this artwork, you feel the same.
Find Alexis’ work at https://alexisrogers7.wixsite.com/website-1
ANGELIQUE SCOTT
Angelique Scott (b. 1995 Brooklyn, NY) is a ceramicist/sculptor and educator who has been working with clay for over 15 years. She received her BFA in Art Education and Craft/Materials Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and currently pursuing her Masters of Fine Art at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Scott is presently a Board member for the National Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) co-organizing the upcoming annual conference taking place in Richmond, VA March 20-23, 2024. Scott creates functional vessels using clay, fiber, metal, cowrie shells, and found materials tied to diasporic cultural production to create sensory activated work. Scott uses material/culture objects to recontextualize space/land/site and interrelatedness as an embodied way of understanding. Her studio practice explores concepts of spirituality and wellness; an investigation of physical, social, and spiritual aspects of our individual and collective wellbeing. These sensory activated vessels serve as contemporary tools to facilitate restorative practices. She invites the audience to practice personal and collective meditation and communion through engaging with these functional artifacts.
Find Angelique’s work at https://linktr.ee/angeliquescott
MELCHISEDEK SHABAZZ
Melchisedek Shabazz is a Printmaker based in Richmond, Virginia. After gaining his bachelor's in Fine Arts/Graphic Design at Norfolk State University, Shabazz creates woodcuts that reflect aspects of mental health and self-expression. This is done with his use of printmaking and blending western comic themes with lived experiences. Shabazz aims to cultivate a community by exploring subcultures and identities that are often overshadowed by societal norms.
Find Melchisedek’s work at https://www.afrospectrum.art/
Live music will be provided by Marsha Meekins & Company Jazz Band.
ABOUT MARSHA MEEKINS
Marsha Meekins was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, to Lafayette and Mary Etta Meekins. She was the third of five children. As a youngster she developed a very strong love for music- playing, singing, and listening to all types. Her father's love of opera fascinated her. She studied music and sang in the choir in elementary school, she played the flute and the viola in both junior high and high school. She studied music for two years at Mary Washington College and then transferred to Virginia State University, where she played in the university's marching and symphonic bands. She received an undergraduate degree in Public School Music, with the Flute as her major instrument. She taught instrumental music in public schools for 20 years in VA. She then decided to change careers and moved to Maryland to accept a position with the Maryland State Education Association.
Marsha has played flute professionally for over 32 years as a guest artist in various church services, weddings, concerts, funerals, benefits, etc. She has formed, managed, and/or played in several jazz, reggae, and concert bands throughout VA. and MD.
Thank you again to our Monthly Exhibit and Music Sponsors, Katrina and Ronald Brown!