ON VIEW: April 2 – May 1, 2022
Featuring Makeba Kedem-DuBose | Curated by Fran Joy
Artist Reception: Friday, April 15 from 5–8pm
Chicago native, Makeba Kedem-DuBose, is a multi-published, multidisciplinary artist, curator, and former gallerist. She studied interior design at Harrington College of Design, and completed a Visual Arts Certification Program in Curatorial Practices at the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at Hyde Park Art Center in 2017. She is a career artist practicing throughout greater Chicagoland, and has exhibited both nationally and internationally for over 30 years. In 2021, Kedem-DuBose was nominated for the prestigious 3Arts Award, and her work was added to the collection of Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History’s 2020 Covid Collection.
Artist Statement
One of my strongest influences were the stained-glass windows in the church affiliated with my childhood school. As a child, I often wondered why there were no Black people represented in those beautiful windows. Being a huge part of my youthful curiosity, this fascination concerning the absence of BIPOC later led me to introduce this missing element into the stained-glass mimicked paintings that I’m best known for today.
In addition to the stained-glass window influence, central themes are now also informed by thoughts surrounding social justice issues related to mental health, race, and gender.
My America Me Series: Missing, 1930s to Present, presented in the Monochrome Tone depict raw images that speak to the underrepresentation of the aforementioned groups in the media. Underrepresentation persists despite continued violence inflicted upon BIPOC, such as the mostly unheard of disappearances of Black females from the south side of Chicago, Native females from reservations, and the countless women, those who identify as such, and children lost to the sex slave trade and child marriages. The series is an homage, to bring light to the many who’ve gone missing throughout history, and those who’ve survived attempts to disappear us.
GALLERY HOURS & VISITOR INFORMATION FOR COVID-19 GUIDELINES
This exhibition will be held in the Lobby Gallery at the Evanston Art Center (EAC). Masks are optional but strongly recommended for students, visitors, and staff.
Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 9am–6pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm
HOW TO PURCHASE ARTWORK
If you are interested in purchasing artwork on display, please contact Audrey Avril, Manager of Exhibitions, at [email protected] or (847) 475-5300 x 107.
This project is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and EAC's general membership.