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Manifesting Beloved Community
Exhibition dates: January 10 to March 4, 2023
Reception: January 13, 2023 from 7 to 8:30pm
Me Amo, Te Amo by 7ovechild
“Me amo, Te Amo is about making a commitment to love thyself first, the unveiling of the heart essence of true love. If I love me, I can love you. If I truly love me, I would never do anything to anyone that I wouldn’t do to myself. If I love me, then the world, the universe, my partner, mother, friend etc, love me back.”
Standing Tall by Eleni Litt
“I often go outside when I see the full moon from my window. I reflect on the beauty and clarity of the full moon on a clear night; in that night and in that space I feel seen. In my imagination I’m not alone, but rather I am standing tall with others in my beloved community. To be in a beloved community is to be able to stand tall because we have others who stand by our side.”
Bonding Thru Sports by Nancie Gunkelman
“This was created to reflect the joy of competition, in friendly games, and the camaraderie of team players. Viewers share emotions also in the process. I attempt to capture a moment in time, and the fluidity of action. Sports activities seem to bring people together.”
West Windsor Arts Council and Art Against Racism, (both 501(c)(3) organizations),
presents
Manifesting Beloved Community
A juried exhibition of work exploring the relationship of
community health with race, racism, and efforts to create an antiracist society.
“Manifesting Beloved Community” invited artists to visualize what it means to create or live in a nation or world designed around social and economic justice beyond the ills of structural racism. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Beloved Community” represents a global vision where all people share in the wealth of a healed planet. We asked that artists explore one or more themes in their work that relate to: economic justice, healthcare, housing, employment, the environment, and cultural expression.
These featured works of art are just a small sampling of what the exhibition “Manifesting Beloved Community” has to offer. Set a date to come to the arts center to see the entire show in person.
You can also view all the artwork, find out more about each artist and purchase the art in our online store (Manifesting Beloved Community online store).
Selected work will also be shown in the online gallery at Artagainstracism.org.
Exhibiting Artists: Zakia Aziz Ahmed, Kathleen Caprario, 7ove Child, Ilene Dube, Janice Gossman, Jamie Greenfield, Nancie Gunkelman, Spriha Gupta, Marzena Haupa, Bugzdale, Eleni Litt, James Long, Terri McNichol, Marge Miccio, Kate Pollack, Felicia L. Reed, Rooma Sehar, Jersey House Studio, Alice Sims-Gunzenhauser, Onnie Strother, Hope VanCleaf, and Barbara Wallace.
Juror’s Statement
Darryl Dwayne Walker
“Manifesting Beloved Community,” invites artists to visualize what it would mean to create or live in a nation/world designed around social & economic justice. Creating works that force us to examine and even look beyond the ills of structural racism. In making the selections for this exhibition I was reminded that art should make you feel something. Those feelings likely fall on a spectrum, which may be defined as positive or negative, happy or sad, at times conflicting, and in some cases maybe just indifferent. It’s through those feelings that art should inspire a dialogue for the viewers to explore with one another and with self. Art is a verb, ever-changing! It is bold, bright, provocative, and reflective. Artists have the difficult task of painting our reality without watering it down just to placate sensibilities or politics. Artists also have the ability to paint our wildest dreams and mirror who we could be if we push to be the best versions of ourselves. When selecting works this was the lens that aided me in navigating through the many amazing pieces submitted by these talented artists. I hope the viewers that engage with the works are equally moved and enamored by the stories that these works yield. Above all else, I hope this can be utilized as a safe space to dialogue about personal experiences displayed through art and its impact on both the local and the greater community
Darryl Dwayne Walker is the Coordinator of Community Engagement at The Newark Museum of Art and a graduate of HBCU Norfolk State University. Originally hailing from Norfolk Virginia. Darryl’s career in the arts and art world started in preforming arts and television eventually transitioning into the world of academia. Working for the Newark Museum of Art for 10 years now, Darryl originally started as a Museum Educator eventually elevating to the role of Coordinator of Community Engagement and will later this year officially step into the role of Manager of Community Engagement. At the Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) he’s acted as the Creative Director over yearly summer theater productions for their summer programing and has worked in partnership with the NMOA artist in residency program. Darryl has forged multiple community partnerships and created the NMOA’s first ever Community Advisory Board which he leads with his co-chair Marcy De’Pina. He’s also produced and hosted IGTV Live series #HappyHourNMOA, “Art, Culture, and Spirits,” supported by Tito’s Handmade Vodka as part of NMOA’s virtual programming. Darryl’s digital art/photography work has been on view at The Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ, The Newark Arts Festival, and Prospect St. Firehouse Cultural Center, Newark, NJ. As a working artist Darryl continues to moonlight as an actor and is currently on Seasons 3 and 4 of “Talks With Myself” a LGBTQ TV & web series cast in the role of Maurice. Filming for Season 5 is slated to begin in 2023 and Darryl will be rejoining the cast.
Presented by:
Press Release
January 13, 2023
West Windsor Arts to celebrate MLK Day with ‘Day of Service’ and Gallery Exhibit
PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., January 9, 2023—West Windsor Arts is celebrating the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. with special programming during the month of January.
MLK Day of Service
January 16, 2023 | 10 am to 3 pm
On the third Monday of January, since 1994, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been recognized as a
national day of service. On this day each year, Americans across the country step up and volunteer with
the goal of leaving a positive impact on their community.
For the fifth consecutive year, West Windsor Arts and the African American Parent Support Group have
joined together to partner with local agencies to provide much-needed assistance to the people they
serve. While volunteer spots have been secured, the organizations are requesting a number of items to
be donated to local nonprofits.
“Each year, I look forward to this collaboration with Latoya Edwards and the African American Parent
Support Group. It brings out the best in our local community, and funnels great energy into helping our
neighbors in need,” states West Windsor Arts Executive Director Aylin Green. “Through this initiative we
have helped over 1,500 individuals to access items that they need most. Whether that is personal care
items, healthy bedtime supplies, a handmade hat or scarf, or an uplifting note or card, this day of service
has become an important vehicle for our community to live up to the inspirational model set by Dr. King
to be great through service.”
Anyone may donate items to be distributed. Bring your donated items to West Windsor Arts on the day
of the event between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm or in advance from January 9-13 between 10 am and 6
pm. West Windsor Arts is located at 952 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction.
This initiative supports the following nonprofit organizations throughout central New Jersey: Rise
Community Services, Children’s Home Society, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, PEI Kids, Womanspace and
Millhill Child Development Center.
To see a list of items needed, please visit
westwindsorarts.org/event/mlk-day-of-service-2023/
Manifesting Beloved Community Art Exhibition
January 10 – March 14, 2023; Opening reception January 13, 7 to 8:30 pm
West Windsor Arts and Art Against Racism present Manifesting Beloved Community, a juried exhibition
of work exploring the relationship of community health with race, racism and efforts to create an
antiracist society. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Beloved Community represents a global vision
where all people share in the wealth of a healed planet.
“Rhinold Ponder, founder of Art Against Racism, and I have discussed that while there are many
thought-provoking individual artworks, it is the collective artist and community conversations of the
Manifesting Beloved Community art exhibition that have ignited the power of what we feel is a true
beloved community. I would encourage anyone interested in this topic to come be a part of it,”
says Aylin Green, Executive Director of West Windsor Arts.
Artists were asked to explore one or more themes in their work related to economic justice, health care,
housing, employment, the environment, and/or cultural expression. Darryl Dwayne Walker, Coordinator
of Community Engagement at the Newark Museum of Art, juried the exhibition. The exhibition runs
from January 10 to March 14 (Reception: January 13 from 7 to 8:30 pm).
Both the MLK Day of Service and Manifesting Beloved Community are supported by Citizens Bank.
About West Windsor Arts Council
The West Windsor Arts Council offers art and cultural events, workshops, and classes for all ages and in
all disciplines at the West Windsor Arts Center and in the community. For more information, call
609.716.1931 or visit westwindsorarts.org.
