Exhibit explores power and impact of contemporary Black Iowa artists

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is making room not only for artists who otherwise might not find exhibition space, but also for the African American Museum of Iowa that doesn’t have exhibition space while its building in southeast Cedar Rapids is undergoing a major transformation.

“Power and Impact: A Survey of 21st Century Black Visual Arts in Iowa” runs the gamut from abstract paintings to concrete views of what it means to be Black, from historical and contemporary viewpoints.

The latter is starkly illustrated in “Target Practice” by Cameron Gray of Ames, which shows a Black man in silhouette with a target on his torso. The visual response is immediate and visceral, from a creator whose accompanying artist’s statement says he “seeks to raise social consciousness” through his artwork, often employing community-based focus “uniting thinking and making.”

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This thought-provoking exhibition of 23 works, curated by the African American Museum, opens Oct. 28 and continues through March 31, 2024.

Winning theme

It represents the African American Museum’s annual original exhibition, the theme of which is based on responses from a survey of the museum’s constituents.

“This was the winner,” said Felicite Wolfe, curator and collections manager at the African American Museum. “They wanted to see a Black contemporary art exhibition.”

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The theme for the juried show was solidified around September 2022, and a call to artists went out in early May. It garnered about 20 to 25 responses, and 23 pieces were selected from 11 Iowa artists. Jurors included Wolfe; Richard Merritt, professor of art at Luther College in Decorah; and Chawne Paige, curator at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

Finding space

But with the African American Museum closed for renovations, most likely until next spring, Wolfe wasn’t sure where to place the show. So she reached out to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art’s past curator, Kate Kunau, who shared the idea with executive director Sean Ulmer.

“And the two of them were excited to do it,” Wolfe said. She was thrilled at that response, since the art museum knows “the ins and outs” of mounting an exhibition.

“Despite having an art history background, I have never dealt with an art exhibit,” she said. “So it's actually also a learning experience for me, and I'm getting a lot out of it, as well.”

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The artists hail from Cedar Rapids, Ames, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Davenport, Des Moines and Fairfield. They range in age from college students to established artists, and the works include paintings, photography, textiles, video and an art instillation.

The pieces will be on view in two second-floor galleries at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, along with a timeline of art history, focusing on Black artists in America since enslavement. That will be accessible at the museum through scanning a QR code, and on the African American Museum’s website.

Julia Jessen, who joined the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art staff on July 10, was “definitely excited” to see this exhibition on the docket.

“I’m really grateful that we as the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art would have the opportunity to show the work here,” Jessen said, adding that she enjoyed meeting the artists as they dropped off their work. “And I'm looking forward to seeing them again at the reception, too,” which will be held Oct. 26 at the Museum of Art.

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Significance

Placing these pieces on view serves several purposes.

“I really feel strongly that people need to be aware that Black art exists in this state, that there are incredibly talented artists living right in our own towns, our own communities,” Wolfe said. “A lot of them are nationally and internationally known, but I wouldn’t have had a clue.”

Breaking down barriers is another important component, Wolfe noted, in just having a place willing to show their work, “because traditionally, museums were white institutions that only show white artists.”

It’s important “to put it in the mindset that this work is being done and we need to make sure it’s elevated just as much as anything else. It’s just as valid as any other fine art that you’re going to see from white artists,” she said. “They need a place to show it. ...

“I view it as very large step that the (Cedar Rapids Museum of Art) was willing to do this, and I know that the artists were excited to be a part of it. I really hope that it opens doors for more of this.”

Encounters

“As an art museum, we want people to engage with the work and sometimes be challenged by work or sometimes see themselves reflected in work — see things that they aspire to, hope to, as well,” Jessen said. “Any time the artwork can provide that engagement and spark an emotion in the viewer, I think that's a great thing.

“I hope that is something that happens in this exhibition — that people walk away engaged and having those discussions and wanting to talk about what they saw, and how it made them feel. Maybe wanting to look up more by those artists, and continue following their artistic journey.”

Creating conversations between such diverse pieces is an art, as well.

Jessen wanted Wolfe to lead the way with laying out the exhibition, “to make sure that she had her presence and her curatorial vision within the space,” she said, with her role to be just helping out as needed or adding her opinion.

“Since the works are so different from each other, it was somewhat difficult to figure out how we wanted to approach it,” Jessen said. “I think what we ended up with is something that we’re really happy with. Sometimes you don’t quite realize the conversations that pieces will have with each other until you are experimenting and moving things around. ...

“I think it’ll be really interesting for the visitors to encounter, as well, and see what they pick up on from the works and what they pick up on from seeing the works in conjunction with each other.”

And you might just want to bring a tissue or two. “You’re going to need it,” Wolfe said.

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com

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