Now on view in Bromer Gallery
Shirley Jackson Whitaker:
An Artist's Reflections on African-American Life, Culture, and Trials
We are elated to welcome artist, clinician, and activist Dr. Shirley Jackson Whitaker to Bromer Gallery for “Shirley Jackson Whitaker: An Artist’s Reflection on African-American Life, Culture, and Trials.” Through a variety of cleverly composed media, Dr. Whitaker captures the joys of African-American dailiness and history: her paintings depict a checkers game, a little boy fussily seated in a barber’s chair, Ida B. Wells and Shirley Chisholm, women headed to church, their hats and bags rendered three-dimensionally in fabric applied to the canvas. In addition to her paintings are a variety of portraits in graphite and as etchings. At the heart of the exhibit is Ashes to Ashes, Dr. Whitaker’s artist’s book that mourns the thousands of victims of lynching in the United States. The deluxe edition, included in the show, features a cover showing an original leatherwork piece by the late Winfred Rembert. With the same intimacy with which she details haircuts and churchgoing, Dr. Whitaker confronts the dark fissures of murder and hate, bringing to both the light to reveal, reflect, and potentially heal.
For more about Dr. Whitaker, visit our gallery website. “Shirley Jackson Whitaker: An Artist’s Reflection on African-American Life, Culture, and Trials” will be on exhibit and works will be available for purchase through the winter at Bromer Gallery, 607 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Please join us for an opening reception on December 11th, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Proof of vaccination and masks will be required.