The 12 monotypes in Rhonda Smith’s show, Portraits of Persistence, honor the students of Storer College. The linoleum-printed images are not photographic but do strive for individual likenesses. Wallpaper and hand-cut backgrounds add additional texture and color.
After the Civil War, the college in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia welcomed students of all races and genders. Former enslaved people and their sons and daughters of found a welcoming environment on the hills overlooking the Shenandoah River. After Storer College closed, some students sought to complete their education at Shepherd College. Says Smith, “While at Storer, students had been supported and encouraged to be themselves while on campus. Shepherd proved challenging because black students were denied the safety of an educational community. After being refused service in the cafeteria, one such student spent time between classes in her car rather than where other students congregated.
Cathy Wilkin’s intricate collages are also featured at TAG this month with her show I Shut My Eyes and See. “Picasso said, ‘Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working’, and work I did,” says Wilkin. “These six pieces were executed this past year. I felt like there had been a tear in the universe and navigating this world had never been more challenging.”
First Saturday opening reception: 6-8. Exhibit runs September 2-25. Hours are noon to 8 on Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 on Sunday.
