Female artists share experiences through new exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art
When conflict and social issues strike, pictures can hold more power than words. Nneka Jones, a social activist artist, uses her art to represent those stories.
Jones is joined by four other talented female artists in the Tampa Museum of Art’s newest exhibit, Verde: Poetics of Shade. Together, they share social issues that women and women of color face through their impactful art. What better time to celebrate women’s incredible feats and contributions to their nation than during Women’s History Month this March?
The month is being celebrated right here in Greater Tampa Bay. The new Verde exhibit features five artists local to GTB through July 24. Their work is celebrated in a variety of media, including paint, ceramics, sculpture and embroidery on canvas. The female artists weave their backgrounds and experiences into the themes of their art.
As a young girl, Jones watched her mother sew every day. Now, she combines sewing and art to create a collection of stunning embroidered portraits. Her visually powerful artwork and her current “Target” series represent the dangers Black women face in society. For Jones, a picture really is worth more than a thousand words.
Jones is joined by artists Kendra Frorup, Princess Smith, Shannon Elyse and Jodi Minnis to represent the community through shared experiences and divergence in visual art. The artwork in Verde speaks to feminine energy and artistic contributions.
Verde: Poetics of Shade was created in partnership with the nonprofit Tampa Chapter of the Links. The Links, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest women’s volunteer service organizations. These extraordinary women are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and others with African ancestry.
To learn more about this exhibit and the other amazing artists who have contributed, visit The Tampa Museum of Art, located at the Cornelia Corbett Center, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa.
By Hannah Schoff
