Museum exhibits

Two new exhibitions at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center share stories of trailblazing Black women and the impact of art.

“Queens of the Heartland” looks at 30 innovative Ohio Black women who influenced arts, literature, education, science and politics.

The exhibition begins in the 1830s and spans history to the 21st century — highlighting numerous movements, including Suffrage, anti-lynching, labor and representation.

Hadley Drodge, an assistant curator at the museum, teamed up with New York City-based artist Nichole Washington to create the exhibition. The pair chose a snapshot of Black Ohio women who were “architects of change who built social movements and shaped the world.”

Three-dimensional objects including hats, dresses, love letters and a scrapbook filled with news articles about lynching bring the history to life.

The museum’s seventh annual art show, “The Art of Soul!”, opened in October.

Twenty-two artists from around the country were selected to be part of the juried show. This year’s theme is “impact,” and explores what influences us as human beings and the impact we have on others.

Among the artists, Kay Onwukwe of Gahanna calls attention to racial disparities in three paintings influenced by the killing of George Floyd, COVID-19 and white supremacy.

“Queens of the Heartland” is currently on view through 2022. The 2020 “Art of Soul! Exhibition” is on view through Feb. 27, 2021. The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center is located at 1350 Brush Row Road in Wilberforce.