Arts center exhibit marks celebration of black history
ARKADELPHIA — As the Clark County Arts and Humanities Council continues its mission of “bringing arts to the community and the community to the arts,” it is observing its 2015 Black History Celebration with exhibits at the Arkadelphia Arts Center through the month of March.
Farrell Ford, executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council, said the first event at the center was a small exhibit, Visions of our Fore Mothers. She said that show included artifacts relating to and symbolizing items portrayed in the present exhibit, Beyond Layers, by Little Rock artist Delita Martin, which will be on display at the Arkadelphia Arts Center through March 28.
Martin will appear at a free communitywide reception from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday at the Arkadelphia Arts Center, 625 Main St. She will speak at 5:15.
“We are indeed fortunate to acquire the Delita Martin show,” Ford said. “Martin is a multimedia artist whose art works are in high demand. I secured her last June after reading an article in the newspaper.
“Her art of printmaking incorporates the skills of drawing as she uses charcoal, conté, pencil, paint, paper, fabric and any other means in which to translate her storytelling process through her printmaking skills.”
Ford said Martin’s portraits tell individual stories while also giving a glimpse into the world of African-American women of the early 20th century.
“They explore the role of black women within the community and family structures,” Ford said.
Martin’s exhibit contains 15 pieces of her artwork.
“[I was] thrilled when the center proposed an exhibition and then invited me to do a workshop,” Martin said. “I naturally jumped at the opportunity.
“Taking my work to galleries around the state and beyond is extremely important to me. It gives me an opportunity to not only share what I love to do, but it allows me to share a little part of my personal and cultural history.
“It is so important that we use our voice to talk about the present and preserve the past. Art is my voice, and it allows me to speak out and be a part of a larger dialogue.”
Martin visited the Arkadelphia Arts Center on March 7, when she presented a workshop on printmaking.
“It was a great workshop,” Ford said. “We thought we would have to cancel the workshop because of weather, but we did not. Delita is an awesome artist.”
Martin, a native of Texas, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing from Texas Southern University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in drawing and printmaking from Purdue University. She taught fine arts at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Martin is the founding director of Black Box Press Studio and a full-time artist.
For more information on Martin, visit www.blackboxpressstudio.com.
The Arkadelphia Arts Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. There is no admission charge.
For more information, call (870) 403-8216, visit www. ccahc.org or Facebook at www.facebook/ArkadelphiaArts-Center.