Black artists showcased in art exhibition

By Marissa DeBortoli

Many local art lovers have been attending the on-going sixth annual Artists of Colour exhibition at the Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre.

Artists of Colour, a non-profit art group created in 2008, showcases black artists’ talent in an educational and entertaining style. Artists of Colour president, Dennis Smith said their goal is to draw more attention to the impact of black artists throughout history.

“We hope it will bring awareness of the black artists in our community,” said Smith. “But also bring the history of the black artists and the importance of the black artists in our art history – which has been left out of many books.”

The Stories We Tell exhibition features the work of 26 local and regional black artists from the U.S. to Toronto. Artists contributed photographs, sculptures and paintings to the 10-day long exhibit. Evenings of music and poetry are also held by local artists during the exhibition.

Nicole Talbot is a local portrait photographer who has had her work showcased in the exhibition for the past five years. She said she was the first photographer admitted to the show, but her art opened the door for other photographers to become part of the annual event. Talbot said she wouldn’t have started contributing her art if her father hadn’t encouraged her.

“It takes someone else encouraging you,” said Talbot. “And I wanted to be part of that – to encourage someone else and realize they have a talent. And to use it and express it.”

The Stories We Tell free exhibition runs from Feb. 8 to 18 at Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre.