The Gordon Jewish Community Center (GJCC) hosts a special series of three art exhibitions for Black History Month this year, featuring the works of Henry Jones, Nadine Shillingford, and James Threalkill. The exhibitions opened on February 2nd and close on the 28th. You are invited to the Artist Reception, free and open to the public, as are the exhibitions themselves, on Wednesday, February 8th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Detroit native and Fisk University alumnus Henry L. Jones is an award-winning poet, visual artist, playwright, and performance artist / actor who is inspired by links to the African Diaspora and his heritage as a Black person. He seeks the human elements which all people can relate to. Jones will read some of his poetry at the Reception.
“In the Read in Red exhibit, I’ve brought together 24 paintings about life, death, love, personal growth, historical connections, and cultural links,” says Jones. “What’s common among the series is each is red. Also, each painting is a story in a sense. These red stories are meant to be read by translating my layers. The hues of red depicted are connections which flow from one painting to the next. So, they’re separate but joined. They’re bridged by red. Some of the paintings also have poetry embedded in the work. As both an artist and a poet, I wanted my red to be read with words and colors. This is the first time for me combining both expressions in my art. Usually, I display a poem near a painting. This time they’re made one. I want viewers to experience the red and different dimensions in terms of symbolism. What a viewer sees is an extension of an event or an experience. Red guides the viewer’s eyes like a map.”
James Threalkill is originally from Nashville, and played wide receiver at Vanderbilt University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Arts. James won an Emmy Award for his creation of a mural painting program with youth from the Edgehill Community in South Nashville. He illustrated a children’s book series entitled “Visions; African American Experiences” that was featured on Sesame Street.
James’ work has been featured on major television programs and in movies. His work has been collected internationally, including locations in South Africa where he met President Nelson Mandela, and in South America by the U. S. Embassy in Bogota’, Colombia. James currently works out of his studio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Nadine Shillingford was born on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean, but currently resides in Nashville. Her art captures people in everyday situations and brings them to life by studying their facial expressions. Her whimsical approach to art also gives life to her work. Nadine does not have a formal art background, and most of her methods are self-taught / trial-and-error and developed through a lot of practice. Nadine is the author of the book Hello Beautiful! She is a computer security consultant with a doctoral degree in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame.
