During the month of July, Art on 7th presents an exhibition titled Embracing DEI As a Core Value. With Independence Day festivities creating scheduling changes, no special opening event is planned, but visitors may view the exhibition during regular gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to artists represented by Art on 7th, gallery owners Julie and Phil Wilmot invited members of the Art League of Henderson County to submit entries for inclusion in the show. The exhibition will also feature artwork created by clients of the St. Gerard Center for Autism.
“I didn’t tell the artists what kind of message to share,” says Julie. “Rather, I wanted them to express their personal values and/or the significance that DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] holds for them. The point was never to present an angry exhibition—which for many of us was our initial reaction to witnessing the elimination of federal DEI initiatives and practices.”
Artwork making subtle statements will be among works displayed. Artist Hunter Jay’s expressionistic Forest Cathedral is an example. “Instead of painting a spring forest scene with strictly greens,” Jay says, “I included a lot of colors you wouldn’t expect, to represent diversity and inclusion.”…