On Friday, Jan. 11, the Austin Area Arts will open the first-ever exhibit of the Minnesota Black Fine Art Show.

Presented in partnership with Obsidian Arts and funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the show will feature ten black Minnesota artists. After showing for nine weeks in Austin, the show will continue around the state and be on view in Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato and Minneapolis.

The artists were chosen from a pool of applicants by a jury process and represent some of the best black artists in the state.

The opening with a reception will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday in the Second Floor Gallery of the Austin ArtWorks Center. The opening is free and open to the public.

The artists featured in the exhibit are:

• Kprecia Ambers, a fiber artist based in Minneapolis. A graduate of Concordia University, Ambers launched her own company, KPinspires, in 2016.

“Focusing on home décor and surface design, my work aims to celebrate Afrocentric women, empowerment, and good vibes,” she said. “In hopes to represent my culture, illustrative drawings of ethnic women are created from inspirational words to aspire those who look like me to keep fighting for their dreams.”

• Eyenga Bokamba, an abstract painter and writer based in Minneapolis. Among her accomplishments are four solo shows in the U.S. and one in Italy, a Bush Leadership Fellowship in 2006, and serving as a board member on the National Performance Network/Visual Arts Network.

She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

“The act of creating inviting, transformative, reflective spaces allows me to inhabit multiple identities in new ways, which impacts my ability to participate in the current national conversation on race, power and privilege,” she said.

• Carla Hamilton, a mixed media artist and native and current resident of Duluth. She attended Free KunstSchule in Stuttgart, Germany, and put on a solo show in Bad Cannstat, Germany. Hamilton has been honored with five solo shows in the upper Midwest since 2013 and three artist grants from the Arrowhead Arts Council. She is inspired by aardvarks and has reached an accord with the sun “where it was dictated that nothing can be hidden if you burn brightest.”

• Christopher E. Harrison, a painter based in Minneapolis. Harrison has exhibited eight solo shows and seven public art commissions in the Twin cities metro area since 2004. Harrison’s work has been published in “New American Paintings: Midwest Edition, 2017.” A graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design, he has a background in teaching and museum curation.

• Bill Jeter, a New Jersey native and multi media artist who has been a resident of Minnesota for 34 years. Jeter holds a degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and a master of fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. He has been a principal studio art instructor at the Perpich Center for Arts Education for the past 16 years.

Describing his work, Jeter said, “I create images, objects and documents that are stories about culture and experience… I love making things!”

•Antwon Key, photographer and graphic designer based in Eagle Lake and Mankato. Key is a graphic communications instructor at South Central College, where he also serves on the Diversity Committee and Academic Quality Improvement (AQIP) Steering Committee. Outside of the classroom, he has been employed as a photographer and graphic designer since 2012. He won the 2018 Print Regional Design Award and will have his work published in the HOW + Print book “The Best Design of 2019.” Key earned a master of fine arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and a degree from the University of Alabama.

• Terresa Moses, a painter and graphic designer based in Duluth. Moses works as an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Minnesota. She has a variety of creative experience, including lead designer for Couture by Alana, Inc., a start-up fashion company, apparel and graphic design leader for RR Designs, Co., creating licensed product on behalf of the NFL, NHL, NCAA, Betty Boop, Bratz and Marvel, and freelance projects for dentists’ offices, call centers, restaurants, and non-profits organizations. She earned a master of fine arts in design and a degree from the University of North Texas.

• Theoneste Munyemana, an abstract painter who lives and works in the Twin Cities. Munyemana is a Business Systems Analyst for the Met Council.

• Ivy Vainio, a photographer who lives and works in Duluth. She earned a master of arts in communicating arts from the University of Wisconsin and a degree from the University of Minnesota. Her photos have been shown in three solo shows, six books, and are part of permanent collections at the Tweed Museum, The Depot and Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital. She won the University of Wisconsin’s system-wide Woman of Color in Higher Education Award. Vainio has been involved with multicultural affairs and American Indian/Native American studies since 1992.

• Carl Wesley, a mixed media artist living in Minneapolis. Wesley explores memory and imagination in his work, which include memory-box-like objects with literal and figurative windows. Growing up on the Urban East Coast, Wesley was influenced by his high school art teacher in New Canaan, Connecticut, Michael B. Gallagher. Wesley went on to study at Parsons School of Design. His formal influences include painter James Havard. His art career has thrived despite experiencing long-term incarceration.

The exhibit will remain on view in the Second Gallery of the Austin ArtWorks Center through March 23, 2019. The ArtWorks Center Gallery is free and open to the public. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The gallery is occasionally closed for a private event, so call ahead to 507-434-0934 for availability.

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Schedule of Events

Friday

•  “Our Austin, Our America” Photograph Exhibit, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Follow the story of Austin through the lens of diversity and inclusion in these photos by William Taufic. For more information about the photos, email wtaufic@gmail.com.

• Defensive Driving Refresher Class, noon to 4 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Four-hour refresher course that earns seniors a 10 percent discount on their driver’s insurance premium. Cost for members is $16, for non-members is $19. For more information or to sign up, stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 507-433-2370.

• Austin Bruins vs. Aberdeen Wings, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! Tickets are available at the door or at Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn, or Jim’s Market Place. For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Saturday

• Pacelli Schools Christmas Tree Pick-up, 9 a.m. to noon in Austin. Pacelli parents, volunteers and students will be picking up your old Christmas Tree for a free will donation to support student activities. Make sure your tree is free of lights, ornaments, and tinsel and get it to your curb by 8 a.m. on Jan. 12. Call 507-437-3278 to get your tree on the list.

• Second Floor Art Gallery – MN Black Fine Arts Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. Austin is hosting this first ever exhibit of the art of Minnesota artists who identify as Black, African, or African American, in collaboration with Obsidian Arts out of Minneapolis. Free and open to the public. Show goes until March 23. For more information, go to www.austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

• “Our Austin, Our America” Photograph Exhibit, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Follow the story of Austin through the lens of diversity and inclusion in these photos by William Taufic. For more information about the photos, email wtaufic@gmail.com.

• Kids’ Studio – Masks, 10:30 a.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With Gabriela Alva and Alondra Vasquez. Taught in English and Spanish. For kids ages 4 to 14 years old; cost $5. For more information or to sign up, go to www.austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

• Author Visit – Gatluk Digiew, 1 p.m. at Sweet Reads. Meet Gatluk Digiew, author of Sudanese childhood story of war “God Threw Me Back.” For more information, call 507-396-8660.

• Austin Bruins vs. Aberdeen Wings, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! Tickets are available at the door or at Hy-Vee, Games People Play, Holiday Inn, or Jim’s Market Place. For more information, call 507-434-4978.

Sunday

• All You Can Eat Pancakes, 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 91. Breakfast includes eggs, sausage, orange juice or milk, and endless pancakes. Tickets $8 at the door. Proceeds go to help veterans in need. For more information, call 507-437-1151.

• “Our Austin, Our America” Photograph Exhibit, 1 to 5 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. Follow the story of Austin through the lens of diversity and inclusion in these photos by William Taufic. For more information about the photos, email wtaufic@gmail.com.