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Carver Exhibit Highlights African American Women's Perspective

An exhibit is set to open soon at the Carver Cultural Center.  It opens on Independence Day and features a wide variety of works.

“It is a selection of works by African American women from around the country, but with a focus on Texas women," said Aissatou Sidime-Blanton, who is curating the exhibit.

“In fact, there are nine Texas women, including two from San Antonio,” she said.

As to what the works are about, Sidime-Blanton said the theme is a fairly loose one.

“Universal stories, but told through these women’s eyes: stories about family and yearning and economics, but also the beauty of nature, and war and religion, so all of the things we’re thinking about today,” Sidime-Blanton said.

The exhibit opens Friday, but there’s also an event on Thursday, July 10.

“On July 10 we’ll have Dr. Amalia Maki," she said. "She will come and speak about her work and the collection and curating, and about her newest book that is coming out, which is a book that’s about honoring people who have passed that were significant to her.”

I asked Sidime-Blanton what people who come can expect.

“Portraits and landscapes to more conceptual pieces by perhaps Deborah Roberts from Austin," she said. "They’ll be challenged. Some of the pieces will make you laugh, and will make you be very uncomfortable. And lots of color throughout."

These artists face the challenges many artists do when it comes to getting their works before people.

"These women are artists that are well educated in their craft, but they’re having to teach, like many artists, in university settings, or in high schools or colleges in order to be able to share their work while they’re practicing," Sidime-Blanton said.

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii