Shining a light on Black artists from Virginia
For a small city, Charlottesville has many different places for art and music to be shared, from local to international artists. Some staples are The Jefferson Theater, IX Art Park, and the McGuffey Art Center, to name a few. The center, which is located just north of the downtown mall, has been in operation since 1975, making it one of the oldest artist-run art cooperatives.
The current art exhibit is titled “Water: The Agony and Ecstasy of the Black Experience,” and is being shown until March 28, 2021. The purpose of the exhibit is to “take viewers through a journey, using water as a metaphor of the Black experience. Water serves as a never-ending stream connecting all Black lives together,” the McGuffey Art Center states. It showcases 25 Black artists from Virginia and includes paintings, illustrations, poems, and other art pieces. All of the work is for sale ranging from $20-$5000 with the art center only taking 10% commission and the rest going to the artist.
One of my favorite pieces was done by Tronja Anglero, a beautiful and striking acrylic painting titled, “I am the honored and the scorned,” that stood out to me as soon as I saw it. vivid detail and colors used caused me to admire the artwork for a considerable amount of time. Anglero’s work has been showcased in many exhibitions throughout New York, Virginia, and the D.C. area, and is showing two pieces in this exhibit.
If you cannot go in person, you can still check out the full exhibit at https://www.mcguffeyartcenter.com. The website offers high-quality pictures of the art. Users also have the ability to support the artists by purchasing whichever pieces you like. The Mcguffey Art Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 pm and the entry fee is free. Due to COVID-19 protocol, the center requires masks, socially distanced observation, and a maximum of only 10 visitors in the building at a time. Their address is 201 2nd Street Northwest Charlottesville, VA, 22902 and their phone number is (434) 295-7973.
