Greetings All,
FYI about Sapphire and Crystals that I just wanted to share.
Sapphire and Crystals is a collective of professional African American women
artists. The artists self-determine when, where and with whom they exhibit.
Focusing on the aspect of collaboration, the
women artists generally are committed to showcasing exciting new work for each
exhibition. Working closely with institutions on all exhibitions, the artists
may perform tasks including curating, designing and installing the art, and
contributing to publicity and promotion. The signature self-portrait silent
auction during selected opening receptions presents a special opportunity
for collectors on the first night only. The individual personal work by each
member addressing various themes such as race, gender, limited palettes, our
pasts, etc., exemplifies the diversity within our ethnic group, one of the
missions of the group. The collaborative site-specific installation is an
exhibit feature distinct to this collective that is produced with most
exhibitions.
The Sapphire and Crystals’ first exhibition was held at the historic South
Side Community Art Century (SSCAC) in 1987; the group revisited the center’s Margaret
Burroughs Gallery in the fall of 2010 and this year, 2013 for a memorial
exhibition honoring Marva Pitchford Jolly (1937-2012). The second exhibition in
1988 was held at Nicole Gallery in Chicago’s River North. The African
American women artists returned to Nicole Gallery 21 years later in 2009.
The group has exhibited at Elmhurst College's Frick Center, The Noyes Cultural
Center in Evanston, IL, ARC Gallery, Woman Made Gallery, Wood Street Gallery, South
Shore Cultural Center, Chicago State University and Artemisia, among many other
galleries and art centers within the city and beyond.
Membership in Sapphire and Crystals
is decided by existing members. We require that artists have begun seriously
pursuing art on their own. Marva Pitchford Jolly and Felicia Grant Preston
conceived of the idea to organize women artists over the years including: Margaret
Burroughs, Geraldine McCullough, Renee Townsend, Mary Reed Daniel, Anna M.
Tyler, Shirley J. Sullivan, Shyvette
Williams, Joyce Owens, Dorian Sylvain, Rose Blouin, Annie Lee, Rhonda
Wheatley, Shahar Caren Weaver, Renee Williams Jefferson, Pearlie Taylor,
Dorothy Carter, Joanne Scott, Candace Hunter, Makeba Kedem DuBose, Patricia
Stewart, Venus Blue, Lillian Morgan-Lewis, Faith Davis, Frances Callaway Parks,
a poet, Arlene Turner-Crawford, Juarez Hawkins, and others. Some new artists may
show their works once or twice, and some artists have participated in multiple
exhibitions over the past 25 years.
The artists were honored by two public art
works: at the National Museum of Mexican Art in 2010 six of us constructed an Ofrenda
to Dr. Margaret Taylor Burroughs, and currently the Chicago Public Art Group
and the Hyde Park Art Center honor the group with a mural showcasing selected
artists in Hyde Park under the 51
st Street viaduct. In November and
December 2012 we held a 25
th Anniversary exhibition at Woman Made Gallery.
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