Collection: NIAD Windows Exhibition: History in the Making

In this exhibition, Shawna Kinard and Raven Harper are exploring their relationship to Black history through the lens of NIAD Studio Artists whose work they identify with.

“Black women deserve to be heard. Often Black people don’t get to be heard and I wanted to show Black women because I know a lot about Black history. Black history is important to know about because it’s something you can teach your children about.”

Shawna is often drawn to the style of African masks through her ceramic and works on paper.

“I like to make masks and designs in ceramics. The African masks I make because no one knows about this stuff, and it’s important to me because I’m African American. I want to inspire people to make art too.”

For Raven Harper, her curatorial direction followed the pathway of remembering.

“People these days should recognize that our ancestors did it for us. Rosa Parks wouldn’t get off the bus and Martin Luther King made the 'I Have a Dream' speech and if they didn’t do those things we’d still be fighting for our rights.”

In Raven’s artwork she often draws upon historical Black figures whom she admires.

“There are a lot of good things about Black history to know about. In the old days, they did their job!"