The Color of Art by Artists of Colour

February 15 - March 4

Despite living in a world of the restrictive shackles of profiling, the spirit of the Black artist has remained free. Through creative insight, Black artists continue to skillfully present their gifts and creative talents to supersede the limitations of poverty and ignominy. We have continued to express ourselves in the vibrant and fertile colours of our African ancestors.

As artists of colour we celebrate our present and past Black Artists whose art, music and literary works give us insight into their pain, joy, strength and ingenuity, and give voice and awareness to our realities. We dedicate this exhibit to the artists whose vibrant colours were obscured within a season, limited to black and white.

In a world still focused on black and white, we celebrate the inclusion of colour!

Visual Artists

Dennis K. Smith
Lana E. Talbot
Lois Larkin
Manzella V. Vincent
Connie Lee-Turner
Nicole A. Talbot
Olivia Bakare
Wanda Relf
Carol Parris

Performance Artists

Stacey Griffith
Performance Artist

James Walls
Musician, Actor

Edward M. Johnson
Poet, Author

Dennis K. Smith

Dennis K. Smith’s distinctive style of painting results in works that truly provokes a response Dennis gives credence to the fact that creativity will change that which most has categorically reduced to ordinary and commonplace, into extraordinary works of art. For over sixty years, Smith has been visually vocalizing his story through his art. If his artistic endeavours could be characterized in vocal styling terminology, he would consider himself a "crooner." an ironic term denoting a singer who delivers his song in a quiet, sentimental manner. Dennis’s work has been noted to convey a sense of calmness that causes one to stop and connect with the painting. He is the President and Co-founder of The Artists of Colour.

“My need in life is not to create a new approach to painting, but rather approach life as something worth painting. There is a painting in everything we see; and in all that is seen, there’s still much more to be revealed.” ... dKsmith

dksstudiogallery.com

Lana E. Talbot

I was born while the earth was shaking. I was born into a world shaken by injustice and dehumanization, a world literally exploding. I was born on August 7th, 1945. The atomic bomb falling on Hiroshima affected my mother deeply and she reminded me throughout my life that my birth happened at a moment of massive pain and injustice.

The global circumstances around my birth have been very present to me as my life made its way to today. I developed the talents that flowed into me early, growing in the artistic arts, singing and drawing at 5 years old, artistic skills that I have worked on over the years, but the most valuable to me was my innate sense of justice, and more than that, of compassion for my fellow humans.

The compassion I learned first from my mother and great grandmother grew in me into a passion for recognition and freedom for all people. I have always focused on what I believe matters, sticking with my desire to develop the root of compassion and human understanding that infuses all of my work. The anti-racist effort that has dominated my heart is evidence of the ribbon of love that has bound my whole life together, from my close connections with my great grandmother to the loving relationships I have with my great grandchildren. We are all one, and that has been very clear to me every day.

Lois Larkin

Lois Smith Larkin was born in Niagara Falls, New York and moved to Windsor with her parents and younger brother when she was seven. A product of the Windsor school system, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Windsor, majoring in Fine Arts History. Lois, an elementary school teacher, following graduation, became an elementary school librarian. She has been honoured with the title “Griot”. Griots are the ancient storytellers of Africa, the repositories of history, the guardians of tradition. Now retired, she continues her pursuit of the art of story telling through representational painting. Lois is a charter member of the Artists of Colour. Upon retirement, Lois searched for a productive activity to use her time beneficially. She elected to study the art of acrylic painting under the tutelage of Fine Artist, Dennis Smith. After some twenty years of Saturday mornings and annual painting weekends away with the class, she has been able to express her feelings, tell life stories, describe social and political issues pictorially on canvas. She has been teasingly called the “Griot” of the palette.

Manzella V. Vincent

Manzella Vincent is a woman of many talents who started her professional career in the Detroit area as a registered nurse. Her nursing career included Hutzel Hospital-Labor and Delivery, Harper Hospital-Nephrology-End Stage Renal disease and lastly, Chrysler Corporation USA-Industrial Nurse. Later, as a hairstylist she became the independent owner of Manzella’s Salon, in Windsor, Ontario. These services accommodated people with extra curly to kinky hair who desired chemically rearranged or straightened textures. Manzella’s Salon was featured in Soft Sheen’s Shop Talk Magazine’s Winter Journal in 1986. It was celebrated as one of the most outstanding Black/Ethnic Salons in Canada and the United States. She was also an Educational Technician for Soft Sheen Products. Mrs. Vincent later began extending her abilities beyond the realm of hair and nursing. She ventured into metalsmithing, fused glass, lamped-worked glass beads, jewelry making and artistic textile designs. Manzella’s Bronze African sculptures, collectively named, “Casting My Culture”, which were sculpted and cast at the University of Windsor Foundry, have been displayed at the Artists of Color Exhibit in recent years. Her lamped-worked glass beads and fused glass designs were also displayed at the Art Gallery of Windsor and the International Art Gallery of Detroit, Michigan. Manzella Vincent’s accomplishments have brightened the lives of humankind.

Connie Lee-Turner

Connie Lee-Turner was born and raised in Windsor, ON. A widow with two grown children. After retiring from General Motors and looking to occupy her time productively, the many styles of painting and the application of so many mediums used to produce it caught her interest. A hobby has now become a voice to speak about life and the everyday world we live in. Being of mixed heritage, Black and Chinese, the painting of her maternal grandfather, a black man and a proud soldier for the Canadian Army in W.W.I, and her father from Guangzhou, China, has been a rewarding challenge. The fortitude and determination to leave their home and country has given her confidence in expressing her art in a world that is changing constantly.

I, Connie Lee-Turner, enjoy painting everyday life, calm and peaceful subjects that make the viewers wonder about who, what and where are the subjects I like to paint. My medium is acrylic. I am a founding member of the Artists of Colour and have been involved in their exhibits and various presentations for 13 years. Being joined with like-minded individuals of the A.O.C has inspired me to be proud of who I am, as I strive to grow and learn to navigate in today's world.

Nicole A. Talbot

Canadian Artist Nicole Talbot is a portrait/event photographer who combines her love of people, landscapes, city life, music, and colour to help express the moment she is capturing.

She silently watches and wonders and interprets through her lens. Through many artistic influences, she is being moulded into an expressive artist that allows her works to whisper at times and shout during others.

Wanda Relf

Wanda Lillian Relf is a young local artist, who developed a fascination and admiration for the arts as a child. She has continually honed her skills and comprehension of various techniques, and she is currently working towards a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts from the University of Windsor. Wanda prefers to work with e and acrylics but has experience with oil paints and other mediums. She has been working under the inspirational direction of fine artist Dennis K Smith.

Wanda has displayed her works in several Artists of Colour shows. She has been a faithful volunteer with the Artist of Colour for the last 12 years. Wanda is also a member of the Association of Representational Artists.

Carol Parris

Carol hails from the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Windsor, and as a student she was involved in forming many clubs and committees involving African students. She did many courses at the University in Drama, Art and Education. Carol received her Honours Bachelor of Arts and later obtained a Bachelor of Education. She is a well known and respected member of the community.

Carol has worked in Early Childhood Education but is presently a caregiver to her mother. She has also worked with women as a Fashion Stylist. Carol is the mother of three adult children. Carol has always been interested in drawing, sketching and painting. Art is something that she has always thought about, but it has only now become a reality.

Before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, her interest in being an Abstract Artist was at the forefront for a new career and she has continued to do so daily and is improving everyday. She aspires to having her paintings in various galleries all over the world.

When we participate in Art it can play an emotional game in our minds and hearts. Carol’s art reflects a great deal of her early years of wanting and embracing the outdoors and nature. Her creativity reflects in her use of colours, shapes, texture and pattern.

When you see Carol’s art, I am trusting that you will want to have one of her paintings hanging on your wall to inspire you. Today Carol is learning to align herself, her heart, soul, mind and strength. This is clearly reflected in her paintings.

James Walls

Jim Walls is a retired educator, having spent a total of thirty-five years as a Special Education/Music Teacher in Windsor Ontario. His last fifteen years in Education were as an elementary school Principal. As a youth Jim’s life was preoccupied with sports and music, studying the piano and the saxophone. This love of the arts led to an interest in teaching and laid the groundwork for post secondary education, receiving a BA. a B.ED. and master’s degree.

As a teacher, the pursuit of professional growth led to the extended study of drama, music composition and music theatre which were subsequently integrated into the school music program. Jim’s first school production was “Big Bird Discovers the Orchestra”, a show which he adapted from his children’s Sesame Street records.

Jim’s first personal stage appearance was as Booker T. Washington in Windsor Light Music Theatre’s “Ragtime”. Jim became hooked! While continuing his career in education Jim performed with many local companies, Music Express, Theatre Alive, And Windsor Light Music Theatre to name a few.

After retiring from Education in 2005, Jim expanded his interests to film and commercial television finding work in feature films, television series and commercial television.

Jazz Piano is Jim’s first love, and he still spends a considerable amount of time playing with local band “Trading Places” and providing music for Encore Production’s Rumrunner Reviews.

As a Performance Artist, and member of the Artists of Colour, Jim welcomes the opportunity to work with this group of talented individuals, to share an integrated approach to artistic presentation and to act as strong advocates for the “Arts”.

Edward M. Johnson

Born in Colchester South, Ontario, Canada, Edward Milo Johnson attended Harrow Public Elementary School and Harrow District High School. He attained a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo (1972) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor (1973). Milo taught for the Greater Essex County District School Board for 32 years.

Milo retired from the Greater Essex County District School Board in 2004. Family genealogy and local Black History research led to the writing of six books: "Grayer Family Genealogy," "Johnson Grayer Genealogy," "New Canaan: Freedom-Land," "The Mystery of New Canaan," "The Color of Freedom- Poetry and Writings," "Three Sisters, growing up Black in Canada," and "By Grace We Live, Poetry and Writings."

Life challenges govern and direct a person's earthly existence. Growing up as a minority in Canadian society presented many thought-provoking encounters. Parental guidance established a model of moral living and achievement through hard work and perseverance. Proper deportment allowed me to manage the countless racial inequalities I would face in life.
My Black History books, short stories, poetry, and writings endeavor to acknowledge today's societal paradigm shift from moral living to a life governed by the pursuit of riches, social media, television, and radio; enhance people's awareness and appreciation of the world; reveal racial imbalance; advocate a consciousness of the basic needs of the disenfranchised. This acknowledgment could lead to a more charitable existence where all humanity is relevant and equal.

The
Artists
of
Colour

Formed in 2008, The Artists of Colour has a mandate to speak boldly of their historical social development through the visual and oral language of art. They endeavor to highlight the artistic talents and display the exceptional artwork of not only Black artists but artists of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and the professional art world. Through presenting an annual May art show, their hope is to encourage emerging artists to grasp hold of their goals, to speak and be included in the cultural development that surrounds them.

The Artists of Colour has encouraged and displayed the works of some of Ontario's and Michigan’s finest aspirants. They provide “hands on” art lessons, educational workshops, and guided school tours of the May show. It is their goal to be a platform and a catalyst to encourage creativity and to cultivate excellence.

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