On view in the Evanston Art Center’s (EAC) new Lobby Gallery, the exhibition Monochrome Tone features artwork by Makeba Kedem-DuBose, curated by Fran Joy.

One of Makeba Kedem-DuBose’s strongest influences were the stained-glass windows in the church affiliated with her childhood school. As a child, she often wondered why there were no Black people represented in those beautiful windows. Being a huge part of her youthful curiosity, this fascination concerning the absence of BIPOC later led her to introduce this missing element into the stained-glass mimicked paintings that she is best known for today.

In addition to the stained-glass window influence, central themes are now also informed by thoughts surrounding social justice issues related to mental health, race, and gender.

Her America Me Series: Missing, 1930s to Present, presented in the Monochrome Tone depict raw images that speak to the underrepresentation of the aforementioned groups in the media. Underrepresentation persists despite continued violence inflicted upon BIPOC, such as the mostly unheard of disappearances of Black females from the south side of Chicago, Native females from reservations, and the countless women, those who identify as such, and children lost to the sex slave trade and child marriages. The series is an homage, to bring light to the many who’ve gone missing throughout history, and those who’ve survived attempts to disappear us.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Chicago native, Makeba Kedem-DuBose, is a multi-published, multidisciplinary artist, curator, and former gallerist. She studied interior design at Harrington College of Design, and completed a Visual Arts Certification Program in Curatorial Practices at the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at Hyde Park Art Center in 2017. She is a career artist practicing throughout greater Chicagoland, and has exhibited both nationally and internationally for over 30 years. In 2021, Kedem-DuBose was nominated for the prestigious 3Arts Award, and her work was added to the collection of Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History’s 2020 Covid Collection.

Monochrome Tone will be on display in the Evanston Art Center’s Lobby Gallery from April 2– May 1, 2022, with an opening reception on Friday, April 15 from 5—8pm. The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. This project is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and EAC’s general membership.
The image featured with this article is Makeba Kedem-DuBose’s Untitled work from her America Me Series: Missing 1930s to Present.

Evanston Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. The Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach initiatives.

Evanston Art Center is located at 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL. Evanston Art Center Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am–4pm. First and second floor gallery spaces are accessible. Limited free parking is available.

Due to COVID-19 protocol, when arriving at the EAC during our Gallery Hours, the EAC will check proof of vaccination upon entry for anyone over the age of 5. Masks will be optional but strongly recommended for vaccinated students, visitors, staff, and anyone over the age of 5. Anyone who is not vaccinated is required to wear a mask.
For more information, please visit us online at www.evanstonartcenter.org or contact Audrey Avril, Manager of Exhibitions, at (847) 475-5300 or aavril@evanstonartcenter.org. Visit the Evanston Art Center on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EvanstonArtCenter/, follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/evartcenter, or on Instagram: @EvanstonArtCenter.

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Tags: Evanston, Evanston Art Center, Fran Joy, Makeba Kedem-DuBose, Monochrome Tone