FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2022
Evanston Art Center 2022 Exhibition

Black Field / White Field: Featuring work by Dr. Yaoundé Olu, Curated by Fran Joy

On view in the Evanston Art Center’s (EAC) brand new Lobby Gallery, the exhibition Black Field / White Field features artwork by Dr. Yaoundé Olu, curated by Fran Joy.

Olu’s art is designed to portray an alternate worldview distinct from everyday life, but that provides an objective mirror through which our lives can be seen. It takes us on a journey to unfamiliar, yet familiar territory, wherein the imagination presents numerous possibilities about different ways of being. This visual poetry strives to bring a bit of light to the world to counteract the heat that divisiveness generates; the idea of wide-ranging existences can possibly highlight the senselessness of the “isms” that tend to exacerbate that divisiveness.

Olu’s art is termed “Retrofuturism,” which could be considered as a subgenre of Afrofuturism. Retrofuturism represents images from the ancient past, elsewhere in the present, and the future. This exhibit features Black Field and White Field art. Most of the Black Field is comprised of digital drawings/paintings/mixed media constructions on canvas, photo paper, or laminated prints. The White Field images are paint sharpies on canvas.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Dr. Yaoundé Olu is a painter, award-winning editorial cartoonist, illustrator, and indie comics/graphic novel publisher who has used numerous media during over 50 years of creating visual art. Her paintings and drawings have been widely exhibited. She owned and operated Osun Center for the Arts, a gallery located in the South Shore community in Chicago, from 1968 – 1982. In addition, she was recently featured in a notable exhibition of African American artists at the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum. She is also featured in the book, “It’s Life As I See It; Black Cartoonists in Chicago, 1940-1980,” published to accompany an exhibit of Chicago cartoonists that ran from June, 19 through October 3, 2021, at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. She also exhibited in the Social Justice Exhibit and the Visible/Invisible Exhibit at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, IL. A native Chicagoan, Dr. Olu has had a studio/workplace at the Bridgeport Art Center for over a decade.

Black Field / White Field will be on display in the Evanston Art Center’s Lobby Gallery from February 19 – March 20, 2022, with an opening reception on Sunday, March 6 from 1-4pm. 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 new Lobby Gallery will feature four artists curated by Fran Joy throughout 2022.

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, all visitors are required to wear a face mask and provide proof of vaccination upon entry. Please adhere to 6′ social distancing requirements when in the gallery space.

For more information, please visit us online at www.evanstonartcenter.org or contact Cara Feeney, Director of Exhibitions, at (847) 475-5300 or cfeeney@evanstonartcenter.org.

EXHIBITION DATES: February 19 – March 20, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: Sunday, March 6 from 1–4pm
GALLERY HOURS: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am–4pm

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Tags: Black Field / White Field, Dr. Yaounde Olu, Evanston, Evanston Art Center, Fran Joy