The mission of the show is to assemble a virtual collection of works from local and regional artists that intends to gather the community together to:

• Combat institutional racism,

• Champion racial justice, and

• Promote spaces for the black imagination and to celebrate black joy.

There are three major purposes for the show:

• Inclusivity is an important aspect of the show—meaning that artists of any race may submit work.

• Anti-racism is another aspect of the show. The message of the show is that this is the time to advocate for anti-racist policies, anti-racist educational initiatives and police and legal reform centered around racial equality.

• Celebrating black joy is a third goal of the show. Too frequently, the black experience has been belittled, dismissed and silenced. This show aims to celebrate black empowerment, resilience and beauty.

In short, this art show aims to honor all black lives-past and present-regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or identity by using the visual arts.

Each artist submitted their artwork to be shown in one of the following themed online galleries:

• Injustice in America: This gallery displays artwork that addresses the struggle to dismantle the structures of white supremacy in our society.

• The Black Pastoral: An often overlooked resource within a community is its access to aesthetic beauty. Here, artists reclaim and celebrate natural beauty as part of the black experience.

• Inspiration and Aspiration: This gallery displays work inspired by the people, quotes, and concepts that enable you to push forward in life.

• Identity: Often the rich diversity within the black community is overlooked. In this gallery artists share work relating to their unique perspective as an individual.

• In Memoriam: This gallery contains art works that address loss of loved ones and grief. This gallery also includes artworks honoring people who have been murdered as victims of systemic racism.

• Black Lives Matter - Uncategorized: This gallery features artworks where artists chose not to select one of the exhibitions's themes as representative of their work, and instead to address a multitude of themes of the Black Lives Matter movement.

• Emerging Voices: This category was reserved for high school artists, aged 17 and younger.

All genres of art were welcomed, including but not limited to various styles of drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, spoken word, dance, and mixed media.

All sales and delivery of artwork are directly handled by each artist. (For artists under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will be responsible for handling sales and delivery.)

• If viewers are interested in purchasing an artwork, please use the artist's email address located on each artist's page for contact and inquiries.

• Each artist has been asked to donate a percentage of their sales (amount is at the artist's discretion) to the movement through an organization such as Black Lives Matter.

This current BLM RVA ART 2021 exhibition has received the following attention and media coverage:

• Black Lives Matter art show showcases social justice dialogue, The Commonwealth Times - The Independent Press of Virginia Commonwealth University, February 17, 2021.

• Art goes virtual at Annual Black Lives Matter show - The Black Lives Matter RVA Art Show features works from dozens of artists that highlight inclusivity and racial justice, VCU NEWS, February 4, 2021.

• BLM Art Show Happening in Richmond, NBC 12 On Your Side, February 3, 2021.

• Reflection and Healing - BLM RVA exhibit at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond will feature Firs Friday Zoom opening, Style Weekly, January 19, 2021

Below are links to websites that discuss past BLM-RVA artshows.

• Black Lives Matter Exhibit Unites Richmond Artists, VCU Commonwealth Times, February 6, 2017

• Black Lives Matter, Wikipedia.com (see Section 3, 3.4, 2017)

• Art Gallery: "Black Lives Matter" Art Show at First Unitarian Universalist Church, Richmond Times Dispatch, February 22, 2017

• Richmond Church Show Provides Support for Local Artists and the Black Lives Matter Movement, Style Weekly, January 24, 2017

• Black Lives Matter Art Exhibit to Open February 15, Richmond Free Press, February 1, 2019

The RVA Black Lives Matter Art Exhibit has attracted attention resulting in articles and interviews in Style Magazine, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Wikipedia and The Richmond Free Press.

In late 2016, soon after the presidential election, Anne Wrinn was exhibiting her art at a Black-owned gallery on Broad Street, and Jennifer Yane showed up to see her friend Anne’s exhibit. Both were distraught over the results of the election and the horrific loss of black lives at the hands of the police.

The idea spontaneously arose that there needed to be a Black Lives Matter art exhibit. Jennifer’s sister-in-law, Evaline Jones happened to be an organizer of the annual Gallery art show at UU Church. The UU Church was a leading proponent of the Black Lives Matter cause. After consulting with church authorities, it was agreed that it would be the perfect location for an annual art exhibit. It was determined that the first annual BLM art show would be held in February 2017, Black History month.

Anne and Jennifer, both artists, contacted their artist friends about this opportunity to show, and about 37 local artists stepped forward to contribute their work. Press releases went out, and Style Weekly sent reporter Karen Newton to interview Jennifer and Anne; the result was a full page story about the exhibit. That show was a big success in terms of attendance and quality of work; the show posters featured woodcuts by well-known Richmond artist Dennis Winston and paintings by Avon ”A.J.” Miles, Jr.

The lively and spirited opening night event featured a live jazz musician and a stimulating opportunity for integrated conversations about the work and life. It was the perfect spot for people to engage and interact. The second year the opening night featured performance art conducted by Larry “Be A Light, Not a Lampshade” Davis, in shackles emoting experiences from the life of a slave. These opening nights provided the perfect venue for new and seasoned artists to mingle in a truly multi-cultural manner. Jennifer and Anne were contacted by Sue Johnson of VCU’s James Branch Cabell library to exhibit the show on the Library’s Jumbotron at Shafer Court where it was on display for several weeks.

VCU Professor Richard Bargdill arranged an artists’ talk in the VCU Hibbs auditorium in order to encourage dialogue with the artists and to provide students with the opportunity to learn from the artist experiences. The following year, an artist committee was formed to plan the show, and the 2018 show was also a success, with over 35 artists participating.

That year, not only was the work again displayed at the UU Church and on the VCU Jumbotron, but also at the First Unitarian Church of Falls Church, VA, which requested that the show travel to their site and invited the artists to speak at a gala in their honor. The Fairfax Unitarian Church generously provided the funds for the transport of the art and the artist speakers.

In 2019, local artist Dorothy Rice took over the responsibility of putting on the 2019 show, supported by the past artists and a number of new ones. Over 70 pieces of art were on display making for a varied and exciting exhibit.

2020 was a time for determining a new format—planning for an online show in 2021. A committee of past exhibiting artists was formed by Professor Richard Bargdill, also an exhibiting artist. Those artists include Anne Wrinn, Jennifer Yane, Dorothy Rice, Shantell Lewis, Evaline Jones, Ronald Lee, Michael A. Pierce, and new participant Miguel Carter-Fisher, a professor at Virginia State University, headed up by Bargdill. Subcomittees were formed for website and publicity.

The 2021 show opens online on February 1, 2021 with over 140 pieces of art work exhibited by local and national artists and the support of numerous corporate partnerships including local area art galleries and businesses. The show will be available for viewing until it is possible to hold the next live art exhibit.

Anne Wrinn, Founding Chair

Jennifer Yane, Founding Chair

Lynn Barbour Stevens, Inspiration & Founding Member of the annual BLM ART show

Richard Bargdill, Chair

Miguel Carter-Fisher

Evaline Jones

Ronald Lee

Shantell Lewis

Michael A. Pierce

Dorothy Rice

Email us at: BLMRVAArt2021@gmail.com