Art for the Soul...

Art is one of the things that feeds my soul and even better if shared.  A new exhibit called '30 Americans' opened during my quick Milwaukee visit and since I have continued my membership at the Milwaukee Museum of Art, I enjoyed sharing the new exhibit with my art teacher friend.

http://mam.org/30-americans/ (click on this)

In the last room of this exhibit by African American artists we met a young man who started a conversation about the importance of '30 Americans.' His hopes are that families would come to share this art and begin a generational dialogue of what this art means to them. Upon our departure he handed us his card, he, Anwar Floyd Pruitt was instrumental in putting together a parallel exhibition called 'Wisconsin 30' of sculpture, photographs, prints, paintings and drawings with "complementary themes of race and identity with a focused lens on Wisconsin African American artists."

I visited Anwar Floyd Pruitt's website and discovered his interest in the arts was fostered as a Harvard undergrad in theatre and comedy among 2 art courses, Painting With Attitude and Intro to Mixed Media. His art continued when he lived in NYC.  He and his brother both have pieces in this show.  Recycled 'found' pieces are AFP's signature in the Wisconsin 30 with one called Black Pain Triology.

Note the crushed soda cans in Black Pain Triology

 Concerns of social issues and the empowerment of marginalized communities themes embody this art. I think his students are lucky to have him as a mentor. If art can foster the necessary dialogue than maybe we can understand what those before us experienced and perhaps better understand ourselves.. but we have to talk. I am glad to have been witness to these important artistic voices and been fortunate enough to have met this particular artist...