Artist Shirley Whitesides recently had an exhibit of her work in the A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center Gallery. The exhibit titled “My Soul Looks Back, A Reflection of Art” included a reception and a fundraising event by Delta House to support youth and families in the Asheville communities.
“The art comes from my life experiences and the people I have known and been inspired by over the years,” Whitesides said. “Some of my artwork is influenced by The Black Arts Movement (or BAM), which was an African American-led art movement, active during the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, I was an art student at North Carolina Central University. BAM conveyed the message of having or depicting black pride in your own artwork.
“Because of the history of slavery and the persistence of racial discrimination in America, BAM found new ways to present the black experiences and to maintain African American culture and traditions. As a contemporary artist, I like to create artwork that tells stories through digital art, paintings, mixed media collages, photography, and quilt making.”