'Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh' exhibit opening celebrates diversity in the arts

There was an energy of excitement on Thursday at the opening of the “Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh” exhibition at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, which hosted a special iteration of its Thursday happy hour “Intermissions” to kick off the exhibition.

The space was packed with a multicultural and multigenerational audience.

The opening, showcasing a variety of creative disciplines, was followed by live performances and an awards reception. Multiple artists from across the region submitted their work connected to the theme of what they wanted Pittsburgh to be like in the future.

Interdisciplinary artist Gabrielle Johnson said she was overwhelmed with gratitude in response to her award.

“I am proud of the younger me — the younger me brought me here. This is for the younger child who didn’t feel like her skin was beautiful … the younger child who didn’t feel like she was even worthy of being present on this earth,” she said. “Being able to have art that outlives me and being an example for the youth, for the people that come after me and stand beside me, is my purpose.”

Johnson’s piece, “Snow Globe and Sunrises,” reflects her love for collecting snow globes as a child. She had a teddy bear ballerina snow globe, and on days that were particularly hard growing up, she would shake her snow globe and dance around her room.

She associates snow globes with joy, optimism, hope and faith.

There were about 40 winners from different backgrounds across four categories: visual art, writing, video/interdisciplinary and performance art.

“I saw a lot of the Black history elements and Black people presenting, and I like to be in these spaces and celebrate the culture,” Rochele Anderson said.

Ron Idoko, associate director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems, said that the goal of the event was to uplift and help create an atmosphere of inclusion and belonging.

“But also, this could be our norm. Something bad does not have to happen for us to come together as a community and feel valued,” Idoko said.

For Anderson, a just Pittsburgh would include Black prosperity, where Black people have access to more opportunities and are doing better.

“Black people owning homes and doing well, just like the others,” Anderson said. “It feels absolutely amazing. It is such an honor to be here and to have gotten the award.”

Another award recipient and visual artist, Ishara Henry, explores in her piece “IMO (In My Opinion)” the way children are labeled by teachers and how that can have a negative impact on them.

“They can’t progress or grow or evolve out of that label,” Henry said.

Henry experimented with different techniques, using photos and mixed media to capture the ideas of labeling while also keeping the students’ faces anonymous.

Sydney Davis, founder and CEO of Artist Talk Mental Health, attended the event.

“The artwork is a great way to bring people together … members of our cohorts are also here, so it helps to strengthen the bonds of the community that already exist,” Davis said.

The exhibition will run until March 30 in the Victoria and Cook Family Regional Gallery, on the first floor of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.