Past Exhibitions
Community Folk Art Center prides itself on continually presenting art exhibitions that stimulate the mind and move the emotions. Since 1972, CFAC has featured exhibitions by local, national and internationally recognized artists. CFAC offers several exhibitions each year along with related programs such as artist talks, workshops and demonstrations. The exhibitions and programs give visitors a chance to not only view works of art, but also the ability to interact with artists on a more personal level. Three gallery spaces, Gallery 805, Herbert T. Williams Gallery and Corridor Gallery allow display of up to three concurrent exhibitions at one time. Recent offerings have included exhibitions featuring works by Elizabeth Catlett, Faith Ringgold, the AfriCOBRA collective, and CFAC founders David MacDonald, Jack White and Herb Williams.
"FOUNDING VISIONARIES: Herb Williams and Jack White"
Run: Sep 13, 2008 - Dec 13, 2008
Venue: Community Folk Art Center (CFAC)
Opening Reception: September 27th, 2008
Opening Reception Time: 2:00 p.m.- 5:00p.m.
Community Folk Art Center is proud to exhibit this unique collection of sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints by two CFAC founders, Herb Williams and Jack White. Celebrating Herb Williams: His Life, His Work, and His Art will be on exhibition in the Herbert T. Williams Gallery and Jack White: An Ancestral Image will be on display in the Main Gallery. A combination of sculpture and other media, the two exhibits provide an excellent view of two remarkable artists who helped make the idea of CFAC a reality.
CONTEMPORARY CRAFT MASTERS
Run: Jan 17, 2009 - Sep 7, 2009
Espi Frazier, Hermon Futrell, David MacDonald
Panel & Reception: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Gallery 805 and Herbert T. Williams Gallery
Contemporary Craft Masters features the work of three artists whose works were featured on HGTV's Modern Masters: African American Artisans Program in 2003. Featured artists include, Espi Frazier, Hermon Futrell and CFAC founder David MacDonald. These artists are at the forefront of contemporary crafts and reflect the diverse and innovative palette of today's artists.
"Selections from The Dar-ul-Islam Historical Photographic Collection"
Run: Jan 17, 2009 - Mar 7, 2009
by Khalil Abdulkhabir"
Artist:Khalil AbdulKhabir
*Artist Talk: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Corridor Gallery
Venue: Community Folk Art Center
Address: 805 East Genesee Street - Syracuse, New York 13210
Phone: 315-442-2230
Features photographs by Syracuse photographer Khalil AbbdulKhabir, documenting the Dar-ul-Islam, a grassroots movement that began in Brooklyn, New York that eventually grew to over forty branches in the United States, Canada and Trinidad. Its purpose was to empower indigenous American Muslims. The goal of the Dar was to establish a fully functioning community complete with schools, places of worship and a governing body.
Passage: Latino Direction in Central New York/ El Pasaje: La Dirección Latina en CNY
Run: Mar 21, 2009 - May 2, 2009
Artist: Alejandro Betancourt
Passage: Latino Direction in CNY was organized by Alejandro Betancourt. Passage is an exhibition of photography, written and visual materials documenting Syracuse's Latino community. The exhibition features photographs of Latino leaders in Syracuse along with youth who admire their work. The photographs were taken by several photographers, including Betancourt, Ed Colelli, Michael Davis, David Lassman, Jeffrey Gorney, Paul Riccardi, Dave Revette and Alexandra Acosta.
"Three Sisters: The Art of Robin Holder, Sonya Lawyer and Tamara Natalie Madden"
Run: Mar 21, 2009 - May 2, 2009
Artists: Robin Holder, Sonya Lawyer and Tamara Natalie Madden
*Artist Talk: Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Three Sisters: The Art of Robin Holder, Sonya A. Lawyer and Tamara Natalie Madden features works by three contemporary African American artists who work in different media but explore issues of ethnicity, identity, history and culture in their work.
37th Annual Teenage Competitive Art Exhibition
Run: May 16, 2009 - Jun 13, 2009
Artists: Teen artists from local city and suburban schools
*Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Gallery 805, Herbert T. Williams Gallery and Corridor Gallery
Teen artists of African American, Native American, Hispanic American, and Asian American heritage as well as from other underrepresented groups display their work in the 37th Annual Teenage Competitive Art Exhibition at Community Folk Art Center in Syracuse, from May 16th through June 13th, 2009. The exhibition is sponsored by Community Folk Art Center and the Syracuse Chapter of the Links, Inc. Artwork is judged by a panel of local professional artists and prizes are awarded in various categories, including two-dimensional (paintings, drawings, prints, photography and mixed media) and three-dimensional (ceramics, wood, metal, fibers and mixed media).
Organic Watermarks: Photographs by Gus Bennett, Jr.
Run: Jun 27, 2009 - Aug 22, 2009
*Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Herbert T. Williams Gallery
New Orleans photographer Gus Bennett, Jr. displays portraits of New Orleans residents juxtaposed with layers of debris from Hurricane Katrina. Watermarks on concrete and other surfaces, leaves, textures, colors and remnants left behind by Katrina form layers in front of, behind and even merged onto the surface of the skin of the subjects. Together, the subjects and debris become storytellers of New Orleans post-Katrina.
Purple Treatment: Works by Eunjung Shin Vargas
Run: Jun 27, 2009 - Aug 22, 2009
*Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Gallery 805
Eunjung Shin's figurative ceramic sculptures represent stories from the artist's life. Shin has taken personal memories and transformed them into three-dimensional artistic expressions. The highly detailed figures are skillfully rendered, and express a range of emotions.
Say Yes To Education: Student Works
Run: Jun 27, 2009 - Aug 22, 2009
Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Saturday, June 27, 2009Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Corridor Gallery
This exhibition features artwork created by students participating in the Say Yes to Education after school program.
COMMUNITY FOLK ART CENTER PRESENTS VIDEO INSTALLATIONS BY CARRIE MAE WEEMS:
Run: Sep 12, 2009 - Oct 21, 2009
"Afro Chic" and "Constructing History: A Requiem to Mark The Moment"
Collaboration with Light Work Gallery and Urban Video Project, screening two videos by international artist Carrie Mae Weems: "Afro Chic" and "Constructing History: A Requiem to Mark the Moment." The screenings use video projection and storytelling to explore family relationships, gender roles, the histories of racism, sexism, class, and various political systems.
"Power and Pride: An Elizabeth Catlett Retrospective"
Run: Sep 12, 2009 - Dec 12, 2009
Location: Herbert T. Williams Gallery
Opening reception: Friday, September 18, 2009 Time: 6:00pm - 8pm
This exhibition, organized with the assistance of Stella Jones Gallery, New Orleans, Louisana, featured fifty years of prints, drawings, collages and sculptures by Catlett, who is an icon of American Art. A lifelong artist, activist and educator, Catlett is know for her depiction of social and political issues. In particular, those relating to African American and Women's themes.
Tesoros del Pueblo: El Arte Folklórico de México Treasures of the People: The Folk Art of Mexico
Run: Jan 23, 2010 - May 5, 2010
Location: Herbert T. Williams Gallery
Tesoros del Pueblo features folk art and photographs from the collection of Dr. Alejandro Garcia, Professor of Social Work at Syracuse University.
38th Annual Teenage Competitive Art Exhibition
Run: May 13, 2010 - Aug 21, 2010
Location: Herbert T. Williams Gallery
The Syracuse chapter of The Links Inc., Community Folk Art Center, and local school districts joined their efforts to provide an ongoing opportunity to recognize teenagers of African American, Hispanic American, Native American, and Asian American heritage as well as those from other underrepresented groups who demonstrate talent in the fine arts.
"Dogs in Transition: Pit Bulls and Mill Dogs"
Run: Sep 25, 2010 - Dec 31, 2010
Community Folk Art Center will host the exhibition "Dogs in Transition: Pit Bulls and Mill Dogs" by artist Cyrus Mejia, beginning on September 25 and running until December. Mejia's works include large-scale paintings and drawings of pit bull dogs, as well as paintings reflecting on the cruelty of puppy mill businesses. Mejia is also the co-founder of the Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare rescue group best known for giving care to 22 abused dogs rescued from former NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
"Dogs in Transition" will open on Saturday, Sept. 25 with a free public reception from noon to 2 p.m. We hope that you will join us to celebrate our newest exhibition.
Amos Kennedy Prints!
Run: Feb 16, 2011 - Apr 2, 2011
Community Folk Art Center will be hosting “Amos Kennedy Prints!” from Feb. 16 through April 2. Focusing on issues of race, violence and community, “Amos Kennedy Prints!” features the hand printed works of Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. and will include prints created at CFAC. By transforming the gallery into an active printmaking workshop, Kennedy will collaborate with students from the Syracuse area and Syracuse University to create images and broadsides that reflect issues of race, gender and politics and illustrate the impact of violence in the city on their lives and community.
The workshop will run from Wednesday, Feb. 16, through Friday, Feb. 18, from noon-8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and from noon-5 p.m. on Friday. The public is invited to meet Kennedy and to observe and participate in the printmaking process. The completed exhibition will open with a cash and carry reception on Saturday, Feb. 19, from noon-2 p.m., where all prints will be available to purchase for $20 each.
In addition to the workshop and reception, CFAC will screen the documentary “Proceed and Be Bold!” by Laura Zinger on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in cooperation with Syracuse University Library. The film is a titillating retelling of Kennedy’s story that examines the pretensions and provisions of the art world. A self-proclaimed “humble Negro printer,” Kennedy raises emotionally charged questions and reveals remarkable depth beneath the boldness of his prints.
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is internationally known for his focus on delicate social subjects through his in-your-face prints, posters and broadsides. Formerly a computer programmer, Kennedy walked away from his life to become an artist in the lost crafts of printing and book art. Kennedy prints out of Gordo, Ala., under the imprint “Kennedy Prints!” and focuses on posters, community broadsides and other ephemera. Kennedy also lectures and teaches all over the United States.
For more information about Amos Kennedy, visit his website at www.kennedyprints.com.
Creation and Construction: The Work of Sharif Bey & Janet B. Waters
Run: Jun 25, 2011 - Aug 6, 2011
This summer, Community Folk Art Center will host the exhibition “Creation and Construction: The Work of Sharif Bey and Janet B. Waters,” which will run from June 25 through August 6. This exhibition brings ceramist Sharif Bey and fiber artist Janet B. Waters together for the first time in a show that highlights both the similarities and differences found in the work of craft-based artists. Both Bey and Waters have explored ideas ranging from self-identity and race, to foreign cultures and pure whimsy.