Ventulett Gallery: Portrait Society Opening
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Inclusiveness, creativity, diversity, and innovation that are hallmarks of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church.
The Ventulett Gallery at Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church is named for a parishioner, architect, artist, and friend Tom Ventulett. Designed by Ventulett as part of the church’s 2012 renovation, this gallery space has become a showcase for local and regional talent. Our venue provides for artistic expression of the highest possible standards that elevate and educates our parish and community about the power of art to inspire and promote curiosity. We are proud to be able to donate proceeds from the gallery fee to local and international outreach organizations.
Current Show: Prepare My Place
Welcome Reception: February 2, from 6:00-8:00 PM.
On Display: January 26 to March 19.
Sachi Rome (b.1977, Atlanta, GA) lives and works in the city of her birth. She graduated with a BA. Ed. from Morris Brown College; with a concentration in painting, under the tutelage of renowned painter Louise Delsarte. Rome went on to attain an M.A. from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Rome is a multidisciplinary artist and muralist, flowing seamlessly from painting, printmaking, and large-scale murals. Foundational in her practice is the use of rich vibrate color and texture, leaning into abstract figurative works that push beyond both the literal and figurative representation of black bodies. Her work is reflective of critical questions surrounding identity, representation, and the creation of a metaphysical space for black bodies to safely exist in. She has been featured in Forbes, The NY Times, and the Huffington Post. Her awards and recognition include The Creatives Project Residency (2020-2022), Garden Fellows Fellowship (2018), Stay-home Residency (2021), and Fulton County Arts and Culture Grant Awardee (2020). Her work has been acquired by both public institutions and private collectors throughout the United States. Her exhibition record includes the Apex Museum, GA, Nowhere Art Gallery in Martha’s Vineyard (MA), University of Southern Mississippi (MS), Bo Barrett Art Center (NY), Swan Coach House (GA), Mason Fine Art (GA), Lyndon House Art Center (GA), amongst others. Her murals and public art can be seen throughout the city of Atlanta. She has spent her artistic career in the dual roles of artist and educator."I create abstract portraiture that captures the essence of ethereal spirits who seek dignity and grace for their unheard voices. I regift them with life using color and texture that embody their souls while giving them life, presence, and audience. In this invented spiritual realm, they are free from the burden of their pasts, allowing them to exist in a space where they can be safe and free."
Jaz McBride holds a BFA from Georgia State University. Jaz’s accomplishments include site-specific installations for Land Over Labels and Nu Beauty Salon. Jaz McBride’s work draws from personal memory, environmentalism, and a deeply rooted connection to the community. Jaz uses fiber, textiles, repurposed materials, and found objects within her multidisciplinary practice. In an attempt, to contextualize her experience as a by-product of black femme resilience, Jaz uses repurposed products of human consumption outside of their original intentions of productiveness. By using materials of the earth (sand, foliage, wood, natural fibers) and “man-made” (concrete, found objects, fibers) she seeks to create sensory experiences within her constructed environments, whilst inviting the viewer to participate in the shared histories and storytelling.
Nisa Floyd received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in French. She is currently working on a mixed-media project that explores intergenerational trauma and the archiving of fragmentary narratives of black expression. Nisa is passionate about utilizing public spaces to tackle complex social issues related to the scarcity of resources, mental illness, and social isolation. Nisa is the curator of this display!
Nisa Floyd serves as a CEISMC (Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing) Innovation Facilitator at Georgia Tech, where she organizes art-integrated experiences for the GoSTEAM programming. Nisa previously serves as the Project Manager for Black Women in Visual art and Program Coordinator at Atlanta Contemporary. In 2020, Nisa curated a public project called Art Makes in response to school closures, a project being incubated at Atlanta Contemporary that makes art accessible to people who have physical and financial barriers by creating zines that contextualize art (and its history) relative to Atlanta while providing people with the tools to create from home.
