03/05/2024
“It’s ghetto–until white folks do it.” Black women’s beauty is too often reduced to stereotypes and caricatures—dismissed as “ghetto,” “hood,” or “unprofessional”—until it is commodified and repackaged for mass consumption. But we know a deeper truth: Black Womanhood, in all its splendor, is not a site of degradation, but of daring. Simply seeing a Black woman be, we are all powerfully confronted by her boundlessness. She finds beauty in what the world degrades, sustenance in what she creates for herself, and divinity in her reflection. Divine Woman is more than an exhibition of Black women’s beauty: it is a celebratory reclamation of the sacred. Through curated images, “Divine Woman” praises the essence of Black femininity in all its nobility while seeking to recover the beautiful in all of its complexities. From the radiant glow of melanin-kissed skin to the unapologetic embrace of natural hair textures, each photograph serves as not only a celebration of self-love and empowerment, but challenges the rest of us to make the world a place where Black Women can very simply thrive. From the determination etched into every line of a grandmother’s face to the unbridled joy radiating from the smile of a young girl embracing her identity, each photograph calls for the viewer to revere the divinity inherent in Black womanhood. Through the lens of these co-conspiratorial portraits, we can do more than rightfully admire Black women’s revolutionary aesthetic choices. We can accept the chance to be confronted boldly and plainly with our own divinity as Black Women offer us theirs. We should accept the invitation to reclaim what has been degraded. And-for those of us who are not Black women, we must make it our business to reposition the power and beauty of Black women from threat to holy–especially when it gleams too brightly for others to accept. As you immerse yourselves in this exhibition, whomever you are, do more than appreciate the beauty of each frame. Let these Divine Women be your catalyst for conversation, respect, and ultimately, active care for the divine in every Black Woman.
- Artist Reginald Cunningham
Opening Reception + Artist Talk 3/8 6-9 pm
