#notwhite collective: In Between the Middle Exhibit Closing Reception AND Photo Essay of an Exhibition Opening
[Closing Reception Friday, June 7, 6 – 9 p.m.at the ¡Buen Vivir! Gallery for Contemporary Art, 148 Elmwood Ave., in Buffalo NY’s Allentown Art District. Hors‘douvres and refreshments served. The event is free and open to the public.]
The following photos were taken during the #notwhite collective’s Opening Reception, Friday, April 5, 2019 for their Buffalo, NY Premier Exhibit In Between the Middle held at the ¡Buen Vivir! Gallery for Contemporary Art. The #notwhite collective is a group of thirteen women artists elevating the stories of the others. They are based in Pittsburgh, PA.
There is a resemblance of the U.S. flag in their exhibit which you will notice in several of the photos below as a backdrop. The title is Mom, you know we’re all just shades of brown by Fran Ledonio Flaherty.
The photos of the opening below are by Orin Langelle / PhotoLangelle.org
Similarity
#notwhite collective member Fran Ledonio Flaherty and reflection of her hearing dog – Olympia
The #notwhite collective, with their art and message, brought seriousness and laughter together in one of the best – if not the best – openings at the ¡Buen Vivir! Gallery since it opened in October 2014 with Climate Change: Faces, Places & Protest. I (Orin Langelle) hope the gallery continues to have exhibits that reflect the seriousness of our times with contemporary art and photography along with much needed humor while inspiring people, as the #notwhite collective says “…to share, to question, to investigate, dig deep into what identity is within and outside the construct and context of white –not in skin color, but as a system of oppression, a system we do not align ourselves with.”
Alison Zapata, from the #notwhite collective
#notwhite collective members Allison Zapata (l) and Sara Tang
The Collective’s Carolina Loyola-Garcia (l) and Santiago Masfererr from El Buen Amigo
A content young one with mother
Hugs
The name of the gallery, ¡Buen Vivir!, is a concept stemming from Indigenous and other cultures of the Southern Americas. ¡Buen vivir! means life in harmony between humans, communities, and the Earth – where work is not a job to make others wealthier, but for a livelihood that is sustaining, fulfilling, and in tune with the common good.
Smiles
Maritza Mosquera (l) from the #notwhite collective
Viewing “Warriors” a photograph by Liana Maneese
#notwhite collective’s Sarika Goulatia
From Left to Right Top Row: Carolina Loyola-Garcia, Bianca L. McGraw, Danielle AJ, Alison Zapata, Amber Epps Middle Row: Maritza Mosquera, Sarika Goulatia, N’gana, Sara Tang Bottom Row: Fran Ledonio Flaherty, Madame Dolores, Veronica Corpuz
From the exhibit
Well…
#notwhite collective Is a bi/multi-racial/cultural, immigrant or descendants of immigrants. Since 2016, they have met to share, to question, to investigate, dig deep into what identity is within and outside the construct and context of white –not in skin color, but as a system of oppression, a system we do not align ourselves with. They provide an artistic platform for difficult discussions on the complexities of cultural identity in America to move us all towards humanity.
