The NOAAM

The Quest for Peace and Justice: United in Times of Challenge, Speaking About Things that Matter

The Quest for Peace and Justice: United in Times of Challenge, Speaking About Things that Matter is this year's title of the National Conference of Artists 14th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Art Exhibition. The exhibition features the work of more than thirty impressive artists in a range of media including historical photographs, paintings, mixed media collages, quilts, and sculptures.

The exhibition especially highlights the work of three artists: Rev. Samson “Skip” Alexander, a close affiliate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His images, on display in the Villa Center Hall, present historic photographs that take us into the inner circle of Dr. King’s life and capture precious moments in the history of the struggle for Civil Rights. Rev. Alexander was present when the SCLC was founded in New Orleans and Dr. King was appointed its leader. He was also at the Lorraine Motel when Dr. King met his tragic and untimely death. Rev. Alexander attended the funeral services at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Sheila Phipps’ powerful portraits, in the Villere House, are a chilling reminder that Dr. King’s quest for justice for all is far from over. Her images explore present-day failures of the American Criminal Justice system where a staggering number of young African American men are victims of wrongful incarceration. Her portraits call attention to the tragic fate of the six young men, one of them her son, who are serving severe prison sentences based on questionable evidence. Nathan (Nu'Awlons Nate) Scott’s deeply moving three-dimensional miniature sculptures portray moments in African American History, such as the horrors of slavery and lynching.

The exhibition includes the work of Adewale Adenle, Sheleen Jones-Adenle, Debra Austin, Kwame Brathwaite, Michael Bridges, Christine “Cfreedom” Brown, Ed Brown, Amy Bryan, Barbara Bullock, Dominique Calhoun, Ricky Calloway, Robert Cox, Beverly Davis, Rodrecas “Drek” Davis, Charlie Johnson, Harlin Miller, Antoine Mitchell, Ife Nii Owoo, Cecelia “Cely” Pedescleaux, Alma Bryan Powell, Lee Ransaw, Charles Simms, Delores Surry-Smith, Rev. Clarence Talley, Sr., Ellene Whiley, and more.