Esoteric Lore Celebrates Black Women's Contributions to Visual and Literary Art

Women have made countless contributions to visual and literary art. Esoteric Lore: a new art exhibit at the Auburn Avenue Research Library celebrates these sister artists now through April 30th as they explore the complexities of Black Womanhood through visual storytelling.

Esoteric Lore invites all to attend their opening reception, Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. It will include a meet and greet with the artist collective, self guided tours of the exhibit and a cross generational discussion on being a Black woman and its implications on and for society.

Taryn Crenshaw has embarked on this journey for over a year to bring all aspects of Black women’s lives to the forefront through art. Whether censorship, sexuality, religion, politics, music, love, body image, or gender, each artist poses questions of what does it mean to be female and create, to experience bias and oppression, what does it mean to be a woman? In seemingly “post racial” America, Esoteric Lore examines how do women define themselves and their constantly changing role in society?

“We strive to encourage people to see themselves through one another. Esoteric Lore creates a space where understanding of one another’s lives, challenges and hopes can occur through art. Art is our greatest vehicle for dialogue; it is what is needed to catalyze progression.” Truly as Black women have continued to make gains, marginalization through mainstream media is as prevalent as ever. Esoteric Lore seeks to combat these images, while exploring why they still exist and the impact they leave on women, girls and all communities.

The collective consists of artists Corinne Stevie Francilus, Michelyah, Nikita Gale, Iman Person, Elizah Turner, Faatimah Stevens and Crenshaw herself. Using a variety of medium including illustration, mixed media, painting, fabric, printmaking, and photography the work inspires viewers to consider various aspects of Black women’s realities. Many of the artists are associated with the Spelman College community and its rich legacy of activism through art. Crenshaw a graduate of Spelman College, realized these women and their artistic bravery are rarely celebrated, hence Esoteric Lore.

Spelman College Alumna and acclaimed visual artist Lynn Marshall-Linnemeier lauds Crenshaw’s work as well as that of the collective noting their use of art to promote positive images of women for future generations. “Even in this day and age African-American women still have so many issues, family, personal relationships economics, and identity. Identity is the number one issue; we try to battle the media and the way we’re portrayed. Still, it can be very confusing for new generations of young women, making it vitally important Esoteric Lore explore these issues.”

A limited number of free invites to the opening reception are available online at: http://www.esotericlore.eventbrite.com/, those unable to attend can follow hash tag #EsotericLore and support this traveling exhibition by making a donation of any size at: https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/esotericlore.

Other events in conjunction with Esoteric Lore include:

• Wednesday, March 23-- Then to Now: Black Women in the Literary Arts 6:30-8:00pm

Come celebrate the history of Black women writers in a cross generational reading and conversation.

• Friday, March 25-- Southeastern Women’s Studies Association Conference Art Walk/ Talk 12:00-1:15pm
• Saturday, April 2-- Esoteric Lore and The Community 4:00-5:30pm

Open to all ages, come explore the creativity inside of yourself. A free workshop where the artists of Esoteric Loreshare their artistic techniques with the community. Please RSVP.

• Thursday, April 7--Downtown Atlanta Art Walk (evening time)
• Friday, April 15-- Voicing the Voiceless: Black Women in Music 6:00-8:30pm

A musical showcase of local Black women artists and musicians of various genres, followed by an open mic

• Saturday April 30 -- Closing Reception 3pm

Visit Esoteric Lore on the web: http://www.esotericlore.org/ or on Twitter @EsotericLore