ST. PETERSBURG — The Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum, located at 2240 9th Ave. S., St Petersburg, will open a unique and highly anticipated art installation, Quantum: Inhabited Space, which features a site specific and immersive experiences in the galleries created by local artist Ya La’Ford.
An opening reception is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 14 during ArtWalk. This installation, the first of its kind for the Woodson Museum, will be on display until April 30.
La’Ford, using the walls in the museum’s gallery as a canvas, will paint her signature wall-to-wall geometric patterns and contours. This installation will also include an infusion of hypnotizing lights. She said her work finds serenity through interconnecting lines which represents a metaphorical journey to communicate humanity’s unseen experiences echoed through diverse but shared accounts.
Seeking to make a connection with the community through art, her installation will include a community time capsule designed to encourage youths to write a letter of their hopes, goals and dreams for the museum and the city of St. Petersburg. The time capsule will be reopened at the museum on March 14, 2019.
Of Chinese and Jamaican descent, the Bronx-born visual artist earned a bachelor from Florida State University, a Juris Doctor from University of Florida and a Masters in Fine Arts from Boston University. La’ford is currently a professor at University of Tampa and St. Petersburg College, and lives and works between Florida and New York.
La’Ford is the granddaughter of “Jamaica’s first and finest intuitive painter,” John Dunkley, according to Guggenheim Fellow Eldzier Cortor. In her practice, she explores human interconnectivity, evidence, negative/positive space and time, metaphysics, obsession and manipulation.
Her paintings are included in corporate, private and public collections and she has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Her artwork covers rummage and appropriate iconic and not so iconic mass cultural imagery, with a base in African American and American history and their respective vernacular.
The Board of Trustees requests the pleasure of your company for the opening reception Sat., March 14 from 5-9 p.m. at the 2nd Saturday Art Walk. Exhibition dates are from March 14 – April 30.
The Dr. Carter G Woodson African American Museum hosts exhibits ranging from the history of African Americans to the Harlem Renaissance using art as a common thread. Special events include community dialogues discussing racism and a children’s book club. The museum is also available for rentals for events, meetings or weddings. The museum’s mission is to engage everyone in African-American history through the arts while promoting respectful and valuable diversity that makes up the St. Petersburg community.
