Local artists of color to lead conversation on who tells their stories

When there’s a story of oppression, a story of injustice, a story of the lives of people of color: who gets to tell those stories? How do we make sure they’re being told well, and respectfully? An upcoming panel discussion aims to unpack just that.

Last fall during ArtPrize, conversations bubbled around one topic possibly more than any other—well, at least, other than the “are pennies art” question. That question was “who gets to tell the story?” Specifically, who should be telling the stories of racism and oppression for people of color? Should white artists be telling those stories? If not, why? What are the dangers there? If the answer is yes, ever, how can it be done with respect?

The conversations swirled long after ArtPrize was over, leading to the creation of a panel discussion “Who Tells the Story: Unpacking conversations around art and race,” happening Tuesday, February 27 at Fountain Street Church.

The event, lead by moderator Steffanie Rosalez with panelists Monroe O’Bryant, Ericka Thompson (Kyd Kane), and Sofía Ramirez-Hernandez, is hosted by culturedGR, Fountain Street Church, and the Grand Rapids African American Museum &Archives (GRAAMA). It accompanies the closing of the exhibit “African-Americans Tell the Story,” curated by George Bayard, in the Fountain Street Church Keeler Gallery.

Join us to listen and learn from these experts and leaders in our artistic communities of color. This event is designed to be a continuation of this important conversation. Follow-up articles will be shared throughout the month of March here on culturedGR.

Event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Meet our moderator and panelists

Steffanie Rosalez, moderator

Steffanie Rosalez is the Director at the Cook Arts Center and a founding member and curator for the Cultura Collective. Through her work in both of these capacities, she is actively involved in conversations about art, race, culture, and community.

Rosalez recently was awarded with WGVU’s I Have Made A Difference Award for the Arts Individual of the Year (2018), and will be serving as a juror for the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center’s ARTpath, a 2018 public art project on the Lansing River Trail.

Monroe O’Bryant, panelist

Monroe O’Bryant is an award-winning local artist whose photographic storytelling creates allegory and captures the viewer’s attention as it tells the story of the reality for Black Americans.

His work has been included in exhibitions at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, DeVos Hall, and The Harris Building, whose work is currently included in the exhibition at Fountain Street Church.

O’Bryant is also a motivational speaker, with engagements at colleges like GVSU, Calvin College, and GRCC.

Ericka Thompson (Kyd Kane), panelist

Ericka “Kyd Kane” Thompson is spoken word poet and performance activist native to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kyd Kane uses her poetry to highlight issues plaguing our community and provides positive options for overcoming them. Understanding that the systems behind our struggles are deep-rooted, Kyd speaks about using the power of self-acceptance and positivity to bring about change within.

Most recently, her work could be found at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art as part of their Artprize 9 exhibition, titled Cultivate. In 2017, Kyd Kane became the first vocal artist to be named as finalists in the international art competition. Currently, she can be found at Creston Brewery every second and fourth Sunday as co-host of their open mic session, Creston Vibes: Open Sessions.

Sofía Ramirez-Hernandez, panelist

Sofía Ramírez Hernández started drawing at the age of two in Mexico City and continued to do so when she immigrated to Rochester Hills, Michigan with her family in 1995. Her work reflects on her experiences attending public school and art school in Midwestern hostility, in the treatment of her mental illness, in romance, and in endurance sports—all while discovering and exploring her identity as a queer woman of color.

In 2013 she started a non-negotiable daily practice titled “Sofía Draws Every Day” to gain discipline and self-worth. A portion of the project was exhibited with Cultura Collective during Art Prize Nine in 2017 and won the 2D category Juried Award. She continues this practice today, and her daily drawings can be found on Instagram. To pay the bills and get out of the house, Sofía spends her days with the kids at the YMCA, Cook Arts Center, and schools all over Grand Rapids, playing games, teaching art, and instilling values like equity, critical thinking, and mindfulness.

“Who Tells the Story: Unpacking conversations around art and race”

Tuesday, February 27
5:30–6:30: Closing reception in Keeler Gallery with light refreshments
6:30–7:30 Panel discussion in Fellowship Hall
Free and open to the public.
RSVP on Facebook
Fountain Street Church 
24 Fountain Street NE