Four regional artists are being featured in a Black History Month exhibit organized by the Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD).
The artists featured are painters Jacquelin Carruthers, Dale McReynolds and Daryl Reeder. The exhibit also features a piece by Helen LaFrance donated by the Ice House Gallery in Mayfield.
Dale McReynolds is a self-taught artist who currently lives in Metropolis, IL. Her work has been featured in exhibitions in several cities including Tulsa, Oklahoma; Denver, Colorado; and Harlem, New York City.
McReynolds started drawing when she was five years old. She was inspired by the people in her community to pursue art, ander artwork is predominantly portraits of various people including Indegienous people and other minority groups.
McReynolds says as she became an adult, she became more aware of the struggles of the civil rights movement and desegregation in the U.S., which has influenced her work. She said if people can study history and ask questions, they can understand their own heritage and other people’s heritage. She said there should not be any “guesswork” when trying to convey a culture.
“If artists are not brought up in the culture, they must do their research,” McReynolds said. “What I do with my paintings is accurate. That is because I was brought up in the culture.”
Much of McReynolds work was exhibited at the Ice House Gallery in Mayfield when the Dec.10 tornado destroyed the gallery’s building. She said her artwork that survived gave her hope and perseverance for herself and the broader community.
“Anytime there is a storm, you can make it,” McReynolds said. “Whether it's a literal storm or an emotional storm, you can make it. When the tornado hit, I thought my pictures were blown into Indiana. When my artwork was recovered it was a miracle.”
PSAD Director Paul Aho said it is important to promote inclusivity through artwork. He said PSAD was inspired to organize the exhibit after it received the Helen LeFrance painting from the Ice House Gallery.
“We wanted to promote local African American Artists and tie in their work with Helen LaFrance’s work,” Aho says. “Our mission is to create advancements in all races and create equal opportunities for everyone.”
The exhibition is free to the public and will end March 1. The exhibit will have a reception on Thursday, Feb. 10 in PSAD’s Bill Ford Gallery at 905 Harrison Street. For more information, visit Paducah Travel or contact the Paducah School of Art and Design at (270) 408-4278.
