Minneapolis, MN – Blood on the Pavement aims to help Minnesota communities think, discuss, and disrupt. The art exhibit will have Opening Night activities on First Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 5:00 – 9:00 PM at the Northrup King Building third floor gallery (studio 332). There will be an Open Mic at 5:00 PM featuring Michael Kleber-Diggs, and a short talk lead by Nikki McComb at 6:30 PM. There is also a Reading featuring Elizabeth Ash, Carolyn Holbrook and Ty Chapman at 7:00 PM.
The group show combines poetry, written by Elizabeth Ash, with visual art responses created by local artists. The intention is to spark conversations about violence against Black bodies, both verbally and physically, from microaggressions to police brutality; as well as violence against women’s bodies and other intersections of the Black identity.
Poet and curator, Elizabeth Ash, began constructing ideas and poetry for this exhibit in May 2020 after George Floyd’s murder. She is angered and deeply pained that the exhibit remains relevant, and hopes communities throughout Minnesota will come to offer their support. “Show up and look at the continued reality of this country. Show up and take part in the hard conversations. Show up and stand together in pursuit of justice and change.” Ash views the exhibit as an act of resistance and resilience.
Blood on the Pavement will be participating in Art-A-Whirl 2022 from May 20 – 22. Closing Night is May 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. The silent auction for Today’s Decisions (George Floyd), a work by noted painter Owen Brown, will end at 6:30 PM. Auction proceeds will be donated to a non-profit chosen by the winning bidder from a pre-selected list of organizations serving the Twin Cities’ BIPOC community. Click the link below for information on how to place a bid: https://www.arttochangetheworld.org/todays-decisions-george-floyd/.
Blood on the Pavement will feature the following local artists responding to Ash’s poems: A Drew Hammond, Azania Tripp, Briauna Williams, Lyle Ferguson, Sebastian Rivera Cintron, Aristóteles Carbajal, and Cory Favre, with unique appearances of works by Nikki McComb and Owen Brown. Artists will be providing remarks on Saturday, May 28 at 7:00 PM.
Blood on the Pavement is one of three events in Art to Change the World’s Coaching Project. The upcoming exhibit is also made possible by the support and mentorship of team members Dominique Zellmer, Senior Scientist, and Deacon Warner, educator and filmmaker. To ask questions please email Elizabeth Ash at richardson.exhibits@gmail.com.
To learn more about team members and artists, or to receive event updates and sneak peeks of art and poetry, follow the social media accounts below:
Twitter: @ourbloodspeaks
Instagram: @ourbloodspeaks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourbloodspeaks/
My Brothers Keeper (above) by Nikki McComb will be for Sale for $400.00 at the Exhibition.
Northrup King Building, Studio 332,
1500 Jackson St NE, Minneapolis
Opening Night: Thursday, May 5th (5:00 – 9:00 PM)
Open Saturdays: Saturday, May 7th (Noon to 4:00 PM) Saturday, May 14th (Noon to 4:00 PM)
Art-A-Whirl:
Friday, May 20th, (5:00 – 9:00 PM)
Saturday, May 21st (Noon to 8:00 PM)
Sunday, May 22nd, (Noon to 4:00 PM)
Closing: Saturday, May 28th, (5:00 – 8:00 PM)
Funded by
MRAC $15,000.00
Mike Vennewitz $2,000.00
ACW $1,550
Mary Wilson $1,000.00
Mojo Coffee Fundraiser $1,000
Layl McDill $1,000.00
Katie Palmer $150.00
Arts Midwest $2,500.00
WARM $5,800.00
36″ X 48″
Art to Change the World’s Coaching for a Better World Project, BLOOD ON THE PAVEMENT Fundraiser
NOW OPEN: A Silent Auction for Today’s Decisions (George Floyd), Owen Brown’s painting and response to George Floyd’s murder. The auction runs until 6:30 pm May 28. The winner may take possession of the painting on Closing Night, May 28 at the Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St NE, Minneapolis, Studio 332.
Auction proceeds will be donated to a non-profit chosen by the winning bidder from a pre-selected list of organizations serving the Twin Cities’ BIPOC community.