Overview
We all have the right to be treated equally, regardless of our race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. The La Grange Art League supports all those who stand up against injustice and demands fairness and equality for all. The Black Lives Matters protests have generated much-needed awareness, action and change. We as an organization are taking concrete action to increase diversity among our membership, accessibility of our classes, and outreach to underserved communities, to amplify black and brown voices, and to speak out against injustice everywhere. The La Grange Art League is developing an arts program in our lower income neighborhoods, places of greater diversity with economic disadvantage, and with limited ability to travel to our studio for classes. (click on Kathi Parisi Starts with Art Programs also found on the home page for more information). We have also created the LGAL inclusion, diversity and outreach task force in conjunction with joining the Community Diversity Group of La Grange to strengthen community relationships, broaden equal opportunities and fight prejudices against Black, Indigenous, People of Color. If you are interested in participating or have input contact margaretprescott@ameritech.net.
Inclusion Through Art, Guest Artists and Their Stories
The LaGrange Art League Inclusion, Diversity and Outreach Task Force created a program welcoming monthly guest artists to share their stories of diversity, challenge and inspiration. We offer developing artists an opportunity to display and sell their artwork for one month and express their unique viewpoints in a welcoming environment.
This Month’s Featured Guest Artist
The featured artist for February, Black History Month, is Iyomi Ho Ken. Iyomi is a distinguished merit scholar studying fashion, fibers and photography at the School Of The Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Iyomi thinks of fashion as a tool that you can use to express mood/persona and ideas without saying a word. Her art pushes boundaries. Her recent collection, Moods of the Primaries, explores the feelings and mood that each of the three primary colors evoke, based on color theory and her own perceptions. Iyomi is currently working on the next installment of the color theory series, focusing on the secondary colors and the Black community. She feels that in this country, Black people are often treated as secondary citizens, which provides a connection to the colors she will be analyzing/using in the garments. She describes designing this collection as afro-centric and will only have Black models for this collection.
Iyomi hopes that one day the fashion industry will become more inclusive for people of color at all levels in the industry. She sees it forming already with the newer brands, designers, and believes this can be made possible by more grants and specific opportunities for people of color. Please visit the La Grange Art League during the month of February to view Iyomi’s photos and her fashion work.
We all have the right to be treated equally, regardless of our race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. The La Grange Art League supports all those who stand up against injustice and demands fairness and equality for all. The Black Lives Matters protests have generated much-needed awareness, action and change. We as an organization are taking concrete action to increase diversity among our membership, accessibility of our classes, and outreach to underserved communities, to amplify black and brown voices, and to speak out against injustice everywhere. The La Grange Art League is developing an arts program in our lower income neighborhoods, places of greater diversity with economic disadvantage, and with limited ability to travel to our studio for classes. (click on Kathi Parisi Starts with Art Programs also found on the home page for more information). We have also created the LGAL inclusion, diversity and outreach task force in conjunction with joining the Community Diversity Group of La Grange to strengthen community relationships, broaden equal opportunities and fight prejudices against Black, Indigenous, People of Color. If you are interested in participating or have input contact margaretprescott@ameritech.net.
Inclusion Through Art, Guest Artists and Their Stories
The LaGrange Art League Inclusion, Diversity and Outreach Task Force created a program welcoming monthly guest artists to share their stories of diversity, challenge and inspiration. We offer developing artists an opportunity to display and sell their artwork for one month and express their unique viewpoints in a welcoming environment.
This Month’s Featured Guest Artist
The featured artist for February, Black History Month, is Iyomi Ho Ken. Iyomi is a distinguished merit scholar studying fashion, fibers and photography at the School Of The Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Iyomi thinks of fashion as a tool that you can use to express mood/persona and ideas without saying a word. Her art pushes boundaries. Her recent collection, Moods of the Primaries, explores the feelings and mood that each of the three primary colors evoke, based on color theory and her own perceptions. Iyomi is currently working on the next installment of the color theory series, focusing on the secondary colors and the Black community. She feels that in this country, Black people are often treated as secondary citizens, which provides a connection to the colors she will be analyzing/using in the garments. She describes designing this collection as afro-centric and will only have Black models for this collection.
Iyomi hopes that one day the fashion industry will become more inclusive for people of color at all levels in the industry. She sees it forming already with the newer brands, designers, and believes this can be made possible by more grants and specific opportunities for people of color. Please visit the La Grange Art League during the month of February to view Iyomi’s photos and her fashion work.