Thursday, April 24, 2025

In the Center of the Crossroads: Fiber Art by Vanessa Johnson
ArtRage Gallery

Price: Free
ArtRage Gallery
505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse

In some traditional and legendary African and African-American belief systems, a Center of the Crossroads represents the rising and setting of the sun, and the human life cycle of death and rebirth. The center of a crossroads is where communications with spirits takes place.

"In The Center of The Crossroads" speaks from the center of the crossroads where our African and African American community reaches through time and space, confronts memory and future, communes with the Ancestors and future generations in this race for survival on a dying planet. The exhibition tells the story of the African American historical relationship with Mother Earth and the challenges we face addressing Environmental Racism and Climate Justice.

Vanessa Johnson is a Griot, a storyteller in the West African tradition. She is a quilter, mixed media fiber artist, community educator, museum consultant, activist, writer, playwright, actor, and vocalist.