MIAMI BEACH (Oct. 10, 2018) at Oolite Arts, “Parallels and Peripheries” celebrates eight women artists who use their work to challenge the power dynamics between mainstream American society and marginalized communities.

The exhibit is curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah, the newly-named Susanne Feld Hilberry Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Co-Founder of ARTNOIR. Featuring artists Bethany Collins, Lizania Cruz, Genevieve Gaignard, Susan Lee- Chun, Joiri Minaya, Jamilah Sabur, Saya Woolfalk, and Kennedy Yanko, the works in “Parallels and Peripheries” examine a wide range of topics, including stereotypes fueled by migration, race and gender.

Through photographs, paintings, sculptures and books, the artists question the status quo, assert their creative agency and tell the stories of the overlooked. Their works respond to our dramatically shifting cultural and political landscapes, rooted in centuries of efforts to oppress disenfranchised people. Their artmaking is personal, born of the narratives, myths and memories that shape their own – and society’s – identities.

“We are at such a precarious juncture in our society and I believe that art has the ability to help us unpack, discuss and better understand the complexities of our current societal moment,” Ossei-Mensah said. “Each artist in this exhibition brings a unique and layered perspective to the discourse that will enable us to engage in a truly dynamic and robust conversation.  I could not think of a better platform to explore the power dynamics between the ‘center’ and ‘periphery.’”

The works include:

“We the News”  by Lizania Cruz, a project that questions what is considered newsworthy by creating a newsstand that offers “replacement” publications, or zines, focused on the stories of marginalized peoples.

“Untitled (In A Time of Tribulation)” by Bethany Collins, which explores how people’s histories are portrayed, or often erased entirely, through works created from redacted law books.

“Siboney,” by Joiri Minaya, a video that examines the exoticism in the representation of black and brown women in the Caribbean, and challenges these constructions, exploring who has had control over representation of others.

The exhibition will kick off at 6 p.m. Oct. 10. with a conversation between curator Ossei-Mensah and two artists from the group show, Susan Lee-Chun and Jamilah Sabur, followed by a cocktail reception at Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. The event is open to the public with RSVP.

On view through Dec. 16, “Parallels and Peripheries” will be accompanied by a series of talks, and an artist intervention. In addition to the October 10 event, the schedule includes:

• 3 p.m., Nov. 3 — Creative Time Summit: Mobilizing and Creating Coalitions Through Story Circles, a workshop led by Lizania Cruz at Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road. For more information, visit creativetime.org/summit.
• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 7 — We the News, an art intervention by Lizania Cruz at Untitled Art Fair. For more information, visit untitledartfairs.com/miami-beach.
• 3 p.m., Dec. 7 — Untitled Radio during Art Basel: Conversation with Larry Ossei-Mensah and artists featured in “Parallels and Peripheries.” For more information, visit untitledartfairs.com/miami-beach.

ABOUT ARTCENTER/SOUTH FLORIDA

Established in 1984, Oolite Arts is a non-profit that advances the knowledge and practice of contemporary visual arts and culture to an audience of approximately 80,000 people per year. Oolite Arts creates opportunities for experimentation and encourages the critical exchange of ideas through residencies, exhibitions, public programs, education and outreach. The residency programs include a Studio Residency Program, a Cinematic Arts Program, an International Exchange Program, a PRINTshop Residency Program and an Art in Public Life Residency. Exhibitions and programs at Oolite Arts are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners; the State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Arts Council; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, visit www.artcentersf.org

ABOUT LARRY OSSEI-MENSAH

Larry Ossei-Mensah is curator and cultural critic who uses contemporary art as a vehicle to redefine how we see ourselves and the world around us. He has organized exhibitions and programs at commercial and nonprofit spaces around the globe in addition to documenting cultural happenings featuring some of the most dynamic visual artists working today such as – Derrick Adams, Mickalene Thomas, Federico Solmi, Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Kehinde Wiley to name a few. Ossei-Mensah is the newly appointed Susanne Feld Hilberry Senior Curator at MOCAD and co-founder of the 501(c)(3) ARTNOIR.

Currently Ossei-Mensah is also exhibiting, Allison Janae Hamilton: PITCH (co-curated with Susan Cross) at MASS MoCA. Ossei-Mensah is the recent recipient of a Warhol Foundation grant for his upcoming exhibition that he is co-curating with Dexter Wimberly in 2019 at MOAD in San Francisco entitled Coffee, Rhum, Sugar, Gold: A Postcolonial Paradox. @youngglobal (Instagram/Twitter).