In honor of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), Warehouse 416 art gallery in Oakland proudly presents: “In Search of Sheba: Black Women Artists 2014.” A multimedia art exhibition featuring the work of 12 talented Bay Area Black Women Artists; dedicated to the legendary Queen of Sheba, an African Queen from Ancient Times.

Get a unique opportunity to meet some of the illustrious artists involved in the exhibit!

About the Exhibition :
Black female artists are often underrepresented in local galleries, yet their work speaks with passion and universal emotional impact. Wire sculpture, acrylic and watercolor painting, textile fashion, videography, photography, pen and ink drawing and découpage are some of the mixed media with which the Sheba artists express their vision.

This exhibition is inspired by the legend of Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, whose immense wealth, intelligence, beauty and sense of adventure made her an international celebrity in ancient times. Although a woman, Makeda successfully ruled the resource-rich Land of Sheba (present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, Egypt and Arabia). Her legendary diplomatic visit to King Solomon of Judea was breathlessly recorded in Yemeni and in the Ethiopian holy book, (the Kebra Nagast) and in Kenyan and Nigerian traditions. Her fame spread worldwide through by ancient Roman accounts, the Old Testament of the Bible and the Holy Qur’an; worldwide, tales of the Queen of Sheba are taught in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

The 12 artists in this exhibition are each “queens” in their own realms. Like Makeda, they are rich with intellect, beauty, bravery and creativity. “In Search of Sheba” is a snapshot of each artist at this stage in her artistic journey.

“In Search of Sheba: Black Women Artists 2014″ is the 4th in a popular series of Black History Month exhibitions presented by Warehouse 416, one of the original Oakland Art Murmur galleries. The exhibition is co-curated by Warehouse 416’s Angela Scrivani, with Guest Curator Pamela Mays McDonald, a former Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco director and current member of the Oakland Art Murmur Board of Directors.

And of course, we hope you will be inspired to support these local artists and this family-owned, local small business by bringing home a piece of art for your home or office–or as a gift.

Produced and curated by Pamela Mays McDonald & Angela Scrivani (Owner of Scrivani Productions)

ARTISTS 
Alexandra Howard, Bre Gipson, Cori Nicole Pillows, Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh, Keena Romano, Kristine Mays, Leslie Marie Channel, Ms. Lisa, Nancy Cato, Sandrine Malary, Terilyn Steverson, Wanda K. Whitaker