Nelson ‘Carty’ Ford Memorial Art Gallery Dedication #SocialActionArt

On April 30th, family, ARTivists, and community leaders will gather to honor artist, Nelson Ford. The WPAA-TV and Community Media Center #socialactionart Gallery dedication will be at 6 pm. The  Nelson ‘Carty’ Ford Memorial Gallery is an integrated gallery in the gathering spaces and walkways of WPAA-TV and Community Media Center.

Nelson served on the WPAA-TV Board of Directors from 2015-17. Subsequently, he served as the arts ambassador. A few pieces from his fine art series, Bricks in Search of Words, remain on loan, said Artistic Director Josiah Houston. “He influenced the media centers’ use of public art to solve problems. The organization’s journey into #MoreThanTV began as a #PowerfulWildFree4Arts project to resolve a blight problem. After a nor’easter in 2013, the north side of WPAA-TV’s renovated 1924 cow barn was visible and ‘ugly’. In 2015, transforming ugly into a tiger mural was a literal stretch for Ryan Christenson. ARCY is now an internationally renowned large-scale muralist, and the tiger is known as ‘Hercules’.

Nelson supported the permanent installation of #StreetshotZ by photographer Charles Buzinsky. This remains the featured installation. It includes photographs, a book, and a digital photo display. It is designed to elicit support for programs helping housing and food-insecure neighbors.

#SocialActionArt by ARTivists is ‘justice’ work. It gives voice to the silenced, or marginalized, to better understand our collective humanity and the earth we share. Its public presence provides an opportunity for conversation and compassionate change. Few artists claim this space beyond the protest signs and posters. For them and their work, we offer our brave, safe creative space in Nelson’s honor.

Flipped from the 1960s Civil Rights headlines, the “We Are Not Like You” series by Brother Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, provokes necessary discussion of our shared ‘differently’ history. Source materials are to be part of the installation. The evocative vessels and shadow boxes by  Susan Clinard are timeless.

The sculpture ‘Conversation‘ by Ann Lehman, ‘Mission in Mosaic‘ by Gallery53 artists, and Wally political cartoons by Kevin Markowski are in the collection. Musicians may appreciate the reflective take on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” Album Cover on loan from photographer and music man Robert Sims and the reclaimed music swag by Tim Sway of New Perspective Music. Tim designed the gallery dedication sign with reclaimed barn wood. Upcycled art speaks to care for our planet. Pieces are integrated throughout the space: Upcycled Mobiles to Karen J Wassmer‘s Dragonfly, Sun and Seasons.  Jahmal Henderson’s Legacy of a Black Man Series & Fannie Lou Hamer You Can Pray

More about Carty: A 1963 graduate of Paier Art School he held day jobs as a graphic designer and pursued fine arts and his interest in history. His fine art was exhibited from 1991 until his passing. He began his major work The Awakening in a scroll 2 ft. by more than 500 ft. It explored the evolution of ‘One Race with many faces, colors, cultures, and nations’.