Rowan University Art Gallery and Museum

"As an artist, I believe in my calling to help make sure that our African American stories, America’s stories, are not forgotten." -Gayle Asali Dickson The Reverend Gayle Asali Dickson is a San Francisco Bay Area native, an artist, a member of the Black Panther Party, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ denomination. In 1970, she joined the Black Panther Party in Seattle, and in 1972, she and other Seattle members migrated to the Oakland headquarters. Dickson was the only woman artist for The Black Panther newspaper between 1972 and 1974, drawing primarily women and children during the “Oakland Base of Operation” period. Between 1974 and 1976, she taught at the Oakland Community School using art as a teaching tool. After ordination in 1998, she served as Pastor of a church in South Berkeley for eight years. She started the Friday Night Art and Dinner Program, exposing children to world cultures through art and food. Her Little Bobby Hutton Youth and Adult Literacy Program at the church used The Black Panther newspaper as a teaching tool. Over the years, she continued her creative work, exhibiting in the Bay Area and nationally. Currently, she is working on a painting project about six women called “The Empowering Voice of Women from the Bible and African-American Women in History.” Our new exhibition "Carrying On: Black Panther Party Artists Continue the Legacy" opens on Jan. 27 and features works by Gayle Asali Dickson, Emory Douglas, Malik Edwards, and Akinsanya Kambon. This exhibition is curated by Colette Gaiter. RSVP for the Panel Talk with the artists and curator on Saturday, Feb. 8! https://buff.ly/4fQT1n0 📷 "Queen Ida B. Wells-Barnette, Anti-Lynching campaign, Journalist, Entrepreneur" 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 15 x 30 inches © Gayle Asali Dickson. Image courtesy of the artist. #AboutTheArtist #RowanUniversity

February 8th, join us for a discussion with the artists a curator.

We are thrilled to announce that our upcoming exhibition "Carrying On: Black Panther Artists Continue the Legacy" will open in a few weeks! Featuring artists: Gayle Asali Dickson, Emory Douglas, Malik Edwards, and Akinsanya Kambon. Curated by Colette Gaiter, this exhibition brings the legacy and current work of four artists from the Black Panther Party (BPP) together to illuminate “the role of art in cultivating a radical imagination and developing activist practices.” Viewing their early work (made during the height of late 1960s – early 1970s social movements, rebellions, and uprisings against oppression of all kinds) next to their later and current work shows how they view social progress and change. These cultural pioneers are all dedicated to the belief that art motivates and inspires people to work for their own liberation. Save the date: Opening reception and artist's panel: Feb. 8 Panel begins at 3 pm with reception to follow To RSVP: https://buff.ly/4fQT1n0 📸 Emory Douglas, "Educate to Liberate" 2015, Inkjet on paper, 17 x 22 inches © 2024 Emory Douglas, AFLaw. "Carrying On..." will be on view from Jan. 27 - March 15, 2025. Rowan University

Thank you everyone that was able to join us for the opening reception for Prima Materia. Special thanks to the artists and curator for putting together such a beautiful and thoughtful show and for their generosity, spirit, and insights: Blanka Amezkua, Esperanza Cortés, Anthony Carlos Molden, and Anabelle Rodríguez-González. Thank you Constance Mensh for your beautiful gallery shots, Gavin Schweiger, RTF, 2025 for capturing the moments, and DJonMars for the vibe. Please find a link in our bio for more information about this exhibition, on now through January 4th. @decibelladonna @the_curartorial_lab @blankaamezkua @esperanzacortes11 @anthonycarlosmolden @cocobanal @gavinschweiger @rowan_rtf @deejayonmars @rowanuniversity @rowanccca 

Please join us November 14th, 5-7 for the opening reception of Prima Materia. Curated by Anabelle Rodriguez-Gonzalez, she brings together three artists that explore themes related to cultural identity. Blanka Amezkua, Esperanza Cortes, and Anthony Carlos Molden. Special guest DJ on Mars. @esperanzacortes11 @blankaamezkua @decibelladonna @anthonycarlosmolden @deejayonmars #mexicanculture #columbianculture #africanamericanculture @rowanuniversity @rowanccca @rowaniecb @rowanuart @rowanbcl @rowansjb @rowan_moca @rowan.woca @jerseyarts @southjerseyculturalalliance @visit_south_jersey @fyp

Today we are highlighting the work of Blanka Amezkua. Based on her Mexican culture, she created this Ofrenda for the gallery to the young victims of gun violence. Part of Prima Materia, curated by Anabelle Rodriguez-Gonzalez , join us November 14th, 5 -7 for the opening reception. https://lnkd.in/dmdYXuhv

https://lnkd.in/eMjtWaCq

We are excited to announce this upcoming exhibition Prima Materia curated by Anabelle Rodríguez-González with Blanka Amezkua, Esperanza Cortés, and Anthony Carlos Molden who incorporate elements from their cultural backgrounds into their art to address broader questions about creative expression. Whether anchored on the wall or displayed in the round, the works in Prima Materia generate visual and spatial synergies imbued with a powerful combination of subtle yet vibrant energies and symbolic archetypes. The three artists strive to diversify what art is and what it can be made of, into unique forms bounded by expressive materiality. Feel free to let us know you will be attending the opening reception on November 14th through the link in our instagram bio.://https://lnkd.in/eHUctjrE

Our Rowan RTF students did a great job on creating a video of our current exhibition which can been seen in full on Youtube .https://lnkd.in/et6c7Eui Last day October 26th ! https://lnkd.in/eDzKkiZG

Thank you Philadelphia Media Network: Philly.com, Inquirer and Daily News  and @amysrosenberg for including us in the arts and culture section. If anyone missed the opening reception Wendel will be doing a more in-depth talk on Saturday, October 5th, at 3:30 pm with a small reception to follow. Please let us know if you can attend by following the link from our website. Rowan.edu/artgallery Rowan University ArtPride New Jersey Foundation