New Art Exhibit: Obscura at Elegba Folklore Society

Growth 18 by 24 on Water Color Paper Pen, pencil and color pencil

Nicole Wandera’s paintings, a collection called Obscura, will open on Friday, February 3 in Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, 101 East Broad Street, in a reception from 5p – 9p. Obscura runs through April 30, 2017.

From the Latin word for darkness, this exhibition lifts the veil off the superficial to reveal inner expressions of self. The portrayals, collectively, answer Wandera’s question, “Who are we and what part of ourselves do we allow others to see?” What the artist shows, through the subtle densities of pen, pencil and color pencil, is the interplay of internal energy fields, the environment of the “true self.”

Nicole Wandara, born in Nairobi, is a student in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, after some study at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. She has exhibited at the World Bank and at Raw Artists, Brooklyn.

She says, “I believe creativity is like breathing, it is a constantly evolving dialogue with the universe. I channel its energy to help create my own visual stories. These stories tell of my experiences, what I have learned, and how the people I have met have influenced my life. I use art as a platform to discuss the controversial issues that plague our society, such as gender, race, human rights and our disintegrating environment. My goal is to reach into your mind , change your perspective and hopefully inspire you.”