Sutorria Lee, 19, had never sewn before, but she loves clothes and wanted to try.
“I have this vision, and I just want my vision to come to life,” said Lee, an Ivy Tech student. “I’m making a skirt that represents how I feel about myself, and how through all the trials and tribulations, I still pulled through.”
Lee is also using the skirt to pay homage to her roots, using traditional African fabric and mixing it with denim.
“It’s going to be a mix between traditional and modern,” she said. “I can’t wait.”
Lee’s skirt is one of about 30 pieces featured in the “Colors of Culture: A Celebration of Black Creativity” art exhibit at the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts in Gary’s Miller neighborhood. The exhibition is youth-led and celebrates Black History Month.
The exhibition opened with a Friday celebration that featured poetry, live art and two short films. The artwork will be on display through March 13.
The Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts is open from 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday. The center is closed on Monday.
“This is important to me,” Lee said. “I’m doing something for the community, and I’m also helping to show our history. … I’m happy to do something that makes me happy and brings pride to Gary.”
Jamika Smith, board member for the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, helped curate the exhibition. She said the show features artists ranging from 11 to 26 years old.
Featured pieces range in mediums, Smith said, with some being paintings, drawing and sculptures.
“We just wanted to spotlight the work of young artists,” Smith said. “This shows artwork that reflects their identity, heritage, resilience and imagination across disciplines.”
Smith believes Northwest Indiana has “so many talented young artists,” whose work might not always get showcased and appreciated. By doing this exhibition, she hoped that they would understand the importance of their work.
“I’m an artist, and my daughter is an artist,” Smith said. “Art is near and dear to my heart, and sometimes I think there’s not enough programs that showcase the talents and creativity of young African American artists.”
Jamika Smith’s 14-year-old daughter, Mariah Smith, did not create a piece for this year’s Black History Month exhibit, but she still helped with the exhibition. Mariah Smith knows Lee and other artists through Uthiverse, a Merrillville-based teen organization, which helped them connect with her mom.
Mariah Smith was also the hostess of Friday’s opening celebration. She helped introduce those performing and keep the event moving.
Although she might not have a piece in this year’s show, Mariah Smith said she loves seeing what everyone else created.
“I get so geeked when I see so much talent and so much potential,” she said. “One of these pieces was created by a person from my school. It was a portrait of Marilyn Monroe and Janet Jackson, and it’s a pencil portrait. It looks so good, and I just think he needs to be recognized for his talent.”
Ja’Miayah Griffith, 17, participated in the art show as a DJ for the opening celebration. Although she didn’t have a piece in the show, Griffith was inspired by the work.
Griffith also helped Lee and some of the artists set up their work, she said. She’s excited to see the community’s response to the exhibition.
“I see it as a way for us to get visibility as young people, as teenagers,” Griffith said. “I think people will see that young people can do more than they thought, and they’ll see how important Black culture is to us.”