Black Spaces and Places, new work by painter Courtland Blade

Courtland Blade, a studio artist at the Harrison Center is currently exhibiting his new show Black Spaces and Places. The work hangs in the Harrison Gallery through February 22 and is open Monday through Friday from 9-5.

Blade says, "This show is an exploration of the idea of 'black spaces' as opposed to the idea of what some call 'white spaces.' Here I am simultaneously exploring some of the culture and history of black people in the city of Indianapolis through place and space - whether it be Madame Walker's legacy through the theatre, or King Park commemorating the night that Kennedy spoke to the people of Indianapolis after Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. The idea of 'black space' is a space where people of color feel comfortable and are usually not outnumbered. These are often places where people that are considered white may not feel as comfortable. In a "white space," people of color are outnumbered, often feel out of place and many times find themselves looking around to find another face of color.”

Blade received his MFA from the school of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston in affiliation with Tufts University in 2011. His work has been shown nationally and internationally and is in various public and private collections including the permanent collections of the University of Indianapolis, Indiana State University, DePauw University, Sishang Art Museum and the Eskenazi Health collection.