Based on her mural that was destroyed by vandals in Miami in 2021, Sydney G. James’ ‘Serving Tee Liberation’ at Jane Lombard Gallery is a painted act of resistance. Posing with a look of sage calm, James’ friend and frequent model wears a t-shirt that announces and celebrates female autonomy, a riposte to the slogans in red text on white backgrounds which reflect past derogatory comments aimed at the artist. The painting pays homage to James’ friend Scheherazade W. Parrish, a writer and artist who wears a different text-bearing t-shirt daily during Black History Month. Via murals, painting, text and video, James’ show expresses resilience and acknowledges the support of family and community that make strength possible. (On view in Tribeca through Feb 17th).
Sydney G. James, Serving Tee Liberation, acrylic, t-shirts, fabric, and gel medium on canvas, 113 x 91 inches, 2023.
Merrily Kerr is an art critic and writer based in New York. For more than 20 years, Merrily has published in international art magazines including Time Out New York, Art on Paper, Flash Art, Art Asia Pacific, Art Review, and Tema Celeste in addition to writing catalogue essays and guest lecturing. Merrily teaches art appreciation at Marymount Manhattan College and has taught for Cooper Union Continuing Education.
For more than a decade Merrily has crafted personalized tours of cultural discovery in New York's galleries and museums for individuals and groups, including corporate tours, collectors, artists, advertising agencies, and student groups from Texas Woman's University, Parsons School of Design, Chicago's Moody Institute, Cooper Union Continuing Education, Hunter College Continuing Education and other institutions. Merrily's tours have been featured in The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Sydney Morning Herald and Philadelphia Magazine.
Merrily is licensed by New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs as a tour guide and is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA USA)
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