Women’s Day event centers on struggles
More than two dozen men and women celebrated Women’s Day at the Delta Fine Arts Center, exploring how the day is celebrated in Africa by listening to a lecture led by Dr. Debra Boyd
Photo by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
On the day set aside to celebrate women last week, more than two dozen women and men gathered at the Delta Fine Arts Center to explore the fight of women’s equality in Africa.
While showing her collection of wax print textile, scholar Dr. Debra Boyd led an enlightening lecture on how the struggle for equality among women unites people across borders.
During her time as a Fulbright Scholar, a merit-based grant for international educational exchange for scholars, teachers and professionals, Boyd traveled to several African countries collecting authentic African cloths.
The five cloths on display at the Delta Fine Arts Center commemorate the struggle for women’s rights in several African countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Chad. While each country she visited celebrated International Women’s Day their own way, each of the cloths on display include a symbol of a Sage femme or midwife holding a baby.
While the symbol on the pieces of cloth unite countries in Africa, what unites Women’s Day across the globe is the ongoing fight for economic and social equality.
“Economic and social development is key in all the celebrations around the world. Since we’ve been relatively isolated we don’t know about what might be going on in other places, but the fight for women’s rights is a global issue,” Boyd said.
Dr. Boyd’s visit to the Twin City was part of Delta Fine Arts’ new featured section titled “The People’s Gallery.” It is designed to shine a light on social justice issues that haunt communities every day. According to executive director Nadiya Quander, the section will feature formal artists throughout the year. She said with each exhibit the community will have a chance to sit down with the artist to dis-cuss their work.
“This is about extending the conversation about issues that are always at the forefront of our minds, especially in the political climate we’re in now,” Quander said.
Dr. Boyd’s work will be on display until April and will be followed by a collection of black and white photos from South Africa following the end of political apartheid.
For more information, visit deltaarts-center.org, or visit the gallery at 2611 New Walkertown Road.
