HAZLETON, Pa. — Art by African American and Hispanic artists is on display in the Hazleton Art League Gallery in honor of Black History Month and Dominican Independence Day.
Mark Peterson, executive director at Hazleton Art League, says the display, Beyond Labels Art Exhibition, will run through February 25th.
"We have artists who identify as Dominican & Puerto Rican, we have artists who identify as African American, we have artists who identify as only Dominican, but there is a mix between all of them; some people are black, some people are Hispanic, some people are both so that's why we are beyond labels," said Mark Peterson, Executive Director at Hazleton Art League.
The gallery features art by artists like Emilio Maldonado and Ramon Peralta. Peterson says you don't have to be part of the same culture or speak Spanish to relate to the artists and their work.
Emilio Maldonado, a Dominican and Puerto Rican artist based in Philadelphia, has created work in response to COVID-19.
"And that's how people can relate to it and say, you know what? I remember those days, I remember how it felt, and here we have an artistic representation of it," added Peterson.
Kellybrew Mensah uses the mammy figure. A caricature created in the Jim Crow era to depict a slave woman.
Mensah aims to combat African-American stereotypes like these and embrace them as a part of the culture in a positive light.
"Part of what he does is he elevates the mammy figure as a strong person who looks after people and has dignity and kind of makes her into a superhero," added Peterson.
Artists like Ramon Peralta, Shonice Mercado, and others have works influenced by their Dominican culture, some intertwined with the African American experience.
The art league is also hosting a fundraiser on March 21st from 5-8:30 p.m. to support the arts.
"Everything's gonna grow; we want people to grow with us, and we want people to come to Hazelton and see all of the cool things that are happening downtown,"
The Beyond Labels art exhibition will run through February 25th.