I loved attending the artist reception for Shenequa Brooks held at 108 Contemporary in Tulsa. Her beautiful work filled the open space with vibrant colors and textures, and she was warm and welcoming. Shenequa is a fiber artist that incorporates synthetic hair into her works. Braiding and weaving hair is such a cultural tradition in African-Caribbean communities, which is why this plays such a strong role in her work. Having the opportunity to meet artists and hear about their work is something I love, and this opening was no exception. I noticed a small detail that Shenequa said is often overlooked; the woven tapestry pieces were hanging on the walls from brackets that looked like giant, oversized bobby pins. She had these unique pieces custom produced to hang her exhibition pieces. I love details like that!
The 108 Contemporary is a nonprofit community art space, housed in a very wheelchair-friendly venue. Even with the busier-than-normal crowds during a First Friday Art Market, it was easy to move around. If you like innovative contemporary art, you will want to visit the gallery. They have made it their mission to educate the public on “the true definition of contemporary fine craft”. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other Shenequa Brooks exhibits in the future. Her work simply makes me happy.
