On display through April 28, 2012
Bates Permanent Collection Gallery, 2nd floor

Currently on display are four works of art that have been selected from the Gadsden Arts Center’s Permanent Collection to showcase the talents of Tallahassee artist Mary L. Proctor and African artist Chief Z.O. Oloruntoba. Both artists create their artwork to help their audience in some way, either through spiritual messages or healing purposes.

Mary Proctor is a self-taught artist who began creating art after a tragic accident changed her life forever. In 1995, her grandmother, aunt, and uncle were killed in a terrible fire, and Ms. Proctor was devastated by her losses. She spent time fasting and praying in an attempt to understand the Lord’s purpose for her pain and grief. Top right: Mary L. Proctor, Self-Portrait, glass on found window, 44.5 x 49 inches. Gadsden Arts Center Permanent Collection, Gift of Su Ecenia, 2011.2.   

Chief Zacheus Olowonubi Oloruntoba is an herbalist, spiritual leader, flutist, and visual artist from the Ogidi village in Nigeria, Africa, who has exhibited his work all over the world. Born in 1919, Oloruntoba first began painting at age 15 to express and explain his powerful, vivid, and often psychic dreams. Oloruntoba began working with herbal hand-dyed cords applied to canvas over 50 years ago and believes that these dyes add curative properties to his paintings. His images mainly consist of animals, musicians, his village and women. Bottom right: Chief Oloruntoba, untitled, pen on fabric, 12 x 26 inches. Gadsden Arts Center Permanent Collection, Gift of Lou and Calynne Hill, 2009.1.15.