nspired by Howell’s experience working in White-led organizations, Now You See It, Now You… explores how privilege has allowed Americans—especially White Americans—to ignore the ways actions and decisions perpetuate injustices at home and abroad.
The artwork featured seeks to make the invisible impacts of privilege visible through fantastical, metaphorical sculptures, photographs, and performance art. These works are woven together with everyday materials—yarn, clay, felt—further highlighting the ways seemingly mundane actions can wield power.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is a performance-based piece, Let Them Eat Cake, alludes to Marie Antoinette’s infamous inability to recognize her own privilege. The performance unfolds as the artist dons an opulent headdress that obscures their physical and metaphorical vision while serving guests cake. The exhibition confronts the tension between striving to do good within an unjust society and inevitably participating in its injustices—a space filled with relevant questions with few easy answers.
Open Gallery Hours:
The gallery will be open from 3–6 pm on the following days: Monday 11/17, Thursday 11/29, Friday 11/21, Monday 12/1, Thursday 12/4, Friday 12/5, and closing reception 12/12 5-7pm
And by appointment ([email protected])
ABOUT NORA HOWELL
Nora Howell is a fiber and performance-based sculpture artist and art administrator living in Baltimore, Maryland. In her art, Nora uses a mix of ceramics and soft sculpture to develop a visual language to illuminate and stimulate dialogue around themes of identity, community, power, and privilege. In addition to her personal art practice, she is a project manager implementing public artworks across the state of Maryland. She has a Masters of Fine Art from the Maryland College of Art. She is a Hamiltonian Fellowship Alumni, 2018 Daily Record 40 under 40 VIP awardee, and Sondheim Prize 2014 semi-finalist.