Emory Libraries
Behold the Land Sheila Pree Bright
Atlanta Art Week Event:
breathe. Curatorial Conversation
Monday. September 30 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Jones Room | Level Three | Schatten Gallery
Emory’s Woodruff Library
540 Asbury Cir, Atlanta, GA 30322
Join exhibition curator Andi McKenzie and artist Sheila Pree Bright for an engaging discussion about the exhibition breathe., on view in Emory University's Schatten Gallery. Following the conversation, attendees are invited to the exhibition's opening reception, featuring food, music, and an interdenominational interfaith ceremony.
About the exhibition: Experience breathe. and explore an exhibition of photographs by award-winning, Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright at the Schatten Gallery at Emory University. The show focuses on Georgia landscapes where important moments in civil rights history transpired and is a destination for anyone interested in the people and places that have shaped the social, political, and historical contexts of our modern world. Bright received her MFA degree from Georgia State University and, in 2023, was the focus of a solo exhibition, "The Rebirth of Us,” at Atlanta’s Jackson Fine Art Gallery. Her work has also been included in exhibitions at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, and the High Museum of Art.
Artist statement: As the world grapples with the profound shift brought about by COVID-19, I underwent a transformative change, reshaping my thoughts about life and my artistic practice. In 2008, after eight years of documenting the Black Lives Matter movement, I shifted my focus to exploring landscapes through the lens of my camera. The onset of COVID-19 in 2019 halted the world, placing me in isolation and drawing me closer to nature. Since then, I’ve been photographing landscapes to rewire our perception of existence in a transitioning global world. Immersing myself in nature has become a spiritual journey, allowing me to find greater peace and tranquility than myself. It has taught me to breathe, be still, listen, and calm my mind in the chaos of this world. Connecting to nature has become integral to my healing process and artistic practice. I imagine a future while living in the present, where the land, rooted in unresolved trauma, inspires me toward a hopeful future. breathe. is a desire to create a sanctuary where constant noise and distractions pull us away from our inner peace; this installation serves as a reminder of the power and tranquility found in mindful breathing. Let us transform our world and open pathways for collective healing, inviting each of us to be part of this movement. Then perhaps, we can all breathe freely, liberated from the constraints that bind our life force. These landscapes are collections from my series, Belonging and Behold the Land.
Artist webpage: https://www.sheilapreebright.com/