Feb 2025: First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Children's Art CarnivalFirst Time I Ever Saw Your Face
Dates: February 1 – March 9, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, February 7, 2025, 6 to 8 pm
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is a traveling group exhibition commissioned by The Colored Girls Museum (TCGM). The title of the exhibition, inspired by Roberta Flack’s iconic 1972 vocal rendition, was chosen as a love song to black girlhood by TCGM’s Founder, Vashti Dubois. Tasked with creating portraits of Black girls ages 10 – 18, the series to-date features six paintings by artists and their muses: Misha McGlowen and Madison Proctor, Nile Livingston and Tyjanae Williams, Chanell Phillips and Christen Harvey, Serena Saunders and Myka Ollison, Aysha Ray Walker and Haley Ray, and Tara Pearson aka Misty Sol and Ayah Pearson.
The Children’s Art Carnival (CAC), in partnership with The Colored Girls Museum, has commissioned four additional artists, all from Harlem, to create new portraits to contribute to the traveling series. The artists and their muses are Moses Harper and Cayla McTair, Kephera Ife and Shiloh Lecky, Gwendolyn Black and Zoe Browner, and Amber Doniere and Tyoné Hunley-Williams. All ten portraits, which includes the original six, will be on display at CAC from February 7, 2025 through March 9, 2025. The opening reception is on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00pm.
About The Colored Girls Museum: The Colored Girls Museum is a Black-women founded, collectively-led house museum whose mission emerges out of our sincere duty to African Diasporic histories, cultural traditions, and political commitments. The museum is located at 4613 Newhall St, Philadelphia, PA 19144. Please visit thecoloredgirlsmuseum.com to book an appointment and for more information.
About the Children’s Art Carnival: Since 1969, The Children’s Art Carnival has provided arts programs for young people and families in West Harlem and the broader Harlem community. Understanding that the arts are a bridge to learning and to overall competency, CAC’s long-standing objective has been to support the development and growth of participants from early ages through adulthood and to provide creative experiences that will engage young people, their families, and community members. We are equally committed to providing professional development opportunities and resources to early-career and emerging artists from Harlem, New York City, and throughout the region.
The Recipients of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Portrait Commission:
Artist: Moses Harper Muse: Cayla McTair, Age 13
Artist: Christa Hamilton Muse: Shiloh Lecky, Age 16
Artist: Gwendolyn Black Muse: Zoe Browner, Age 16
Artist: Amber Doniere Muse: Tyoné Hunley-Williams, Age 18
