April 5, 2021
Dear Friends, As Women's History Month closes and International Black Women's Month opens, we pause in remembrance of Breonna Taylor and Sandra Bland, two black women who died much to young. The world changed on March 13, 2020. The untimely death of 26 year old Breonna Taylor forever marks this day. At about 12:40 a.m., police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, executing a no-knock warrant, killed Breonna Taylor in her bed. Her death devastated her family and outraged the nation. Many artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Amy Sherald, created tributes honoring Breonna Taylor.
We continue to be haunted by the violent police treatment of 28 year old Sandra Bland during a minor traffic stop in July, 2015, and her death three days later in a jail cell where she was found hanged. Her family disputed the ruling that her death was suicide. She was optimistically looking forward to a new job, which was to start in nearly two weeks when her young life was cut short. We lift up and say the names of Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor as we must "Say Her Name"! This edition of the newsletter includes art moments featuring women artists, highlights of upcoming virtual talks and exhibitions, and chill and music moments at the end. Onward!
