Sarasota Review

In Sarasota, Florida, artist Chris Friday is showcasing her first solo museum exhibition titled "Where We Never Grow Old" at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design. The exhibition runs from May 4 to August 10 and explores themes of memory and nostalgia through a multi-disciplinary approach.

Chris Friday's work draws inspiration from her childhood memories, which she describes as filled with quietude, joy, and love. Her art aims to provide a temporary escape from modern injustices by preserving community and identity. Rangsook Yoon, Ph.D., senior curator at the Sarasota Art Museum, remarked on Friday's work: “While breathtaking in its exquisite realism, Chris Friday’s art transcends mere representation. With her distinct visual language that evokes awe and serene reflection, she shares intimate stories passed down through generations."

The exhibition features monumental chalk drawings of Black figures resting peacefully alongside ceramics representing everyday items that bring comfort to the artist. These pieces create imagined sanctuaries anchored in nostalgia, family, tradition, spirituality, and culture. According to Friday, this practice is rooted in Black American culture as a means of survival through historical adversities such as slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

Friday's creative process begins with photographs she takes herself to strengthen her personal connection to each image. She spends hundreds of hours completing each drawing to capture moments of rest frozen in time. Reflecting on changes in Miami neighborhoods where she grew up, Friday expressed concern about cultural preservation: “Many of the Miami neighborhoods and places I grew up in are being gentrified out of existence...Black American traditions seem as though it is not being allowed to grow old.”

The exhibition also introduces color gold into Friday's predominantly black-and-white aesthetic through ceramic sculptures symbolizing cultural iconography like jewelry and food. Gold embellishments signify notions such as heaven and immortality while highlighting the personal significance of these objects.

Virginia Shearer, Executive Director of Sarasota Art Museum, anticipates that "Where We Never Grow Old" will foster enriching discussions: “At Sarasota Art Museum, we believe in the power of art to spark dialogue and understanding.” The museum continues its commitment to showcasing contemporary art that reflects current times.

Chris Friday has participated in numerous group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Her accolades include being named South Arts Southern Prize State Fellow for Florida in 2023.

The exhibition is organized by Sarasota Art Museum with support from sponsors including Judy and Fred Fiala; Katherine and Frank Martucci; Charlotte and John Suhler; Marge and Leon Ellin.