<\/p>\n A longtime gallery owner is debuting an exhibition Jan. 13 that he hopes will draw people from all over the country to see African-American art in St. Louis.<\/p>\n \u201cAll Colors\u201d<\/a>\u00a0features the work of 66 national and local artists. The Portfolio Gallery nonprofit will present the show at the Artists\u2019 Guild, 2 Jackson Ave., in Clayton, the first exhibition following the sale of its Grand Center building.<\/p>\n Portfolio owner Robert Powell sold the gallery space in 2015 with the goal of supporting African-American artists.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we want to do is provide an opportunity for artists and organizations that the mainstream seems to have forgotten, or has little or no interest in,\u201d Powell said.<\/p>\n Lack of lead sponsor forces cutbacks<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAll Colors\u201d features the work of national, predominantly African-American artists such as Ed Johnetta Miller and Thomas Sleet as well as local artists including Cbabi Bayoc. It includes painting, sculpture, textiles and other media.<\/p>\n Powell had planned for a budget of $150,000 and hoped to find a single contributor to cover a major portion of the invitational and juried exhibition.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted someone to be a lead sponsor, to brand it as their event,\u201d Powell said.<\/p>\n The highest level of sponsorship included the contributor\u2019s name in all promotions and a private opening reception.\u00a0 But there were no takers.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we cut back,\u201d Powell said. \u201cI had hoped to put a catalog together. I had big advertisements I wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n The bid for support did garner smaller amounts. Some proceeds from the\u00a0sale of the Portfolio building\u00a0<\/a>3514 Delmar Blvd., behind Powell Hall \u2014 $480,000 in all \u2014 will also help fund the endeavor.<\/p>\n Powell plans to make the art exhibition an annual event.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be looking for sponsors for next year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
CREDIT PORTFOLIO GALLERY<\/h6>\n
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For more information about the show<\/strong>, click here\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n
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