By Jacob Peterson

The West Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation is showcasing art by local Black artists in its Gallery 1075 space through February.

“Throughout the rest of the month people can come in anytime the community center is open … to just enjoy the pieces themselves,” gallery curator Evan Harté said. “The art reception [on Feb. 12] though is going to be extra special because we’re going to have the artists actually come out and talk with the community, get to know them and talk about their processes.”

One of the artists featured is Sacramento-based Danitta Nelson, who works on her art in-between taking care of her children and working as a program manager at a mental health care facility. Nelson said she loves to do 3D art where she can attach things to her illustrations, especially hair.

“My biological father was an artist and my sister was an artist, but they don’t do art anymore,” Nelson said. She added that a brain injury from a car accident means her sister no longer creates art. “So I do it to try and keep it going for the family so it doesn’t just die down.”

Nelson said she started actively pursuing presenting in galleries after hosting sip and paint events and selling her work, with one of her pieces being on display in Citrus Heights City Hall. She said she was excited to see her work presented at Gallery 1075.

“I’m going to show African tribal masks, I’m also going to show some art with a 3D touch like fake hair,” Nelson said. “It’s important to me because it makes me feel very good to have my work on display. Whether it sells or not it feels good.”

Another local artist featured at the event is Joyhné Geran. Raised in Sacramento, Geran said she got into quilting later in life, having read the book “Amish: The Art of the Quilt” by Robert Hughes and attending a show hosted by the East Bay Heritage Quilters.

“When I walked in the door a young lady introduced herself and said, ‘Would you like to join a quilt group?’” Geran said. “I said, ‘Well I don’t know anything about quilting,’ and she said, ‘Well now’s a great time to learn.’”

Geran said it took her some time to catch up to her peers, and it would be through that group that she first began showing her work in galleries. She said she was connected with Black History Month Art Show by Cheryl Gleason, curator at The Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova, but didn’t initially think the West Sacramento gallery would accept her work as the gallery generally exhibits illustrations and photography.

“I was surprised and pleased, and I’m grateful to be able to show my work,” Geran said. “I also think it’s good for the community to see the diversity of work, as opposed to just seeing certain mediums.”

Harté said the community center is celebrating Black History in a variety of ways, with the gallery being an important element in letting underrepresented artists share their work.

“The gallery itself is really an option to focus on these Black stories, Black creators, Black art, the kind of stuff we don’t always get to highlight throughout the year,” Harté said. “The whole purpose of the gallery is that we have this platform as a resource for these up and coming artists.”

Gallery 1075 is located inside the West Sacramento Community Center at 1075 West Capitol Ave. The reception takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, while the show will be on exhibit through Feb. 27.

This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics and protocols, the city had no editorial influence over this story and no city official reviewed this story before it was published. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, CapRadio, Hmong Daily News, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.