Encouraging Creativity & Voice: Amena Butler

Guest Author: Cayla Lewis

AMENA BUTLER

Professional Grant: Spring Elements

Amena Butler, Ball Day, collage on canvas, 2012

"…Those soft lively colors of nature, the smell of the rain coming, and the idea of skipping work to play outside.”

This is what inspires Oklahoma City-based artist, Amena Butler. Let’s just pause for a moment and think about these things. It is these simple joys and pleasures that have led to Butler’s recent project, Spring Series, which she started in January of 2012. 

Butler enjoys the printmaking processes of monotype, chine colle, and collagraph because of the freedom it allows her to have and how it takes her away from the usual structured lifestyle.

Amena Butler,  Lake Arcadia, collage on canvas, 8x10, 2012

Exhibiting her Spring Series at Langston University, Butler will display along with three other African-American artists. Langston currently does not have an arts department. So Butler and the other artists are hoping to encourage and inspire the students and administration to “seek out creativity and their voice in art.”

Butler is also involved in helping with free art exhibitions, demonstrations, and classes as a way to keep African-American artists pursuing an interest in the arts. OVAC’s Professional Basics Grant will prepare the work for display in the exhibition that runs through September at Langston’s OKC campus.

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition invests in artists’ project through grants for growing careers, creative projects and exceptional continuing education. Find grant guidelines and application here. Free workshops about how to apply will be held September 8 & October 13.