Last week the McConnell Arts Center opened its latest exhibition, a stunning show that features Columbus artist April Sunami.

Titled I Am Because You/We Are, the show is described as “a poignant celebration of her mother and the resilient women who have influenced her life.” It

For those unfamiliar with Sunami, she’s a Columbus-based artist whose work has been featured across the country and beyond. With a BA from Ohio State and a master’s in art history from Ohio University, she’s been active as an artist primarily focused on mixed-media painting and installation. Her work has been exhibited at the Columbus Museum of Art, National African American Museum and Cultural Center, Southern Ohio Museum, Akron Art Museum, and many others. She’s even exhibited as far abroad as Cuba and Ghana. In addition to her museum-based work, her murals can be found all over Columbus and Cincinnati.

To complement her own work in the exhibition at the McConnell Arts Center, Sunami curated the hallway galleries with artists from Creative Women of Color, a collection of African American artists.

The exhibition run of I Am Because You/We Are includes a variety of work, from mixed-media paintings, photographs, ceramics, even video installations. Be sure to look for these special engagements related to the show:

Panel Discussion – The Role of Community in Art Making

Friday, January 19, 7:30 p.m.

Sunami will host an artist panel with Janet George, Wendy Kendrick, and Gaye Reissland focused on the role of community in art making. Each artist will provide insights on how community affects their practice, and the role of community in art-making on a local/national/global scale. The panel will include a Q&A with the audience. This event is free to attend. Register here.

Guided Gallery Tour

Thursday, January 25, 7 p.m.

Join Sunami in an informative and in-depth tour of the exhibition. Suggested donation is $10; register here.

Resin Workshop with April Sunami

Tuesday, February 20, 6 p.m.

Sunami will lead a workshop in which participants will learn the basics of creating their own amazing masterpiece that will last for decades to come. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Register here!

To learn more about April Sunami, visit her website at aprilsunami.com or follow her on Instagram at @ajsunami.

I Am Because You/We Are is up through March 13, 2024.

All exhibitions at the McConnell Arts Center are free. Gallery hours are:

Tuesday – Thursday

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday – Saturday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Find the McConnell Arts Center at 777 Evening St., Worthington, OH 43085. Learn more at mcconnellarts.org.

The McConnell Arts Center Hosts April Sunami’s “I Am Because You/We Are”