The Wright Art Collection is hosting a charity exhibition, “It Is True, I was Created in You,” on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at their residence in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Proceeds from this event will be used to establish a fund for maternal health at Penn State Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Thirty talented artists have created a piece of work, with a theme of Black Maternal Health, which will be on view. The couple Drs. Ato and Tonya Wright, who are avid collectors, shared their narrative about their love for art and its transformative impact on their local communities with us.
T.E: Could you please introduce yourselves?
W.F: We are physicians, art lovers and naturalized Americans; Ato immigrating from Ghana and Tonya immigrating from Anguilla, British West Indies. We met in medical school at Penn State in 2008. Learning about our commonalities in our upbringing was certainly one of the strong forces that brought us together. We currently practice in the fields of Radiation Oncology (Ato) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (Tonya), in Pennsylvania, USA. We have three sons, Ato (6), Miles (4) and Nii (2) and together we enjoy exploring new cultures through travel, art and music.
Image courtesy of The Wright Art Collection
T.E: How long have you been collecting art? What was the inspiration behind starting an art collection? Was there a specific moment or artwork that inspired you?
W.F: We began our collecting journey in 2015 in New Orleans, after completing our respective residency trainings. We were fortunate enough to be invited to the home of actress and renowned art collector, CCH Pounder, around the time that we were just starting to collect original works. Tonya had also commissioned a local artist, Jon Moody to create a portrait of Ato’s Grandma Maud, soon after her passing, and these two events would prove to be the catalyst for what would later become the Wright Art Collection.
Jamaal Peterman “Black Woman Purple Shirt, Yellow Dress, Locs”, 2020. Acrylic, Sand on Paper.14 x 17 inches.
Image courtesy of The Wright Art Collection
T.E: The artworks exhibited have a theme of Black Maternal Health. How/why was this theme selected?
W.F: As we grow in our art journey, we have found that art and advocacy go hand in hand. Throughout history, art has served as a tool for storytelling and documentation of the times. What other way to convey to the world the crisis that afflicts women today, especially women of Color in the United States but to use the voices of 30 contemporary artists of the African diaspora such as Jamiah Calvin, Clarence Hayward, Kayla Mahaffey, Ferguson Amo and many more. We thought that it would be a unique perspective to commission works from artists that are centered on this theme so that they could use their creative expression to foster a much-needed emotional response to the plight of Black Women.
Image courtesy of The Wright Art Collection
T.E: Could you elaborate on the significance of highlighting Black Maternal Health and the importance of creating more awareness around this topic?
W.F: The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths of any developed country and Black birthing individuals are disproportionately affected – dying at a rate that is 2-3 times that of White Women. As an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and a mother to three boys, Tonya confronts this harsh reality daily. It has become our life’s work to address this matter through advocacy, education, and philanthropy.
Image courtesy of The Wright Art Collection
T.E: For centuries, art has been used as a catalyst for change and to spread awareness around political and social issues. This is not the first time you have hosted a charity event to support and shed light on issues within your community. Why is doing this important to you?
W.F: Yes, we have done previous events in our home, in support of the African Millennial Foundation and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. We were both raised outside this country where access to maternal health was extremely limited. Through this outsider’s perspective, we were raised to view the US medical system in high esteem. While certain aspects of the American medical system should be celebrated for its innovation and expertise, critical issues like the maternal mortality crisis, serves as a reminder that no healthcare system is without its challenges. So to now live and practice medicine in this country, only to learn that childbirth here is actually more dangerous than in any other developed nation, is quite rattling. Furthermore, we now know that a great majority of these deaths are preventable. There is a lot of work to be done and we are called to do the work. As healthcare practitioners, we now view ourselves as stakeholders and value our position to elevate the healthcare experience.
T.E: Over 25 artists have created works with themes of Black Maternal Health. Could you tell us about the curating process? What was the selection process for the artists/artworks?
W.F: The process of curating this exhibition was shaped by our desire to identify artists working in different artistic disciplines, i.e figuration, abstraction, sculptural art, etc and also identifying artists working with different mediums to give the exhibition breadth. The choice of medium and artistic approach can help engage audiences on a deeper emotional and intellectual level. We reached out to several artists such as Leila Fanner, Zwelethu Machepha from South Africa, Shanneil Clarke from Atlanta, Jamaican born, Los Angeles based artist Yrneh Gabon, and galleries such as Mitochondria Gallery in Houston and came up with a collection of artists that we believed would create works that would help raise awareness, educate, and convey the experiences and challenges faced by Black mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. We believe that by doing so, we can highlight and magnify the subject matter of Black Maternal Health, and guide viewers through a visual journey that explores the unique qualities of each piece while contributing to the overall narrative or atmosphere of the exhibition.
Image courtesy of The Wright Art Collection
T.E: Are there any artists or specific works that you would like to highlight in the exhibition? (Two or three works that you connect with/were emotionally moved by)
W.F: The breadth of artistic expression of the works we received showed a level of thoughtfulness that was truly delightful. Artists like Alanis Forde and Monica Ikegwu created works that were autobiographical, highlighting their mothers. Adana Tillman’s mixed media work “Love Unfolding” utilized textile, fabric, etc, to beautifully depict the stages of development. Lex Marie’s “God Bless The Child” is a powerful depiction and thought provoking piece that elicits a wide range of emotions that are boundless. O’Neil Scott’s piece on an acrylic mirror, tells the story of three women who have lost their lives in and around childbirth. The life and legacy of these women have been the catalyst for so many who continue the fight against the maternal health crisis that plagues black women in this country. There is just something very powerful about being able to engage with the work, while seeing your very own reflection. It forces one to confront their own vulnerabilities or privilege. And finally Ashanté Kindle’s piece “Every Possibility in Me Must Manifest (Love to Hippolyta 2)” is a joyful mixed media work that utilizes hair products that we see in the hair of young girls on a daily basis.
T.E: What are the ways that people can help support this event?
W.F: Individuals may choose to support the event in a few ways – they may acquire a piece of artwork or they can make a tax-deductible donation to the cause. Both of these things can be done through our online platform at; https://wright-nao-art-llc.square.site/
T.E: Is there anything else you want to share about this event?
W.F: We are especially proud of the community that we have created through this venture. We have worked with some amazing vendors and donors, many of which have donated their time and expertise to the exhibition and we are sincerely grateful to them for their contributions. We have been able to collaborate with community leaders in our backyard like Corey Dupree. We have received the support of entrepreneur and wine negociant, Ingrid Best and her IBest wine will be poured at the event. Ria Mulvey and Ria x Framed shop added a unique artistic expression in framing to several of the works, including that by Nikko Washington, Daniel Nartey and Doku Borlabi, to name a few.
Thank you to Drs. Ato and Tonya Wright of the Wright Art Collection. “It is True, I was Created In You”
Saturday, October 14th, 2023, 4 pm – 7 pm EDT, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Timi Etebu is a writer based in Houston, Texas. His interests are in amplifying the voices of artists from Africa and the African Diaspora.
