Arts in Action: Power of Place images exhibit opens in DeKalb – Shaw Native

There’s one thing particular concerning the energy of place.

For Jayla Trenyce, the which means is encapsulated all through her new images exhibit on show on the Ellwood House Museum in DeKalb now by means of mid-December.

“I was excited to be a part of the ‘Power of Place,’ highlighting the Black community but also the Latinx community in DeKalb County, and to get their personal stories and to learn about their experience here in DeKalb County, and be able to share more not only about the place but the people that give this place its meaning,” Trenyce mentioned.

The work of Trenyce is the newest addition to the Arts in Action initiative spearheaded by the Ellwood House Museum in partnership with the DeKalb County History Center.

Trenyce put in a myriad of hours researching the histories of concern, exclusion, and hope in telling the tales of Black and brown lives in DeKalb County.

The images exhibit centered particularly on group members attending the Israel of God’s Church in Sycamore and St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb.

“As this exhibition is called the ‘Power of Place,’ I wanted to put a lot of emphasis on people [who] came and cultivated this land literally and metaphorically,” Trenyce mentioned. “I hope that their stories are able to be heard. I tried my best to authentically communicate things that they wanted to be communicated about their personal experiences and stories of DeKalb.”

On Saturday, Trenyce greeted the general public through the exhibit’s opening reception on the Ellwood House Museum.

Trenyce mentioned she is appreciative of the chance to have her work featured within the gallery on the Ellwood House Museum.

Trenyce is a Northern Illinois University graduate and an artist from Chicago.

“This means a lot to me,” she mentioned. “I’ve had a longstanding connection with the Ellwood House [Museum.] I had my first group show here when I was a student, and then I got an internship here over the summer. This means a lot to me, full-circle moments. I had my first solo exhibition here, as well. I feel grateful that they trusted me to contribute to the success of the Arts in Action project.”

DeKalb County History Center Executive Director Michelle Donahoe mentioned she was pleased to work with Trenyce.

“She had a little more experience with not just photographing people but also physical places, and that was really part of the story,” Donahoe mentioned. “It’s that nice balance where people need to have faces, so people can connect and see themselves in the story. But with this project, it’s again that ‘Power of Place’ that we wanted to have the building or structure also be an important part of the story visually.”

Trenyce, who studied images throughout her time at NIU, mentioned engaged on the exhibit challenged her artistically.

“I do mostly conceptual portrait work,” she mentioned. “I think that the architectural work is something that I was able to grow in in this experience.”

Trenyce hopes anybody who sees her exhibit walks away a bit extra open-minded about their expertise dwelling in DeKalb County.

“There’s still some instances in today’s society where … fear and exclusion may still ring true, but just acknowledging that and being able to come here, thrive, have ownership and entrepreneurial endeavors, it builds spaces that feel safe with their family in their places of worship, as well,” she mentioned.