Art, poetry inspired by Muhammad Ali

The Ink People Center for the Arts has kicked off the 2022 exhibition season at Brenda Tuxford Gallery with “Stand Up and Be Counted: art and poetry inspired by Muhammad Ali.”

⁠Ali was known as “The Greatest” — a world champion fighter, humanist, mentor, poet and activist who changed the world.

“Stand Up and Be Counted,” co-sponsored by KEET-TV: PBS of Northern California, Word Humboldt and Ink People Center for the Arts, has been organized in conjunction with “Muhammad Ali,” a PBS documentary series directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, which premiered on KEET-TV last fall.

Sarah Burns wrote in a statement: “Ali is rightly celebrated for his athleticism in the ring, but he was equally heroic in his willingness to stand up for what he believed was right.”

Showcased paintings, drawings and poems draw inspiration from Ali’s activism and from the six core principles that guided his life: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, ⁠respect and spirituality. ⁠Featured writers and artists include Tim Ayres, Michael Woods, October Mintey, Rosalie Thomson, Brett Mungo, James F. Woglom, Heather Quarles, Dylan Collins, Mark Heathcote, Tania Fonseca, Traci Neal, Sarah Brooks and Michael Bickford. ⁠

At the Brenda Tuxford Gallery, printed poems line the walls of one exhibition space, while drawings and paintings are displayed next door. The exhibit will be accessible to viewers in person by appointment, as well as online. “Dedication,” a photorealistic watercolor portrait by Humboldt State University art education professor James F. Woglom, uses hot colors and a tight crop to capture Ali’s intensity in the ring.

“Float Like a Butterfly,” a pen and ink drawing by 13-year-old Humboldt County artist October Mintey, uses mixed media to emphasize duality in the fighter’s public persona.

“Ignoring protocols, Ali moved freely among the people, saying Allah would protect him,” Tim Ayres wrote regarding his surreal digital photomontage titled “Ali — A Living Rockwell.”

“Like a Norman Rockwell painting, the faces in the crowds Ali drew told the story of America,” he said.

Several featured writers assess Ali’s cultural significance in terms of identity and personal history.

“Muhammad Ali and boxing are integral to my relationship with my father,” said Michael Bickford, who writes with the Lost Coast Writers’ Cooperative. “The Creator’s Hands,” by Heather Quarles — writer, teacher, and founder of the Unbound Writing Center in Arcata — proposes: “Like Clay, / lean into the way / you were formed. / Born to be what you are / but, shaped too.”

“This exhibit reflects personal insights into what Ali has meant to each artist and poet, and the effect his legacy has left on them,” said Katie Whiteside, director of community engagement at KEET-TV, who organized the exhibition.

“The PBS series unveils multiple sides of this icon, beyond boxing. Ali had to fight for his beliefs, civil rights and social justice. He challenged white supremacy and the racism he faced in this country, which continues to challenge us today,” she said.

“Stand Up and Be Counted” can be viewed online at inkpeople.org/tuxfordgallery and in person by appointment at the Brenda Tuxford Gallery, 627 Third St., Eureka, through Feb. 21. Appointments for individuals and small groups are available Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with masking and social distancing restrictions in effect. Call 707-442-8413 to schedule a visit. ⁠