The Frankie G. Weems Gallery at Meredith College will feature the work of local artist Kulsum Tasnif, a mixed media artist and transmedia storyteller. Kulsum received her Master’s degree in Art and Design from North Carolina State University in 2021 and has a bachelor’s degree in studio art and creative writing from the University of California at Davis. Kulsum immersed herself in stories of multicultural and multigenerational women, learning what inspires us to RESIST and to exist in these times of national chaos, global catastrophes, and day-to-day struggles. The resistance purses are portraits of contemporary human struggles and triumphs. “The Protest Purse” is an ongoing project that seeks to re-contextualize how we see protest and allows insight into the hearts and minds of a diverse community of women.

Kulsum spent years recording voices of survivors of war from Bosnia, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan, and Somalia and illustrated their stories in her series, “Journey to The Good Life.” Other solo exhibits include “The Protest Purse,” about female strength and empowerment, and “Our Ramadan: Hunger, Heart and Healing,” highlighting diverse Ramadan experiences of Muslim Americans across the States. In 2021, Muslim Girl Magazine named Kulsum among the “Top Six Creatives to Know.” Her essays have been published in Patheos, The Manifest-Station, and Brown Girl Magazine. Her work has been highlighted in the News & Observer and Hayati Magazine and can be found at The Selkie Gift Shop in Wilson, NC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh. Kulsum’s latest venture, ARTIST UMMAH, is an incubator of The Light House Project, which provides young Muslim visual artists an accessible space to showcase their talents.

“The Protest Purse” is on exhibition from October 11th – November 6th, 2022, at the Frankie G. Weems Gallery at Meredith College. An opening reception and gallery talk will take place on October 20th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. A closing reception will be on November 6th, 2022 from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm. Current hours at Frankie G. Weems Gallery are Tuesday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm.

For more information, please contact Meredith Art Gallery Director, Todd Jones.