Cryin’ Out Loud invites audiences to experience every note, brushstroke, and heartbreak in a new exhibition celebrating the legacy, emotion, and cultural power of the Blues. Opening at Spiralis Gallery on Friday, September 5, this dynamic group show channels the sounds, stories, and spirit of one of America’s most influential musical traditions.
Featuring a diverse roster of contemporary artists, Cryin’ Out Loud explores the emotional terrain of the Blues—sorrow and survival, injustice and joy, longing and liberation. More than a genre, the Blues is a lived experience and cultural movement that continues to inspire resistance, reflection, and resilience.
“The Blues is about more than music,” says Gail Patterson, Spiralis Gallery Founder. “It’s about how folks cry out—in pain, in protest, in passion.”
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Dane Tilghman, a palette knife painter, who notes: “The Blues is a color that is a respecter of no man. It is a universal feeling that connects our souls one to another, and because of that, we are family.”
- Susan Lenz, a South Carolina–based artist, presents Blues Chapel, an installation honoring the female legends of the Blues. Lenz reflects: “Early female Blues singers lived in a male-dominated society, in a segregated country, and worked in an industry that exploited their lack of education and opportunity…They struggled, made sacrifices, and sang of their woes. They helped change the world for today’s young, Black, female vocalists.”
- Don O’Bannon, who shares: “The Blues is more than a musical form—it is a historical document, a window into the lives and struggles of those who created it… The music endures due to its universal themes of love, loss, and hope.”
- Emery Franklin, Memphis artist: “Well, the Blues means a lot to me, coming from Memphis.”
The exhibition runs September 5 – November 2, 2025. An opening reception will be held Friday, September 5, 5–8 pm, offering guests the opportunity to meet participating artists.
For more information, visit www.spiralisgallery.com, follow #spiralisgallery on Instagram, or email gail@spiralisgallery.com
