Myriads Botanical Gardens Hosts Art Exhibit For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Myriad Botanical Gardens is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

To celebrate him, they're hosting an exhibit giving a voice to local artists.

Art can be interpreted in many ways. For Verdean Evergarden, it's how he expresses his own emotions, but he said he wants others to see themselves in his work.

“With my art, I try to portray very ambiguous people who aren't necessarily on one side of every flag which is race of people. So, that anyone who sees my art will see themselves because the person isn't clearly obvious one race or another” Evergarden said.

Evergarden is one of six black artists using art to speak out. Myriad Botanical Gardens is hosting the Voices Arts Exhibit honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Blank walls of the lobby are now filled with artwork some paying homage to Black history, for Evergarden he said he's making history.

“I feel a great deal of responsibility and encouragement even more so because I have the ability to be here and I was invited to be here and I obviously love being here. I think that obviously makes me want to paint more,” Evergarden said.

Evergarden said he used to be the kid that would get in trouble for drawing.

“Teachers would kind of slap papers out of my hand and tell me to stop drawing,” Evergarden said.

For the past four years, he's been a professional. He hopes to inspire other artists to never stop drawing and use a canvas as their voice.

“When you create a work of art or when you paint, people will see it and because people will see it. It does matter it means something,” Evergarden said.

This art exhibit is just one way the Myriad Botanical Gardens plans to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. There will be a lot more events planned for Martin Luther Day. CLICK HERE for a list of events.