Two Villages Art Society announces a collaborative show featuring 14 women artists, seven who identify as black and seven who identify as white, from across the United States, opening on October 23. What brings these artists together is their dedication to understanding their commonalities and differences. “Truth Be Told: An Artful Gathering of Women” is the product of a group of women engaging in courageous and uncomfortable conversations to deepen their understanding of racism in themselves and their communities. The group began meeting bi-weekly on zoom in response to the George Floyd murder, which led to a sharing of experiences. “We are interested in how art speaks to relevant issues in our society today” shared Hopkinton’s Kathleen Dustin, an artist who has used polymer clay as a medium for art jewlery and fine craft for more than 30 years. “The focus of the exhibit will be a collaborative wall piece in which we each chose a meaningful word regarding racial justice and within a 10” x 10” square, express that word. Words such as bravery, hope, repair, despair, listen are a few examples.” Ohio artist Debbie Jackson displays work that embodies the ethnic energy of her Ghanaian heritage. Her jewelry is showcased and sold at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture gift shop in Washington, D.C. Diane Quarles began sculpting faces in polymer clay 15 years ago when she noticed the lack of faces of black women in jewelry. “I saw many elegant, beautiful cameos but only one with the face of a black woman,” she says. “This is a unique group of outstanding artists who share a fervent desire to understand and eradicate racial injustice in our country and are motivated to pursue this goal through their art,” says Alyssa McKeon, president of Two Villages Art Society. “I believe that this show will be a first-of-its-kind for Hopkinton.” “Truth Be Told: An Artful Gathering of Women” is on display from October 23-November 13 at the Bates Building, 846 Main Street, Contoocook. Hours: Wednesday through Friday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Join us on Saturday, October 23rd from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. for the opening day with artists Kathleen Dustin and Kathleen Anderson (the gallery will not be open that morning). For more information, including artist bios: https://www.twovillagesart.org/ Two Villages Art Society (TVAS) was founded in 2019 as an organization for artists, art lovers, art collectors, art educators, and all who value art as a crucial component of a vibrant, welcoming community. Its gallery on Main Street in Contoocook (part of the town of Hopkinton) offered events as “the House of Art” prior the founding of the nonprofit TVAS. In addition to exhibits and sales, TVAS provides artist meet-ups, educational programs, and cultural events. Membership is open to all, and admission to the gallery is free.