Shonna McDaniels
Location of Box Art: Meadowview PED Crossing
Location of Box Art: Florin & Luther
Artist Statement
Shonna McDaniels is widely known as a professional artist and the Founder and Director of the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum (STMAM) in South Sacramento. STMAM offers art classes and various experiences for all ages, but concentrates most on art education for youth. With more than 25 years of community involvement that includes organizing community-wide festivals that support art education programs offered by STMAM, partnering with the Crocker’s hugely successful Block by Block initiative and supporting emerging artists’ careers, Ms. McDaniels somehow manages to pursue her own artistic growth. Ms. McDaniels favorite subject matter is the African woman and she feels driven to paint them using dark blue hues, purple and brown to convey skin tones. Oil is her chosen medium, but she also works in pastels, charcoal, acrylic and recycled materials.
“I feel today, more than ever, that art is needed by young people as a forum for safe expression, communication, exploration, imagination, cultural and historical understanding. Indeed, art should be a priority in human development. My goal as an artist is to share the strength and majesty of ancient African culture via beautiful paintings, mixed media, clay pottery and Styrofoam. Most importantly, my goal is to always be a student of the arts and never accept the idea that I have arrived.” - Shonna McDaniels
“I feel today, more than ever, that art is needed by young people as a forum for safe expression, communication, exploration, imagination, cultural and historical understanding. Indeed, art should be a priority in human development. My goal as an artist is to share the strength and majesty of ancient African culture via beautiful paintings, mixed media, clay pottery and Styrofoam. Most importantly, my goal is to always be a student of the arts and never accept the idea that I have arrived.” - Shonna McDaniels