The Black & White Show—A New Direction for Where We Meet

The mood shifts with If You Wanna Be My Baby It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White II (Selected for Exhibition), 24" × 24" × 1.5", Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Where We Meet Series, © Deb Chaney 2026 (Artwork shown in a styled setting; scale may vary from real life.)

When I first came across The Black & White Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center in California, I felt an immediate sense of excitement. The exhibition invited artists to submit work created entirely in black, white, and shades of grey—a beautiful creative limitation that immediately sparked an idea.

My ongoing series, Where We Meet  explores the universal experience of connection while maintaining our own individuality and sovereign sense of self. The paintings are built through many layers of acrylic and mixed media, creating textured surfaces that speak to inter-connection, relationships, and embracing our own individual uniqueness.

Removing colour from the equation felt like an exciting challenge. Rather than adapting an existing painting, I decided to create an entirely new pair of works specifically for this exhibition.

If You Wanna Be My Baby It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White

The titles were inspired by the familiar lyrics from Michael Jackson's song Black or White, reflecting one of the central ideas behind this series—that beneath our many differences, we all seek connection while respecting ourselves.

Working exclusively in black, white, and grey shifted my focus toward texture, value, rhythm, and the relationships between forms. What I initially thought might feel limiting quickly became liberating. Without colour competing for attention, the surfaces, marks, and quiet conversations between the squares became the heart of the work.

Although only one painting was selected for the exhibition, both pieces were conceived together as companions within this new monochrome exploration.

If You Wanna Be My Baby It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White I, 24" × 24" × 1.5", Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Where We Meet Series, © Deb Chaney 2026

If You Wanna Be My Baby It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White II (Selected for Exhibition), 24" × 24" × 1.5", Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Where We Meet Series, © Deb Chaney 2026

A Wonderful Gesture

As an international artist living on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, participating in U.S. exhibitions can occasionally present logistical challenges. In this case, the complexities of international shipping meant I wasn't able to send the painting to California in time for the in-person exhibit.

That said, I shared my situation with the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, fully expecting to withdraw from the exhibition. Instead, the organizers responded with remarkable generosity. They offered to continue featuring my accepted painting as part of the exhibition's online gallery for the duration of the show.

Their kindness transformed what initially felt like a disappointment into something worth celebrating, and I'm sincerely grateful for their support.

Explore the Exhibition

One of the joys of juried exhibitions is discovering the incredible range of artistic voices working within the same creative constraint. This year's exhibition includes photography, painting, drawing, and mixed media, each offering a unique interpretation of black, white, and grey.

I'm honoured to have my work included among such a diverse and talented group of artists. You can view their works along with my featured painting on the exhibit’s page here.

A New Chapter

Perhaps the greatest gift of this exhibition is not simply having a painting accepted. It's discovering that this monochrome branch of Where We Meet has its own visual language.

Sometimes a creative limitation doesn't narrow the possibilities—it reveals them. I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

Exhibition Details

The Black & White Show
July 14–August 8, 2026

Gallery Hours
Tue–Fri 11 AM–3 PM
Sat 11 AM–5 PM

Sacramento Fine Arts Center
5330 Gibbons Dr
Carmichael, CA 95608, USA
916-971-3713
info@sacfinearts.org
Black & White Art Show
Sacramento Fine Arts Center