You are Art A Love Letter to 5th Ward is a mixed media portrait-based project that seeks to highlight the individual residents of 5th Ward Houston. Fifth Ward is portrayed as more than just a geographic location; the residents are the most critical parts of the community; when these people move away or travel from their homes, the stories and experiences always keep the best interests of the physical place alive. Francis used colored pencils, decorative papers, foil, and found objects to collage his portraits. As a multidisciplinary artist, Mark Francis’s work deals primarily with perceiving and intimate knowledge of oneself and others beyond superficiality. Growing up in southwest Houston, ALIEF, to be exact, Mark learned so much from the diverse ethnic diversity the community has to offer, including how monolithically African Americans are viewed. Therefore, his work seeks to show the dynamism of his community to themselves and others to create a more holistic view of who black people are and can be.

Visual Arts Alliance (VAA) is an educational organization for practitioners of the visual arts and interested members of the general public. Founded in Houston, TX, in 1981, VAA is an all-volunteer run, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. In addition to educational and recreational programs, VAA produces professionally juried art exhibitions providing opportunities for members and non-members to have their work professionally judged and viewed by the public. For membership details and

A You are Art: A Love Letter to Fifth Ward

Deluxe Theatre

August 15 – September 12

August 15- 19th Fifth Ward Residents Only

August 20 Public Opening