New Haven’s Third Space gallery is hosting the third‑year showcase of The Rooted Collective, a community‑focused program that brings together women, femme and nonbinary artists of color for six weeks of intentional artmaking. The exhibition runs through September 13 and features works by Sydney Williams, Ery Ayala, Zymarie Taylor, Quiana Stanley and Dyme Ellis, all hailing from New Haven, Hamden or Naugatuck.
Funding and mission
Founder Alana Ladson, an artist and educator, launched the collective in 2023 with a $10,000 “Artists Corps” grant from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and the National Endowment for the Arts. Ladson said the space provides a calming, freeing environment where artists can “loosen their grip” and create without the pressure of consumerism. In its third year, the program received a $2,000 Neighborhood Cultural Vitality Grant from the City of New Haven, allowing it to continue paying participating artists for their labor.
Compensation is a core principle of the collective. “Artists should get paid!” Ladson told attendees at the opening reception. She emphasized that paying creators is especially important for Black artists and artists of color, who often work in historically white institutions without adequate support.
Featured works
Sydney Williams’ piece “Censored For Safety” draws attention with a Black‑banded portrait of a Black woman whose eyes are covered by the word “Safety” in gold cursive. The striking image underscores the tension between visibility and protection in public discourse.
Zymarie Taylor’s multi‑media triptych combines a starched collared shirt, blazer, tie and a Basquiat‑style crown with a witch‑like figure, a vampiric figure and a hippie in a yellow blouse. Taylor explained that each character reflects facets of her own identity, noting, “I’ve definitely been each one.” She grew up in New Haven’s Quinnipiac Meadows neighborhood and credits the collective for giving her a place to belong.
Ery Ayala, an art teacher from Waterbury, highlighted the collective as the first true affinity space for nonbinary artists of color. Their work featured a clover‑dragon and a spinning globe, illustrating a personal love for early‑2000s fan art such as Pokémon.
Community impact
Participants described the collective as a healing space where they can be seen, heard and supported. Quiana Stanley noted that weekly gatherings with five other makers offered both creative inspiration and a much‑needed breath of relief. The program’s continued success reflects a broader commitment in Greater New Haven to nurture local arts talent beyond market pressures.
Since its inception, The Rooted Collective has held three separate exhibitions across the city, including a 2024 show at the Dixwell Community “Q” House supported by the Connecticut Office of the Arts. Ladson’s own career has spanned roles at Music Haven, Solar Youth, the Huneebee Project and the Girl Scouts of America, where she now coordinates arts programs.
Through grants, community partnerships and a steadfast belief in the value of artistic labor, The Rooted Collective remains a vital cultural anchor for New Haven’s diverse creative community.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
