Salon 94

I saw a post on Instagram about an amazing art show in an Upper East Side gallery right before it was due to close and I zoomed into the city to see it. "Karon Davis: Beauty Must Suffer" at Salon 94 traced the life and work of Black dancers, from the first classes at the barre to their final bow.

Davis' work filled what must have been an impressive townhouse back in the day. In one room, young dancers gather at the barre; in another, adult dancers smoke and stretch backstage. There are piles of pointe shoes and tutu tulle all around the spaces as well. All of the figures are crafted in white plaster - meant to represent dancers becoming equal in their craft.

Davis is from a family of performers, her mother was a dancer and father is Ben Vereen, legendary Broadway actor! Davis' art beautifully shares the extra work dancers of color must do to paint their pointe shoes and stockings to match their skin tone for class and performances. Even in 2024, pointe shoes only come in skin tone matching colors when special-special ordered and cost WAY more than regular, already pricey, shoes. 

As a former dancer, this exhibit really touched my heart. The shapes the plaster forms made and the shadows on the ground were so striking. It is an art that so many suffer for and these pieces really brought that to life.

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