“Black Vision” at Arthaus, features the artwork of Al Johnson, Berrisford Boothe and Charles F. Stonewall through March 7 in the community art space, 645 W. Hamilton St., Allentown.

“These are three Black visionaries making their own history, while augmenting Black History Month and the history of this area,” says guest curator Femi J. Johnson.

Bold, blade-like geometric shapes appear to pirouette against a blended blue background in “To Dance with Balance” (2017; mixed media on canvas, 23 in. x 36 in.) by Al Johnson. “I’ve been using it to inspire me when I come into my studio,” the abstract artist says about “that one piece that keeps me going.”

“I am finding new freedoms of expression through a spiritual connection,” writes Johnson about his “soul-based” artwork.

Johnson has a studio at the Banana Factory.

“I only work on circles. It is a primal geometry of myth, human interaction and phenomenological philosophy,” says Berrisford Boothe about his two pieces.

“Both of these paintings are dedicated to the memory of my recently deceased brother Ras Ibrak,” says Booth.

“Y Mas Gan” (2022; acrylic on canvas, 20 in. diameter) contains geometric shapes that push against and flow with the circular canvas. The yellows, oranges, violets and blues in these spaces convey a feeling of warmth and a sense of coolness. Intricate organic patterns fill these geometric shapes.

Boothe says of the title, “In the ancient Amharic language of Ethiopia ‘Igziabeher Yim Mas Gan’ roughly translates to “Let H.I.M. Be Praised.”

“Ras Inna Zion” (2022; acrylic on canvas, 20 in. diameter) while similar in design is rendered in hues of blue and violet which give it a sense of coolness and calm.

According to the artist, the Hebrew word “Zion” in the painting’s title “Ras Inna Zion,” stands for a “place of rest and repose” in Rastafarian.

Rastafarianism is a Jamaican religion and social movement.

“I ‘misused’ acrylic emulsions to create resists, encourage bleeds, spotting, and with a dancing gestural hand, create sinewy compositions that are then dried and affected to achieve what my son Quinn refers to as ‘subtle optical representations and references of rippling water or surfaces,’” conveys Boothe in his statement.

Boothe is a professor of art at Lehigh University and has an art studio in Easton.

Complementing these colorful abstract works is the black and white photography of Charles F. Stonewall.

“I like to make images that are interracial,” says the Allentown-based photographer about creating photos that could be viewed as “the opposite of the chaos and negative things going on out there.”

“Choreograph” (2013; photographic print, 23 in. x 30 in.) skillfully captures two dancers, one Black and one White, gracefully passing in midair. This was taken with a digital camera when Stonewall worked with a dance company near Kansas City, Kan. “They were so professional, they jumped only three times,” says Johnson about the promotional shot they were working on. “On the third time, I caught it.”

At the time, Stonewall taught at Johnson County Community College in Kansas.

Another photograph, “Luminary,” is of Stonewall’s maternal grandmother. As his “patron,” she purchased his first camera for him when he was a 17-year-old. Taken with a Praktica camera loaded with 120 film, her portrait is powerfully emotional.

Stonewall was a professional photographer at Pennsylvania Power and Light, Allentown. He later worked as an educational consultant and photographer at Sprint World Headquarters in Kansas.

Arthaus is a partnership between RE:find and the Allentown Arts Commission.

Arthaus, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. allentownarts.com; 610-841-4866