Confidence, by way of paint, is what Sandra Charles promotes. “My work celebrates and uplifts the self-esteem of African-American women through interpretative portraiture,” she said. “I look behind the facade of social perceptions that weighs us down and attempt to remove the hegemonic veil which covers this struggle between self and our perceived social order.” There will be two receptions, one during the Oct. 5 Republic Bank First Friday Hop from 5 to 8 p.m., with another one on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m.