Katzen Art Center at American University Museum, Washington, DC, United States
10 Sep 2016 - 23 Oct 2016
Willis Thomas, Raise Up, 2013. Bronze, 112 x 10 x 4 in. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, and Goodman Gallery, South Africa.
In the Alper Initiative space, Washington artists respond to the graphics of Black Panther artist Emory Douglas with sculpture, paintings, photography and multi-media installations.
The exhibition features Emory Douglas and members of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (“AFRICOBRA”): Jeff Donaldson, Akili Ron Anderson, James Phillips, Jae Jarrell and Wadsworth Jarrell.
Collectively, they create a powerful lens to the socio-political landscape of the late 1960s and 70s that helps to visualize the 1967 Black Panther Party 10-point platform addressing issues of freedom, employment, economic exploitation, affordable housing, education, war, police brutality, prison, due process, and access.
The exhibition also includes artists examining these same issues 50 years later, including: Holly Bass, Wesley Clark, Jay Coleman, Larry Cook, Tim Davis, Jamea Richmond Edwards, Shaunté Gates, Amber Robles Gordon, Njena Surae-Jarvis, Simmie Knox, Graham Boyle, Beverly Price, Jennifer Gray, Sheldon Scott, Frank Smith, Stan Squirewell and Hank Willis Thomas.
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Additional Programming:
September 29, 6-8 pm: Film screening of The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
October 8, 2-3:30 pm: Panel Discussion: The Creative Process of Bringing Truth to Power: The Art of the Black Panthers and AFRICOBRA. RSVP required.
October 15, 2-3:30 pm: Panel Discussion: Riffing on the Legacy of the Black Arts Movement. RSVP required.
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