The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has partnered with Dayton’s own African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) to present the juried exhibitionBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, on view at the DAI from February 26 through May 22.
This marks the seventh annual showcase of Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsorganized by the African American Visual Artists Guild and the first time the exhibition will be hosted at the Dayton Art Institute.
This national, juried exhibition highlights exceptional contemporary art–including paintings, sculpture, multi-media art, printmaking and photography–by nationally recognized and emerging African American artists from across the United States. Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms features more than 80 works of art by 44 American artists of African descent working today.
“This exhibition has been several years in the making,” said DAI Chief Curator and Director of Education, Jerry N. Smith. “Initially planned for 2020, it is exciting to see it finally come to fruition. We now have the opportunity to present these vibrant works of individual expression by more than 40 artists to our guests. It will prove a memorable experience for those who visit.”
“African American art is so deeply intertwined with the history of race in the United States—from colonial enslavement, to the civil rights movement, to today,” said AAVAG President, B. Cato Mayberry. “The works presented at the Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythmsexhibition are far more than a group of personal statements about identity or recorded moments in history. They have power, beauty and meaning that extend beyond categorization to achieve timeless, universal appeal.”
The mix of local and national artists in the exhibition represents 11 different states. Responding to a call-for-entry, the final works were selected by internationally recognized artists Dean Mitchell (Florida) and Andrew Scott (Texas), with additions by AAVAG Exhibition Committee members.
As this exhibition demonstrates, there is no over-arching African American style or singular Black American aesthetic. The exhibition reflects the diverse backgrounds and different interests of the artists and includes art in in a variety of styles and media. Through personal expressions, the artists engage with and respond to different aspects of world history, African American culture and the shared legacy of African diaspora, the displacement from an ancestral land. There are also visual responses to present-day experiences, which are expressed through thought-provoking social commentaries.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a full-color catalog, available for purchase at the DAI’s Museum Store, and the exhibition’s Best in Show winner will be presented the opportunity to be featured in a 2023 Focus Exhibition at the Dayton Art Institute.
“It is exciting to bring this unique exhibition to the Dayton Art Institute and highlight both established and emerging African American artists,” said DAI Director & CEO, Michael R. Roediger. “This exhibition is a DAI exclusive, so it’s the only opportunity to see this amazingly diverse body of work. We encourage the entire community to support the exhibition and these artists!”
Several related programs and educational resources will be offered in conjunction withBlack Heritage Through Visual Rhythms. These include:
- Curatorial Conversations talk on Zoom: March 24
- Curatorial Conversations talk in person at the museum: May 7
- Interactive Virtual Community Tours on Zoom:
- March 5, 19 & 31
- April 16 & 28
- May 14, 19 & 21
- Additional sessions available upon request; contact schooltours@daytonart.orgfor more information
- Panel Discussion with members of the African American Visual Artists Guild: April 22
- ARTventures at Home: Families can download an interactive art-making guide to create a work of art inspired by the exhibition.
- At-Home Portrait Collage: Downloadable instructions to design a portrait collage inspired by the exhibition.
For more information about Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms and its related programs, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/blackheritage.
