Dayton Art Institute Host Juried Exhibition Featuring Contemporary African American Art
Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, presented in collaboration with African American Visual Artists Guild, will be on view February 26–May 22
Dayton Art Institute Host Juried Exhibition Featuring Contemporary African American Art
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has partnered with Dayton’s own African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG) to present the juried exhibition Black 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 Rhythms organized 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 Rhythms exhibition 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 with Black 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.org for 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.
The exhibition is made possible in part by the generous support of Benefactor Sponsor AES Ohio Foundation; Supporting Sponsors Norman and Mary Rita Weissman; Supporting Media Sponsor ThinkTV PBS; Community Partners African-American Community Fund’s John and Hester Moore General Purpose Fund, The Dayton Foundation, Infinite Management Solutions, and Bob Ross Auto Group and the Norma J. Ross Memorial Foundation; with Additional Support from The Dayton Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and University of Dayton.
Admission to Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms is included in the museum’s general admission, which includes access to all Focus and Special Exhibitions currently on view, as well as the museum collection galleries. General admission is $15 adults; $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more); $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17); and free for children (ages 6 & younger). Admission is free for museum members. Membership information can be found online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership.
Other current and upcoming Focus Exhibitions at the museum include Fired Imagination: Ancient Chinese Ceramics from the Nancy and Ed Rosenthal Family Collection, currently on view through July 24, Beyond the Woodblock, currently on view through March 6, and Van Gogh & European Landscapes, on view March 5–September 4.
Since these are works by active artists, many of the items in Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms are available to collectors through the African American Visual Artists Guild. Information will be available at the DAI’s Guest Services Desk or by contacting Andrea Cummings with AAVAG at asc2507@yahoo.com. The DAI does not participate in, nor benefit from, the sale of art on display; the individual artists benefit.
For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours, updates and COVID-19 safety protocols, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos and exclusive offers.
