To celebrate Juneteenth, the Dayton Art Institute has announced that it will be revealing an exhibit in partnership with the Dayton Unit NAACP that will celebrate black history through art. “Reflections In Time: Dayton Unit NAACP Celebrates History”, which will contain 16 paintings, has been handpicked by the exhibit’s curator Elijah Rashaed. The 16 paintings all come from private collections originating from all across the United States.
The exhibit focuses on celebrating the most uplifting aspects of black history, with pieces like Kim Wiggin’s “In the Midst of God” depicting a crowd of people gathering around the light of a lantern, celebrating with music and prayer beneath a crescent moon, with each star painted as a psychedelic swirl of blue and yellow and black.
Chris Roberts-Antineau’s “Sippie Wallace” portrays a beautiful depiction of an old woman in a wheelchair playing a keyboard. The piece by Roberts-Antineau was carefully crafted via fabric appliqué and thread. Each thread was carefully stitched to form a gorgeous sweater with ornate flowers adorning the elderly woman. Each finger is perfectly articulated to resemble a seasoned pianist, with the lifelike wrinkles on her sleeve popping out of the painting. Along with these two artists, the exhibition will feature the breathtaking works of artists such as Ernie Barnes Jr., Frank Morrison, Annie F. Lee, Aaron Hazel, Tim Okamura, and Tiffanie Anderson.
The collection was carefully curated with the Dayton community specifically in mind, touching on themes important to the Gem City such as education, perseverance, the arts, and the preservation of knowledge for future generations.
One of the artists featured in the exhibit, Kim Wiggins, will be giving a presentation on Aug. 8 from 3-4 P.M. Admission to the exhibit and Wiggins’ presentation is included with the general admissions ticket. Pre-registration will be required.
Ismael David Mujahid
Associate Editor