BCC, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette collaborate to bring art exhibit to town
Local residents Ying Larimore and Steve Durbin talk with LaToya Hobbs, a Purdue master of fine arts candidate in painting and printmaking, at the opening reception for the "Emerging Women Artists" exhibit at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons)
Purdue's Black Cultural Center and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette have come together to bring a new art exhibition, "Parallel Narratives," to the community.
Renee Thomas, director of the BCC, says, "The art museum was seeking to expand the diversity of its patrons, and we wanted to showcase the works of renowned African American artists to the Lafayette community. I anticipate that the exhibition will attract people from different generations, backgrounds and socio-economic statuses."
"Parallel Narratives", on display now through March 19, features works by two Chicago artists, Preston Jackson and Joyce Owens. Jackson is a professor of sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago. Owens is curator at the galleries programs at Chicago State University.
"We are thrilled the exhibition will be available throughout Black History Month," Thomas says. "It teaches us many things about our history, including the wonderful diversity found in African American culture."
"Parallel Narratives" is the first exhibition at the Art Museum to make use of Quick Response technology. When scanned with a smart phone, the QR code directs users to a webpage providing additional information on the exhibition's two featured artists.
A companion exhibition, "New Visions: Emerging African American Women Artists," features works by Saade Taylor, a Purdue alumna; LaToya Hobbs, a Purdue master of fine arts candidate in painting and printmaking; and Channie Jones, a Purdue undergraduate student studying visual arts education. "New Visions" will run through March 10.
"When we were pulling together the 'Parallel Narratives' exhibition, I thought it was important to feature nationally known artists but also wanted to showcase local talent from the Purdue community," Thomas says. "March is Women's History Month, so it was appropriate to identify female artists."
To complement both exhibitions, BCC and the art museum will present IU Health Arnett Family Day from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the museum. Activities including African drumming, storytelling and dance will be available throughout the afternoon.
