Black Creativity and its signature Juried Art Exhibition will open in April for an extended run at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI). MSI has hosted the annual celebration during Black History Month for 50 years.
The Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition, the longest-running exhibit of African-American art in the nation, will be open from April 7 – July 5. The annual exhibition showcases more than 100 works by professional artists from across the nation as well as local student artists. A new feature this year will be an online art gallery, providing even more people the opportunity to view the artwork if they are unable to visit the Museum in person.
This year’s Black Creativity Innovator Gallery will celebrate the accomplishments of African-American leaders who are transforming Chicago. This distinguished group will be recognized in an onsite gallery from April 7 – July 5, and video interviews will be shared online and via MSI’s social media accounts as well. This year’s group includes:
- Ian Michael Brock, high school student and co-founder, Dream Hustle Code
- Ivy, performance poet, author
- Tonika Lewis Johnson, artist and creator of The Folded Map Project
- Chris and Zachary Slaughter, photographers, “Boarded Up Chicago: Storefront Images Days After the George Floyd Riots”
- Taylor Staten, architect, TnS Studio
A new exhibit of social impact art created during the recent Black Lives Matter protests opens April 7. Photos of Chicago street art were taken by father and son team Chris and Zachary Slaughter, who are among the 2021 Black Creativity Innovators. The gallery will also feature commissioned artwork by muralist Jamiah Calvin and local teen artists.
This winter, about 1,000 Chicago students will participate in virtual Black Creativity programs in January and February. Programs include remote Innovation Studio workshops and streamed conversations with working STEM and arts professionals called Jr. Science and Art Cafes. These culturally relevant programs are designed to expose African-American youth to opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and medicine.
Black Creativity Events
The Black Creativity Family Day celebration will be held on June 19. Guests can watch a recorded performance by poet J. Ivy and share their reflections by contributing to a written word collage. Museum admission will be free on Family Day, but capacity is limited and tickets must be reserved online in advance.
The Black Creativity Gala, planned in collaboration with a committee of prominent African-American leaders, raises money in support of Black Creativity. This year’s virtual event on April 17 will feature a digital program that includes a look at the winning works in the Juried Art Exhibition, musical performances, artist interviews, gallery tours and more. A separate ticket purchase is required for this event.
Learn more at msichicago.org/blackcreativity.
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