Video Above- OH Art Foundation celebrating Black History Month with Lunar’s New Years
The Hero in Me
Exhibition Dates: Fri, Feb 16 – Thu, Feb 29 2024
Inspired by the indomitable spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., OH Art Foundation proudly celebrates the Black History Month by spotlighting diverse representations of heroes. Selected artists- George Tonyi, Michael Stidham, and Charles Williams Jr- share what “hero” means to them and how the heroic characters are expressed in their art.
George Tonyi, born in Lagos, Nigeria, captures the raw beauties he sees around him in his paintings. In his paintings the unity despite differences, the audacity expressed in our eyes, the strength of women, and the resilience- which are all heroic characters- are beautifully expressed.
Charles Williams Jr., a self-taught Chicago artist, shared the history of Betty Boop and what it means to him. His paintings with Betty Boop motif capture the resilience, the power of uniqueness and the power of influence.
Please join us finding and celebrating the heroic characters we each have in us. Together, let’s honor and celebrate the countless unsung heroes through the power of art.
Guest musicians Fred Jackson and Vincent Davis will perform at 7:30pm (1st floor). Come join the vibe on Friday, Feb 16th 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Fred Jackson
Saxophonist Fred Jackson has played all types of music in Chicago, from House, Funk, Jazz, Reggae, and many other genres. He has performed across Europe, including France, Poland and Germany. In 2020-21, he was awarded the “Fresh Works, New Voices” grant from the Jazz Institute of Chicago allowing him the opportunity to record his latest album of original compositions, Genre. Nowadays, he continues to work on his publishing label, Spacetonic Music and works with ensembles including Magic Carpet (Chicago), Sitarist (Shanta Nuerulla of the AACM), Adam Zanolini’s Heliacal Rising of Sothi, Mai Sugimoto Quartet, AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble (directed by Mwata Bowden), his band Erudition Project and newest ensemble “Where’s Charlie”.
Vincent Davis
Vincent Davis, born in Chicago is an internationally acclaimed jazz percussionist, composer and teacher. The seed of music was planted in Davis early, growing up in a home filled with the influences of rock, jazz and gospel. In 1979 Davis left Chicago to attend the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music, where his love of jazz and skill at drumming further bloomed and flourished. It was here that Davis met his mentor Manty Ellis. Davis trained and studied with Ellis, primarily focusing on Jazz trap drumming.
“Shine like a Diamond” Childen and Youth Artworks
Explore artworks created by students from the OH Art Education program. Inspired by the Big Hole in South Africa, reputed to be the deepest hand-excavated hole, students engaged in discussions about the transformative journey of black coals into diamonds under extreme pressure and temperature. The featured artworks vividly capture the students’ self-reflection on the essence of “Shining like a diamond!
