Black Writing

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Black Writing
Black Writing
Ayesha Hardison, curator
Joey Orr, curator
August 19, 2023–January 7, 2024
Galleries 316 and 317, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the History of Black Writing, a research center at the University of Kansas that specializes in the recovery and preservation of texts by Black writers. This exhibition extends the goals of the project’s archive of Black storytellers to include art and visual culture. Featured works by contemporary artists incorporate literature, lyrics, family lore, writing, and reading. From history and cultural erasure to songs and words of empowerment, Black Writing explores the power, politics, and complexities of language in contemporary Black culture.

This exhibition and related programming are funded by the Mellon Foundation, the Linda Inman Bailey Exhibitions Fund, and an anonymous donor.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Bethany Collins (born 1984), No Name in the Street, 1972
Bethany Collins (born 1984), No Name in the Street, 1972
Bethany Collins
No Name in the Street, 1972
2018
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Speech Sounds, 1983
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Speech Sounds, 1983
Bethany Collins
Speech Sounds, 1983
2018
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Bound, 1968
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Bound, 1968
Bethany Collins
Bound, 1968
2015
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Find, 1982
Bethany Collins (born 1984), Find, 1982
Bethany Collins
Find, 1982
2015
Jamal Cyrus (born 1973), Numerologies (class notes from Black Man in the Cosmos, Spring 71)
Jamal Cyrus (born 1973), Numerologies (class notes from Black Man in the Cosmos, Spring 71)
Jamal Cyrus
Numerologies (class notes from Black Man in the Cosmos, Spring 71)
2023
Stephanie Dinkins (born 1964), Not The Only One V1. Beta (N'TOO)
Stephanie Dinkins (born 1964), Not The Only One V1. Beta (N'TOO)
Stephanie Dinkins
Not The Only One V1. Beta (N'TOO)
2018
Carrie Schneider (born 1979), Reading Women (2012–2014) (Angela Davis edit), featuring: Abigail reading Angela Davis (An Autobiography, 1974); Christine reading Ruth Wilson Gilmore ) Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and...
Carrie Schneider (born 1979), Reading Women (2012–2014) (Angela Davis edit), featuring: Abigail reading Angela Davis (An Autobiography, 1974); Christine reading Ruth Wilson Gilmore ) Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and...
Carrie Schneider
Reading Women (2012–2014) (Angela Davis edit), featuring: Abigail reading Angela Davis (An Autobiography, 1974); Christine reading Ruth Wilson Gilmore ) Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and...
2012–2014
Fahamu Pecou (born 1975), Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream
Fahamu Pecou (born 1975), Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream
Fahamu Pecou
Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream
2023
Paul Stephen Benjamin (born 1966), Black is Beautiful
Paul Stephen Benjamin (born 1966), Black is Beautiful
Paul Stephen Benjamin
Black is Beautiful
2020–2023

Events

August 23, 2023
Social
Opening Reception: Celebrating Black Writing
5:00–6:30PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 316 Simons Gallery, 317 Perkins Central Court
August 24, 2023
Activity
Beyond the Book: "Lit" Writing
3:00–5:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art
September 10, 2023
Activity
Parable of the Sower: Oya’s Dream
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
September 10, 2023
Talk
Parable of the Sower: Oya's Dream
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
September 20, 2023
Activity
A Meditation on Octavia E. Butler's "Speech Sounds": A Collage Zine
3:00–4:30PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
September 24, 2023
Talk
Black Writing
2:00–3:00PM
October 5, 2023
Social
Grad Gathering
4:00–6:00PM
October 6, 2023
Tour
HNRS 190 Inside Museums 21620
11:00–11:50AM
Spencer Museum of Art, 315 Long Ellis Gallery, 316 Simons Gallery, 317 Perkins Central Court, 401 Loo Gallery, 405 Michaelis Gallery, 406 Stewart Gallery, 407 Kress Gallery
October 21, 2023
Activity
Reading Pointers
1:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art
October 29, 2023
Activity
Black Writing with B.L.A.C.K. Lawrence
1:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 316 Simons Gallery
November 9, 2023
Talk
"Black Writing"
10:15–11:00AM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court
November 29, 2023
Activity
KU Common Book Marathon Reading
10:00AM–5:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art
November 30, 2023
Activity
KU Common Book Marathon Reading
10:00AM–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art
November 30, 2023
Activity
Fahamu Pecou Student Lunch Conversation
12:00–1:00PM
Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center, Seminar Room, 1299 Oread Avenue
November 30, 2023
Tour
HA 166 The Visual Arts of East Asia 17590
1:00–2:15PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 315 Long Ellis Gallery, 316 Simons Gallery, 317 Perkins Central Court, 401 Loo Gallery, 405 Michaelis Gallery, 406 Stewart Gallery, 407 Kress Gallery
November 30, 2023
Talk
Artist Talk: Fahamu Pecou on Creating "Oya's Dream"
4:00–5:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 317 Perkins Central Court

Resources

Documents