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It Takes a Nation: Art for Social Justice September 6-October 23, 2016

With Emory Douglas, and the Black Panther Party, AFRICOBRA, and Contemporary Washington Artists

Curated by Sandy Bellamy

View the exhibition catalog online

Paperboy by Emory Douglas

Courtesy of Emory Douglas, Artist Rights Society (ARS), NY. Photo courtesy of Art Resource, NY.

 

Raise Up by Douglas Thomas

Willis Thomas, Raise Up, 2013.
Bronze, 112 x 10 x 4 in.
Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, and Goodman Gallery, South Africa.

 

Justice Scales by Emory Douglas

Emory Douglas, Justice Scales
Emory Douglas / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY.
Photo courtesy: Emory Douglas / Art Resource, NY.

 

Revolutionary by Wadsworth Jarrell

Wadsworth Jarrell, Revolutionary, edition 275/300, 1972.
Serigraph on Wove paper, 26 x 33 in.
Courtesy of the artist.

 

E, Gun, Gun by Njena Jarvis

Njena Surae Jarvis, E, Gun Gun, 2016.
Leather, rubber, wool, felt, gypsum, and glass, 7.5 x 4 x 4 ft. Courtesy of the artist.

 

Exhibition Description

In the Alper Initiative space, Washington artists respond to the graphics of Black Panther artist Emory Douglas with sculpture, paintings, photography and multi-media installations. The exhibition features Emory Douglas and Howard University colleagues and members of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists ("AFRICOBRA"): Jeff Donaldson, Akili Ron Anderson, James Phillips, Jay Jarrell and Wadsworth Jarrell. Collectively, they create a powerful lens to the socio-political landscape of the late 1960s and 70s that helps to visualize the 1967 Black Panther Party 10-point platform addressing issues of freedom, employment, economic exploitation, affordable housing, education, war, police brutality, prison, due process, and access. The exhibition also includes artists examining these same issues 50 years later within a contemporary context, including: Holly Bass, Wesley Clark, Jay Coleman, Larry Cook, Tim Davis, Jamea Richmond Edwards, Shaunte Gates, Jennifer Gray, Amber Robles Gordon, Njena Jarvis, Simmie Knox, Graham Patrick, Beverly Price, Sheldon Scott, Stan Squirewell and Hank Willis Thomas.

Press

BMore Art: Black Power in Art: Black Panthers to Black Lives Matter

Take Part: Inside, an Exhibit on the Black Panthers. Outside, Protests Against Racial Bias

The Washington Post: Looking for Art Free of Politics? Don't Look Here

NPR WAMU 88.5: Exhibit Draws a Line From The Black Panthers to 'Black Lives Matter'