Trending...
- L.A. County Board of Supervisors Recognizes Amapola Market for Outstanding Community Philanthropy
- The Ergo Company presents Old Righteous Blues A Compelling South African Tale
- Comp U Floor ERP vs. FloorZap: Discover the Best Flooring Business Software
MADISON, WI ~ Madison, WI - The Bubbler at Madison Public Library is excited to announce the opening of a new group art show at Goodman South Madison Library on Monday, November 18. Titled "I AM A Man: The Re-humanization of Black Men," the exhibition is curated by renowned painter and mixed media artist Sharon Bjyrd. Along with Bjyrd's work, the show will feature pieces from five other visual artists, including illustrator and painter Jerry Jordan, painter and activist DaRen Morris, watercolor painter Alice Traore, muralist The Artist, and studio artist and pottery instructor Shandra Bjyrd.
The exhibit draws inspiration from the iconic "I AM A Man" slogan that emerged during the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. This powerful phrase was a protest against the dangerous and degrading conditions that Black workers were forced to endure. While Sharon's previous art has focused on celebrating the beauty and dignity of Black women, a visit to the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis shifted her perspective.
According to Sharon, this experience made her acutely aware of the stark difference in how Black men face life-altering consequences due to racial macro-aggression. As someone who has close relationships with Black men in her life, including her father, brother, uncle, and son, she felt compelled to use her art to re-humanize them. Through this carefully curated selection of works, she hopes to spark conversations about the intrinsic worth of Black men within their families, communities, and society as a whole.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
"This is a celebration of their strength, resilience, and joy - a tribute to the men who came before us and those who are shaping our future," said Bjyrd. "This is for all the Black men in my life and for those who deserve to be seen and honored for who they are: fully human, fully worthy."
The Bubbler at Madison Public Library put out a call for exhibitions in January 2024 and received an overwhelming response of over 65 submissions. After a rigorous selection process, this show was chosen to be a part of the library's exhibition series. Trent Miller, Head Bubblerarian for Madison Public Library, hopes that this exhibition will generate important conversations and encourage people to learn more about the history behind its inspiration.
"I love how this exhibition uses the iconic 'I AM A Man' slogan to connect past stories, present realities, and future hopes," said Miller. "Each artist involved has brought their unique and personal perspectives to this important show that every Madisonian should take the time to experience."
The exhibition will run from November 18 - February 28 and will include three community events where attendees can engage with the themes of the artwork in intentional ways. These events will feature community conversations, comments from the exhibiting artists, and specially selected playlists chosen by each artist to accompany their work.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
The dates for these events are as follows:
- December 5, 6-7:30pm at Goodman South Madison Library
- January 18, 1-4pm at Goodman South Madison Library
- February 20, 6-7:30pm at Goodman South Madison Library
No registration is required for these events.
In addition to these events, several other Bubbler partners will be returning to help amplify the exhibition. Attendees can expect performances from a play written by Madison-based poet and social artist Charles Payne called "Da Classroom Ain't Enuf," which debuted earlier this year at Broom Street Theater. There will also be a display of a recent mural project called "We Wish You Knew," created by students at the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) in Dane County as part of the Bubbler's Making Justice program. This program provides opportunities for at-risk and court-involved teens to engage in community-based learning through workshops and artist-in-residence opportunities. The mural combines the students' wishes for themselves with what they wish people knew about them, serving as a reminder to viewers to listen to their personal narratives.
Attendees can also participate in printmaking activities with Pinney Library Artist-in-Residence Phil Hassett, who will connect the original posters and slogan from the 1968 "I AM A Man" strike to new posters that support and encourage local Black men. Event-goers will have the opportunity to print posters with slogans such as "Black Man You Are Loved" and "Black Man You Are Valued."
To learn more about the exhibition and read full artist bios, visit madisonbubbler.org/exhibitions. Bubbler exhibitions are made possible by the support of Dane Arts and Friends of the Madison Public Library.
The exhibit draws inspiration from the iconic "I AM A Man" slogan that emerged during the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. This powerful phrase was a protest against the dangerous and degrading conditions that Black workers were forced to endure. While Sharon's previous art has focused on celebrating the beauty and dignity of Black women, a visit to the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis shifted her perspective.
According to Sharon, this experience made her acutely aware of the stark difference in how Black men face life-altering consequences due to racial macro-aggression. As someone who has close relationships with Black men in her life, including her father, brother, uncle, and son, she felt compelled to use her art to re-humanize them. Through this carefully curated selection of works, she hopes to spark conversations about the intrinsic worth of Black men within their families, communities, and society as a whole.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
- Macy Alex Photography Hosts Art Showcase and Fundraiser Benefiting Giving Grace
- ONI KAI NINJUTSU Opens Flagship Martial Arts Dojo in Pollock Pines, CA
- Madison: RESCHEDULED: City Invites Public to Celebrate its New Autumn Ridge Path
- Madison: Buy Local This Holiday Season
- Madison: City Invites Public to Celebrate its New Autumn Ridge Path
"This is a celebration of their strength, resilience, and joy - a tribute to the men who came before us and those who are shaping our future," said Bjyrd. "This is for all the Black men in my life and for those who deserve to be seen and honored for who they are: fully human, fully worthy."
The Bubbler at Madison Public Library put out a call for exhibitions in January 2024 and received an overwhelming response of over 65 submissions. After a rigorous selection process, this show was chosen to be a part of the library's exhibition series. Trent Miller, Head Bubblerarian for Madison Public Library, hopes that this exhibition will generate important conversations and encourage people to learn more about the history behind its inspiration.
"I love how this exhibition uses the iconic 'I AM A Man' slogan to connect past stories, present realities, and future hopes," said Miller. "Each artist involved has brought their unique and personal perspectives to this important show that every Madisonian should take the time to experience."
The exhibition will run from November 18 - February 28 and will include three community events where attendees can engage with the themes of the artwork in intentional ways. These events will feature community conversations, comments from the exhibiting artists, and specially selected playlists chosen by each artist to accompany their work.
More on Wisconsin Eagle
- The Shot Heard Around the Business World – And the Heroes of American Business
- CUMIC Listed Among Forbes China Go-International Top 30 Brand
- HoverGrease 2 Kicks Off their Steam Wishlist Page with a Surprise Reveal Trailer
- Work 365 Now Available on Pax8 Marketplace, Empowering MSPs with Enhanced CSP Management
- VerifyTreatment Expands Its Salesforce Functionality with Cyntexa's Expertise
The dates for these events are as follows:
- December 5, 6-7:30pm at Goodman South Madison Library
- January 18, 1-4pm at Goodman South Madison Library
- February 20, 6-7:30pm at Goodman South Madison Library
No registration is required for these events.
In addition to these events, several other Bubbler partners will be returning to help amplify the exhibition. Attendees can expect performances from a play written by Madison-based poet and social artist Charles Payne called "Da Classroom Ain't Enuf," which debuted earlier this year at Broom Street Theater. There will also be a display of a recent mural project called "We Wish You Knew," created by students at the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) in Dane County as part of the Bubbler's Making Justice program. This program provides opportunities for at-risk and court-involved teens to engage in community-based learning through workshops and artist-in-residence opportunities. The mural combines the students' wishes for themselves with what they wish people knew about them, serving as a reminder to viewers to listen to their personal narratives.
Attendees can also participate in printmaking activities with Pinney Library Artist-in-Residence Phil Hassett, who will connect the original posters and slogan from the 1968 "I AM A Man" strike to new posters that support and encourage local Black men. Event-goers will have the opportunity to print posters with slogans such as "Black Man You Are Loved" and "Black Man You Are Valued."
To learn more about the exhibition and read full artist bios, visit madisonbubbler.org/exhibitions. Bubbler exhibitions are made possible by the support of Dane Arts and Friends of the Madison Public Library.
0 Comments
Latest on Wisconsin Eagle
- Comp U Floor ERP vs. FloorZap: Discover the Best Flooring Business Software
- 418,000 Kids Aged 0-5 on Psych Drugs: Campaign for "De-Prescribing"
- Rising Stars Romulus First Debuts Genre-Bending Album "Reality"
- Inspiring the Full Arch Industry: Dr. James Fetsch Speaks At The Full Arch Growth Conference 2024
- The Score Album for "The Lost Weekend: A Love Story" Released Today
- Youth Group Makes History as First Visitors to National Electronics Museum
- Pololikashvili runs for re-election as UN Tourism Secretary General for 2026-2029 term
- Shape the Future of OpenSSL: Election Period Open Now!
- LIB Empowers Uzbekistan's Automotive Industry: A New Era of Quality Assurance
- TijaraIQ.com Launches as Iraq's Free Marketplace for Buying, Selling, and Creating Opportunities
- Big News!! Best Sac Homes Group Partners with LPT Realty
- Juventix Regenerative Medical PRP Highlighted in University-Published Research Study
- Dale Sorensen Real Estate Names Donna Browning Vice President of Sales, Announcing Her Return to the Company
- Dr. Barrie Matthews of Big Sky Smile Center Speaks at the Full Arch Growth Conference, Inspiring Dentists Nationwide
- Dr. Sathish Palayam Speaks at the Full Arch Growth Conference, Sharing Insights to Revolutionize Patient Care!
- Donors and Recipients of Nashville Chopin's Metro School Piano Donation Program Announced
- Loyal American Airlines Passenger and Son of 33-Year Employee Files Legal Action Against Airline for Racial Bias, Unlawful Ban, and Injustice
- OneSolution® Dental Implant Centers Offers Advanced Zygomatic Dental Implant Solutions
- Keynote Speaker Hub Announced its Merger with Synerlead
- Pittsburgh Professional Women invites all Women and Allies to MONEY CLUB