Group Art Show at Goodman South Madison Library Calls for the Re-humanization of Black Men
Wisconsin Eagle/10288152

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.

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"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.

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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.

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