In a spirited nod to Black History Month, Detroit students are putting their creative chops on full display in an art exhibition themed "Awakening: How will you shape, change, and reimagine our future?" The Carr Center, alongside real estate firm Bedrock, kicked off the "Celebrating Black Arts" showcase at 1001 Woodward Ave, as FOX 2 Detroit.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill art exhibit, no, it's a beacon of youthful expression featuring works from 23 student artists from 10 schools across Detroit who have had the honor of having their pieces selected through a juried process to bathe the venue in creative brilliance all February long; alongside the students' work 10 adult artists, including notable names such as Yvette Rock and engineer-cum-artist Dr. Chanel Beebe, are also showcasing their genius according to a news release covered by Axios.
"The idea is excellence. There isn’t a set standard, what we’re looking for is great work of the beginning of great work," Oliver Ragsdale, president and CEO of the Carr Center, revealed in his commitment to pivoting the spotlight onto burgeoning talent, as told to FOX 2 Detroit. Ragsdale described the exhibit as an opportunity "to awaken the spirit within you, being that spirit forward through the visual medium."
The month-long affair is not limited to just the visual arts; as WXYZ notes, the venue is set to come alive with an array of events including but not limited to music and dance, film, poetry, as well as more tactile expressions like quilting and fashion, a lineup reminding us that art, indeed, is not a single melody but a symphony composing an integral part of the communal soul and cultural dialogue of Black Heritage month.
The exhibition is not just a feast for the eyes either, it's poised to stoke the embers of discussions that ask pressing questions about our society and the future we're actively crafting, an intellectual endeavor wrapped neatly in an immersive and gratuitous art experience as per details from the organizing bodies. Potential visitors eager to peruse the "Celebrating Black Arts" exhibit can do so from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and redefining weekend cultural forays are possible from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, according to the detailed schedule available on WXYZ.
