UMES to Host Black History Month Exhibit

“History Continues: Contemporary African-American Artists,” the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Black History Month exhibit, opens Feb. 4 with a reception from 4-6 p.m. in the Mosely Gallery.

Campus Entrance

The art display, which runs through March 10, shows “how current events and culture inform the work of contemporary African-American artists,” gallery director Susan Holt said.  “All the artists are young, emerging artists from the Baltimore/Washington area who use quite different materials, themes and approaches, yet contain some connection to the relevance of Black History.”

Artists include:  Michael Booker (University of Maryland 2012), Maya Freelon Asante (School of Museum of Fine Art in Boston 2007), Larry Cook (George Washington 2013), Shaunte Gates, Jeffrey Kent (Maryland Institute College of Art 2010) and Jamea Richmond-Edwards (Howard University 2012).

Companion events accompany the art exhibit.

Asante will be on site Feb. 3 to install a large sculpture out of brightly-colored tissue paper under the dome in the Student Services Center followed by a lecture the following day at 11 a.m. in the university’s Hazel Hall, Room 2050.

Feb. 25, from noon to 1 p.m. Holt and Dr. Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, UMES’ director of African-American studies, will host a brown bag lunch and gallery talk. The topic is, “The Relevance of Black History in Current Artistic Practice.

All events are free. The Mosely Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 410-651-7770 or visit www.moselygallery.com for more information.