Internationally renowned Black Panther Party artist Emory Douglas to visit WSU
A true icon, Emory Douglas served as the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, creating the artwork that became a symbol of the movement. Over the course of his career, Douglas has cemented himself as a prolific artist and activist.
The internationally renowned Black Panther Party artist will be in Detroit for a series of public events and conversations. Events include two public lectures and a creative activity for children, all free and open to the public. A ticketed fundraising event will include a screening of the short film Emory Douglas: The Art of the Black Panthers followed by the feature documentary The Eyes of the Rainbow with a discussion and reception to follow. All proceeds will go to the Emory Douglas Youth and Family Art Program (EDAP).
"The James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State University is very pleased to host and recognize Emory Douglas for his leadership and work as an activist artist," said John Richardson, professor and chair. "We acknowledge the importance of the power of images in creating social consciousness, and are thrilled to bring Emory to our campus for discussions with our students and faculty about this and other topics of critical importance."
This event is co-organized and co-sponsored by the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Black Lives Matter Detroit, Cinema Detroit and Feedom Freedom Growers.
More about Emory Douglas
Emory Douglas is most known for his leadership in the Black Panther Party and as the main illustrator for the Black Panther newspaper. His iconic images, representing Black American struggles during the 1960s and 1970s, were instrumental in providing visual messages that helped to galvanize the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, while growing the base of the Black Panther Party. His body of work continues to be a powerful example of the role of art and design in social movement organizing. Douglas was recognized in 2015 with a medal from the AIGA, the professional association for design, for his "Fearless and powerful use of graphic design in the Black Panther Party's struggle for civil rights and against racism, oppression and social injustice".
More about the Emory Douglas Youth and Family Arts Program
Founded by local activist and former Black Panther Party member Wayne Curtis, the EDAP is a burgeoning community arts program with the mission of utilizing art as a means of youth empowerment and social engagement. Children from across the city will be given access to free arts instruction and provided with the opportunity to showcase their work in a gallery space.
WSU event details:
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Time: 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Location: Bernath Auditorium, Undergraduate Library, 5155 Gullen Mall, Detroit, MI 48202
Audience: current graduate students, current undergraduate students, faculty, staff
Additional Detroit event details:
Date: Sunday, April 15, 2018
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, 315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
with Kathleen Cleaver
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Time: 6:30-11 p.m.
Location: Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
film screening of "The Eyes of the Rainbow: The Story of Assata Shakur" and a Q&A
###