The ground level exhibit hall of the Broad Museum filled with celebrities, famed artists, collectors, and list of downtown elite not to mention the many magnificent works of the artists involved within Soul of a Nationâs traveling exhibit.
As with any opening night gala hosted by Eli and Edythe Broad came plenty of Red Carpet photo ops, commentaries, upscale guests, designer fashions, lite bites and Champagne toasts.
However, of all the celebrities in attendance and valuable artistic works on display one might argue Jay Zâs appearance managed to capture the most shine. Photos across social media show the former rap music producer turned billionaire entertainment industry mogul, who has pieces of his own art collection in the exhibit, posing seemingly with almost everyone in attendance.
Despite the obvious fanfare that a celebrity of that caliber may bring, the exhibit still holds its own prowess as part of programming at the Broad and is strikingly eerie at times. White walls host framed monuments of a Black America held hostage by troubled times during our nation’s growth.
James Brownâs âSay it Loud, Iâm Black and Iâm Proud!â and Gil Scott Hearingâs âRevolution Wonât Be Televisedâ mixed into the background, the atmosphere was festive yet still in a sublime way controversial to say the least.
The exhibit which showcases the works of artists from 1963 to 1983 pulls no punches when unveiling the struggles and triumphs of Civil Rights Era, chronologizing American Blacks finest the age of empowerment stopping just short of its metamorphosis into the debilitating era that would follow, Americaâs War on Drugs.
Also, with the traveling show first opening a month after the Charlottesville Klan rally in NY and with crime, death and birth rate statistics for the American Black seemingly mirroring the past, one may feel a new exhibit is in order with artists assembled to portray just how far or how not far weâve come as a nation when it comes to the American Black.
Yet, when all else fails entertainment takes precedence as proven with Jay Z, Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson attending, bringing in most of the media and the crowd’s attention. Including ours. The star-studded event also hosted Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Sacha Baron Cohen, Isla Fisher, Michael Ealy, Fran Drescher, Lisa Edelstein, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Debbie Allen.
But hey, celebrity attendance canât be bad for exposure when it comes to the artists and curators involved.
DTLA Has Done it Again!!!
The exhibit exquisitely prepared by curators Mark Godfrey (Senior Curator, International Art, Tate Modern) & Zoe Whitley (Curator, International Art, Tate Modern); and Sarah Loyer (Associate Curator, The Broad); along with Bridget R. Cooks (Associate Professor, African American Studies and Art History, UC Irvine), was applauded by Joanne Heyler (Founding Director, The Broad) and other Board members in attendance.
Notable American artists and works include Saar, Barkley L. Hendricksâ 1969 naked self-portrait, Norman Lewis, and Alma Thomas. Jack Whitten wonât let viewers forget revolutionaries with âHomage to Malcolm X,â nor will many other images of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, or Angela Davis, mixed in with artistic portrayals of lynchings, marches, and hard-fought liberations.
Other artists include Purifoy, Hammons, John Outterbridge, and Melvin Edwards. Installations and 3D works including a large black pyramid textured with an Afro pick comb also amaze.
The exhibit fully entitled âSoul Of a Nation – Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983, features roughly 150 works by more than 60 artists, including some non-American Black artists (painter Alice Neel, Japanese photographer Ruiko Yoshida and poet Hajime Kijima) is on display March 23rd to September1st. The Broad is offering free admission to Soul of a Nation every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., LA CA 90012.
For more information please visit www.thebroad.org
