Arthur Bennett Hall

40 Giving Artists Make Murals and Black History

Black history will be made Thursday, February 4^th at Arthur Bennett Hall in Brooklyn with the opening of “Artists Speaking for the Spirits,” an exhibition of mural-sized paintings by 40 artists of African ancestry. The show, thought to be the largest of its kind involving artists of color, is the premier project of ARTCURIAN, a groundbreaking artist/social agency collaboration delivering services to those in need. Trombonist Dick Griffin will perform at the opening, with singer/guitarist Vivian Ara and her band. (Ara and Griffin are also participating visual artists.)

Among the established and emerging artists participating are: James Denmark, Otto Neals, Betty Blayton, Emmett Wigglesworth, Stanwyck Cromwell, Dindga McCannon, Che Baraka, Ademola Olugebefola, Herbert Bennett, Ramona Candy, Wilda Gonzalez, Robert Daniels and others. Their work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, National Museum of Ghana, Spellman College, Sidney Poitier, David Rockefeller and others.

ARTCURIAN is a project of the Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation and its affiliate, Urban Resource Institute (ARTC-URI). Artists were offered canvas, materials and studio space and are donating a significant percentage of sales to enhance the institution’s services. Several are also conducting volunteer workshops for the developmentally disabled.

Opening weekend exhibition hours are: Fri, 11-5, Sat and Sun 3-6. Artist talks begin at 4pm each Sunday in February. First up is “New Beginnings,” a talk with artists new to mural-painting and discussion of great muralists of color in history. The remaining Black History Month schedule is: Thurs-Fri 11-5 and Sun 3-6. Visitors and school groups are welcome by appointment. For info visit www.artcurian.org. RSVP for the reception at 718-260-2909. Arthur Bennett Hall is at 22 Chapel Street near Jay St., between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.