Reimagining Black Identity, Strength, and Vulnerability Music Performance

"Art is Business"  February 21, 2025   

This art exhibit explores the multifaceted healing nature of Black identity, shedding light on the complex intersections of strength, vulnerability, history, and future within the Black experience. We invite artists of all mediums—visual art, sculpture, photography, performance, and beyond—to submit works that address the evolving narrative of Blackness in contemporary society.

The exhibit will showcase pieces that reframe traditional representations, inviting viewers to engage with themes of resilience, introspection, liberation, and the ever-shifting contours of identity. Artists are encouraged to challenge stereotypes and preconceived notions of Blackness, emphasizing the beauty and power of embracing vulnerability and quiet strength in moments of resistance, defiance, and healing.

We are looking for works that speak to the full range of Black-lived experiences, capturing both the triumphs and the struggles, the joy and the pain, the collective memory and individual expression. The exhibit aims to create space for reflection, dialogue, and healing while embracing the depth and complexity that define Blackness.

This exhibit will offer a new, unapologetically authentic, challenging, and transformative vision by reimagining Black identity healing, strength, and vulnerability. Artists are encouraged to draw upon personal narratives, cultural history, and current social movements to inspire their work, creating an environment where art becomes a tool for collective healing, liberation, and empowerment.

Exploring legacy: must-see Black History Month art and culture in Sacramento

"Art is Business"  SacObserver.com , by Solving Sacramento February 14, 2025

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum Founder Shonna McDaniels

 in front of a museum art display. The SOJO Museum in 

Sacramento is known for its extensive collection of historical Black art. (Photo by Diane Mitchell)

Founded by visual artist and community leader Shonna McDaniels, the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum is a cultural jewel housed in Sacramento’s Florin Square, a historic hub and marketplace designed around Pan-Africanism. 

Guided by the Ghanaian principle of “Sankofa” — meaning to “go back and fetch it” — the museum encourages visitors to delve into the past to better understand the present.

“We have to go back and fetch what was lost. Everyone needs to know about Africans' contributions to the world. Most people do not know the truth,” McDaniels said.

McDaniels’ journey to become an art activist began in childhood. “My parents believed having a strong sense of identity was essential. Our home was filled with Black art,” said McDaniels, who grew up in Sacramento. “I attended Shule Jumamosa [an African-centred school] in Oak Park in 1971, where we learned Swahili, celebrated Kwanzaa, and practiced African dance.”

A journey through history

A display depicts the Transatlantic Slave Trade on view at the 

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum. (Photo by Diane Mitchell)

Walking into the museum feels like stepping into a living timeline. It features installations that spark conversation. One standout is the “Golden Milk Project,” designed by McDaniels herself. This installation confronts the historical practice of enslaved African women being forced to breastfeed the children of their enslavers.

“There’s a strong connection formed when a mother breastfeeds her baby — recognizing the mother’s face, feeling nurtured and taking in all the benefits of the milk,” McDaniels said. “But these women’s own children were neglected, as they were denied the same nurturing from their mothers.”

Youth docent and Sacramento City College student Myana Myrica in the 

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum. (Photo by Diane Mitchell)

This installation is one of many exhibits at the museum that offers a powerful and unique portrayal of the Black experience — and youth docents are often onsite to provide their insights into the space.

Youth docent and Sacramento City College student Myana Myrica often begins her tours by encouraging visitors to breathe in preparation for the heavy emotions the museum may evoke. “Breathing and being in the space with each other allows us to feel connected and know we’re not alone,” she said. 

The museum’s visual journey begins in ancient Africa, with statues depicting ancestors, animals, and deities, symbolizing humanity’s origins. Some art installations also challenge current narratives of the transatlantic slave trade, such as Lee McCormick’s mixed-media piece portraying the harrowing journey of enslaved Africans, a haunting reminder that Africans in the Americas were stolen and did not immigrate here merely as workers.

Why it matters

Despite the cultural and historical significance of the SOJO Museum — the only of its kind in Sacramento that focuses on Black history and art — increased patronization could help its longevity, according to McDaniels.

Ancient African Art at the 

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum (Photo by Diane Mitchell)

“We need everyone involved to ensure the museum is being supported. Currently, we do not have it,” McDaniels said. “We’re the only museum of this nature training children as docents. Now, our efforts are being duplicated around the world.”

“As we enter a time when accessing information about diverse people or thoughts is being challenged, exposure to art and literature becomes even more critical,” artist Daphne Burgess, whose work “Snappin’ Beans” is displayed at the museum, said. “Spaces like the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum are essential, and Black History Month is the perfect time to support them.

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

Art beyond the museum

For those seeking even more artistic engagement this Black History Month, 

Sacramento offers two other significant events:

The “Golden Milk Project,” designed by Shonna McDaniels, is an installation at the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum that confronts the historical practice of enslaved African women being forced to breastfeed the children of their enslavers. (Photo by Diane Mitchell)

August Wilson's Fences will be at Celebration Arts from Feb. 14 to March 2. This powerful play explores the complex dynamics of race, family, and dreams deferred. Known for its gripping storytelling, Fences is a must-see for those who appreciate theatre’s role in social commentary.

Gerald “GOS” Simpson's “Urban Abstractions: A Solo Exhibition” is on view at Arthouse on R Gallery & Studios from now through March 3. Simpson’s work explores urban life through vibrant colors and abstract forms.

Arthouse on R Gallery & Studios is open Monday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics and protocols, the city had no editorial influence over this story, and no city official had reviewed it before it was published. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer, and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.

Bridgeport’s Zhou B Art Center Hosting Black History Month Festival Of The Arts

"Art is Business" reposted: by Grace Xue,   January 17, 2025, Bridgeport, Chinatown, McKinley Park

Bridgeport’s Zhou B Art Center Hosting Black History Month Festival Of The Arts

The local non-profit OH Art Foundation is bringing 27 African American artists together for a month of visual art and live performances.

Visitors looking at artwork at Zhou B Art Center Credit: Provided/Facebook

BRIDGEPORT — Twenty-seven African American artists will transform the Zhou B Art Center this Friday as the OH Art Foundation launches its inaugural Black History Month Festival of the Arts.

The festival, hosted by the Bridgeport-based nonprofit, invites visitors to explore reimagined themes of identity, strength, and vulnerability through diverse artistic expressions, ranging from paintings to orchestral compositions.

“In The Valley of The Sun” and other works by Bronzeville-based acrylic artist Jeffery Beckham will be featured in the Black History Month Arts Festival. Credit: Provided

The opening-night celebration starts at 7 p.m. Friday and will include musical performances by Marvin Hathaway, the Ari Brown Quintet, and Emoni Brown-Bey. Another reception on Feb. 21 will feature performances by Taalib-Din Ziyad, Coco Elysses and Draizig, Edward Wilkerson Jr., and Donovan Mixon. More information is available on the OH Art Foundation website.

“In The Valley of The Sun” and other works by Bronzeville-based acrylic artist Jeffery Beckham will be featured in the Black History Month Arts Festival. Credit: Provided

The OH Art Foundation has become a vital addition to the cultural fabric of Bridgeport and Chicago’s South Side. Located in the Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W 35th St. — a former industrial building transformed by the Zhou brothers into a creative hub in 2004 — the foundation continues to expand the center’s artistic legacy.

InJung Oh, daughter-in-law of the elder Zhou brother, founded the OH Art Foundation; the name stands for “Open Horizon,” reflecting its mission to inspire creativity and broaden perspectives through diverse cultural arts.

Since founding the organization in 2013, Oh said she has been exploring ways to celebrate cultural diversity through the arts. After the pandemic, she envisioned hosting festivals during various cultural heritage months. However, initially relying solely on personal funding, she said the organization struggled to finance even a single festival.

The Black History Month Festival of Arts exhibition space by OH Art Foundation is on the second floor of Zhou B Art Center. Credit: Grace Xue/Block Club Chicago

In 2023, after receiving grants from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Illinois Arts Council, the foundation celebrated its first Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival of the Arts. After that success, the foundation added a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration last year.

With this year’s Black History Month festival, Oh said she hopes to establish these three cultural celebrations as annual traditions as she continues applying for grants for future years.

“Living in Bridgeport for the past 15 years, I’ve seen many changes in its cultural diversity,” Oh said. “In the past, you didn’t see many artists of color, but now, places like the Bridgeport storage have turned into an art center, and the Ramova Theatre just opened last year … It’s really good to have community leaders who believe in us and want to support the arts in the neighborhood.”

Staff installing artwork for the Black History Month Festival of Arts on the second floor of Zhou B Art Center. Credit: Grace Xue/Block Club Chicago

“Reimagining Black Identity”

Renee Baker, a celebrated visual artist, composer, curator, and co-curator Wisdom Baty, curated the exhibition, “Reimagining Black Identity, Strength and Vulnerability.”

Baker emphasizes the importance of showcasing the range of Black art, from abstract works to performance art, challenging monolithic stereotypes that limit Black art to representations of Black people.

“The Black imagination is limitless,” she said. “It was gratifying to see that Black artists, like all artists, were not allowing themselves to be pigeonholed because the expressions were all across the spectrum.”

“Father I Stretch My Hands” by Bronzeville-based acrylic artist Jefferey Beckham. Credit: Provided

Among the featured artists is Jeffery Beckham, a Bronzeville-based acrylic artist and CEO of Chicago Scholars. His contributions include “TU Flyboys,” a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen; “In The Valley of The Sun,” a work dedicated to brotherhood and sisterhood; and “Father I Stretch My Hands,” which depicts a poignant moment of a Black child in prayer.

“Wanting to have works that reflected the power and the beauty of the black community, I thought of these three pieces when InJung and I talked about reimagining black identity, strength and vulnerability, you kind of get a little bit of all in each work,” Beckham said.

Visitors looking at artwork at Zhou B Art Center. Credit: Provided/Facebook

Baker is not only curating will also present her work “Dark Symphony: Movement Three,” a large-scale graphic score designed for orchestra, painted in acrylic on canvas.

As the interim chair of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Baker has partnered with Oh to bring six live performances to the opening day and on Feb. 21. These experimental soundscapes will complement the visual works, creating an immersive experience for attendees.

“I’m hoping that people come with little expectation,” Baker said. “Just come and take in the product of all these Black minds that took the time to create and put their expressions on paper or canvas.”

Oh acknowledges the financial challenges many artists face and emphasizes the importance of compensating all creative contributors despite the festival's modest budget.

“As an artist myself, being able to run this program and give back to artists, taking care of them and seeing this long-held vision finally manifesting, is incredibly exciting,” she said.

Poster of Black History Month Festival of Arts by the OH Art Foundation at Zhou B Art Center. Credit: Grace Xue/Block Club Chicago

The Black History Month Festival of the Arts runs from Friday through March 16 at OH Art Foundation on the second floor of Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St.

Admission is free, inviting all to explore and celebrate the rich tapestry of African American culture and creativity. Visit the exhibition website for information and a complete list of featured artists.

“Reimagining Black Identity, Strength, and Vulnerability”

"Art is Business" https://ohartfoundation.org/.

Celebrating Black History Month, OH Art Foundation presents an opening reception on January 17h, 2025, and a Closing reception on February 21st, 2025, with OH Art Foundation at Zhou B Art Center in Chicago. The visual exhibition was curated by Renee Bakers and Wisdom Baty and promises to be a significant celebration of Black History Month, showcasing 27 selected visual artists 

6 Music performances selected by Jeff Chen, 

Selected Artists:  Takako Konishi, Alexy Irving, Margot McMahon, Le'Trice Buckingham, Alpha Bruton, Arlene Turner-Crawford, Grandeast Wright, Lavon Pettis, Alexandra Henderson, Wisdom Baty, Malika Jackson, Summer Coleman, Andrea Hill Fitzgerald, Jason Campbell, Lenin Delsol,

Nichole Masani Landfair, Isaiah Afrumu, Safiya Mirsberger Tolson, Dysen White, Scout Cartagena, Sebastian Sandu, Sharmarke Ahmed, Jeffery Beckham, Christopher Williams, Nolan W. McCants, Renee' Baker, Brandy Kent.

Music Performance Schedule January 17, 2025

Marvin Hathaway

The Ari Brown Quartet

Emoni Brown-Bey

February 21, 2025

Taalib-Din Ziyad

Coco Elysses and Draizig

Edward Wilkerson Jr. and Donovan Mixon

Thank you, Renee Baker of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, for matching donations to support musicians.

Oh Art Foundation

Zhou B. Art Center

1029 W. 35th St.

Chicago, IL 60609

773-569-8582 

Curators: Renee Baker and Wisdom Baty

This art exhibit explores the multifaceted healing nature of Black identity, shedding light on the complex intersections of strength, vulnerability, history, and future within the Black experience. The exhibit will showcase pieces that reframe traditional representations, inviting viewers to engage with themes of resilience, introspection, liberation, and the ever-shifting contours of identity.

Location: OH Art Foundation 2nd fl of Zhou B Art Center, 
1029 W. 35th St. Chicago, IL 60609
Exhibition Dates:  1/17/25- 3/16/25 

This art exhibit explores the multifaceted healing nature of Black identity, shedding light on the complex intersections of strength, vulnerability, history, and future within the Black experience. We invite artists of all mediums—visual art, sculpture, photography, performance, and beyond—to submit works that address the evolving narrative of Blackness in contemporary society.

The exhibit will showcase pieces that reframe traditional representations, inviting viewers to engage with themes of resilience, introspection, liberation, and the ever-shifting contours of identity. Artists are encouraged to challenge stereotypes and preconceived notions of Blackness, emphasizing the beauty and power of embracing vulnerability and quiet strength in moments of resistance, defiance, and healing.

We are looking for works that speak to the full range of Black-lived experiences, capturing both the triumphs and the struggles, the joy and the pain, the collective memory and individual expression. The exhibit aims to create space for reflection, dialogue, and healing while embracing the depth and complexity that define Blackness.

This exhibit will offer a new, unapologetically authentic, challenging, and transformative vision by reimagining Black identity healing, strength, and vulnerability. Artists are encouraged to draw upon personal narratives, cultural history, and current social movements to inspire their work, creating an environment where art becomes a tool for collective healing, liberation, and empowerment.