District News
Celebrating Black History
Jan 31, 2018
This February, honor Black History through great art, events, and exhibits around the neighborhood for children and adults.
On Saturday, February 3 at 2:00pm, the New York Philharmonic will perform at Merkin Concert Hall as a tribute to Black History Month. The performance, Inspirations and Tributes: An African American Lineage, will explore music by Duke Ellington and other African American composers, along with Very Young Composers of the New York Philharmonic. Explore the lineage of African American composers from the past and present with this special event. Tickets range from $15 to $20 and patrons can arrive early for a chance to meet with Philharmonic musicians. Click here to read the event's program with supplemental historical details.
On Saturday, February 17 at 11:00am, head to the David Rubenstein Atrium for a free LC Kids' Storytime event: Hey Black Child by Bryan Collier. Hey Black Child is a children's picture book, illustrated by award-winning and acclaimed children's writer and illustrator Bryan Collier, based on the famous poem by the same name. This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals. This event is free and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Best for children aged 2 years to 5 years.
Also, now through Friday, February 23, to celebrate Black History Month, the NYC Parks Department will host an exhibit at the Arsenal titled Identity. This exhibit showcases works in fiber that explore imagery of people of the African Diaspora. Curated by Michelle Bishop of Harlem Needle Arts, the exhibition features pieces by nine artists who use a variety of media including embroidery, soft sculpture, quilt, and mixed media. These works illustrate self-awareness, identify, motivation, and varying backgrounds and traditions that govern the artists’ lives. Parks is also hosting a number of other free events, such as a discussion on the preservation of the Hunts Point Slave Burial Grounds and a Mardi Gras live jazz performance, focusing on history and art throughout the City to honor Black History. Click here to browse through the upcoming events.
Photo credit: Hey Black Child Book Cover by Bryan Collier