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Mayor Melvin Bradley, in partnership with Bluestone University, the Museum of African American History, and the Youth Symphony Orchestra, will present, "A Day of Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," at Metcalf Hall on the second floor of Grant Sherman Union at Bluestone University located at 775 University Avenue in New York.

This event celebrates Dr. King—the man, the minister, and the humanitarian. Come and enjoy performances of classical music, spirituals, and freedom songs by the Youth Symphony Orchestra and readings of Dr. King's words by distinguished community leaders.

Supporting Black Artists

We want to take a minute to spotlight some famous Black artists of the past and the present.

These artists did and are leaving their mark on the art scene.

Famous street artist:

Jean-Michel Basquiat

December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988)

was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement.

The legend of American art Jean-Michel Basquiat is undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. His earliest artistic influence came from anatomical drawings his mother brought him while he was recovering after a car accident. However, his biggest inspiration came from graffiti. Kicked out of his parents’ house at seventeen, Basquiat had to work odd jobs during the day so that he could paint during the night.

The art world quickly noticed Basquiat. At the age of nineteen, he was already selling upcycled clothing designs through upscale Manhattan boutiques. Yet the real rise to fame happened in his twenties when he found himself in the center of New York’s bohemian life. Basquiat’s oeuvre mixed abstract art, graffiti, poetry, and political commentary, turning him into an icon of his generation.

At 22, he became one of the youngest to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York. The Whitney Museum of American Art held a retrospective of his artwork in 1992.

Since his death at the age of 27 in 1988, Basquiat's work has steadily increased in value. In 2017, Untitled, a 1982 painting depicting a black skull with red and yellow rivulets, sold for a record-breaking $110.5 million, becoming one of the most expensive paintings ever purchased.

Click here to read an article by The Collector that takes an in depth look at Basquiat's life, art, and rise to popularity.

Zanele Muholi

South African photographer

South African photographer Zanele Muholi explores and celebrates Black queer identity. Their works are often self-portraits frequently focused on the doubled Otherness of the Black queer community. As Black people, they are subject to racism, while also not fitting into the heterosexual cisgender norm. Another focus of Muholi’s work revolves around documenting gender-based and sexuality-based violence in South Africa. This activity puts Muholi’s life and well-being at constant risk. In 2012, their apartment was robbed; the intruders took nothing but the records of Muholi’s five-year research on hate crimes against lesbians in South Africa. Muholi’s work is an intersection of art, activism, and research.

Follow them on instagram https://www.instagram.com/muholizanele/

Local Art and Celebration

Youth Art and Essay Contest

From January 15th through February 28th, view the winners of the Empower Montana's Martin Luther Kind Jr.'s Youth Art and Essay Contest in the spectrUM Discovery Area on Level Two of the Library.

EmpowerMt will highlight winners at the Missoula's Annual Community Celebration for MLK Jr. on January 20th from 4-8pm at St. Anthony's Parish

Join EmPowerMt and your local Missoula Community in celebration of MLK Jr.

As always stop on into Frame of Mind for all your Custom Framing, Art supplies and more! We look forward to seeing you.

"Because Art isn't the same without a frame"

Frame of Mind

1706 Brooks Missoula, Mt

406-549-8589

info@frameofmindmt.com