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Join us with Dr.Negus Rudison-Imhotep for a documentary screening and discussion centered on the life, artistic philosophy, and cultural legacy of Dr. John T. Biggers, an influential African American artist, muralist, educator, and scholar. The screening & discussion will be at Mainframe Studios on Saturday, November 7 from 6:30-8:30pm in Studio 108. John Biggers’ Journeys—A Romance (1995), provides an opportunity to examine how African American artistic expression can function as a form of historical memory, cultural preservation, education, and community engagement. The documentary can serve as an interdisciplinary resource for examining the relationship between art, African diasporic identity, history, and social transformation.
Dr. Biggers's significance extends beyond his accomplishments as a visual artist. He founded the Art Department at Texas Southern University in 1949 and remained there for more than three decades, influencing generations of artists and educators. His body of work includes murals, paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture that engage African American life, African cultural traditions, spirituality, family, labor, migration, and historical memory. His artistic development also demonstrates the importance of intellectual mentorship. While attending Hampton Institute, Biggers studied under Viktor Lowenfeld, whose teaching encouraged students to explore the cultural heritage of their communities through artistic expression.
Following the film Dr. Rudison-Imhotep will lead a discussion. Jollof Rice & Plantains will be served.
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Event venue
Mainframe Studios, 900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA 50309-1501, United States
Tickets
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