“To Be Young, Gifted and Black in the Age of Obama” is an art exhibition featuring new drawings by eight African American visual artists responding to writings from the Black Arts Movement of the late 1960s.  The exhibition will be held at the Kentler International Drawing Space in Red Hook, Brooklyn from Friday, September 7 through Sunday, October 21, 2012.  The exhibition features the work of Alonzo Edwards, Duron Jackson, Yashua Klos, Jasmine Murrell, Jamea Richmond-Edwards, Senghor Reid, Alexandria Smith, and Matthew Thomas; and is curated by Camille Ann Brewer.

All born after the early 1970s, the artists in this exhibition were asked to read selected writings from the Black Arts Movement (BAM), the artistic branch of the Black Power movement, and create drawings in response to the readings.  The writings included articles on the AfriCOBRA aesthetic, “Black is a Color” by Raymond Sanders, and others.  The artists explored several questions.  Given the rich history of BAM that defined cultural aesthetics in many art forms during a specific time period in American history, what does it mean for African American artists, who were not born during the time of the BAM, to be young, gifted and Black in the age of an Obama presidency?  What is the response of young, educated African American artists today working in an “art world” that, in most cases, has shunned their voices?  Yet, in the months leading up to the 2012 U.S. Presidential election, why is the national dialogue asserting that the nation has moved passed institutionalized racism and that the country has moved into a “Post-Black” era?

The opening reception will be held Friday, September 7 from 6-8PM.  All the artists are planning to attend.  A curator’s talk will be held Sunday, September 23 at 4PM.  The public is invited.  All events are FREE.  Kentler International Drawing Space is located at 353 Van Brunt Street (cross street is Wolcott), Red Hook.  See www.kentlergallery.org for directions.  For more information call 718.875.2098.