Not all aspects of black history are captured on a page. The LSU Museum of Art is co-hosting an event celebrating Black History Month with art to show children what they may not see in school.
Participants will make pieces such as collages, paintings, silhouettes, murals, beads and quilts. This event is part of the Neighborhood Arts Project, a sessional outreach program of the museum.
For this special Neighborhood Arts Project session, the LSU Museum of Art is partnering with the Gardere Initiative. The Gardere Initiative is a coalition of stakeholders who address the spiritual and social needs of residents in the Gardere community.
Southern University and A&M College psychology professor Murelle Harrison works with the initiative and will be helping to organize the day’s event. She believes the goal of the activity is to celebrate the contributions of African-Americans through the years.
“Unfortunately, the history of these contributions have been largely neglected in school history textbooks,” Harrison said. “Therefore, it is incumbent upon communities to highlight these contributions, to inform the younger generation of their rich heritage.”
Residents will be able to use their creativity to enhance pictures of noted African-Americans, including Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Thurgood Marshall. There will also be music and dance during the celebration.
Harrison wants to involve as many residents as possible in the planning and organizing of this event, as it is an event heavily based on the betterment of the community.
She encourages all residents and community members to participate, because it is a chance to commemorate and remember the accomplishments of African-Americans, especially during Black History Month.
“It is a celebration of our people,” Harrison said. “As African-Americans, we are where we are because we stand on the shoulders of all those who came before us.”
Harrison said despite the troubling history of African-Americans in this country, there is strength and resilience among the community, and it is this strength at the heart of the event.
Lucy Perera, coordinator of school and community programs at the LSU Museum of Art, said the event was put together to bring the power of art into the community. It’s also a time for children of the neighborhood to come together and participate in a positive, educational event.
Because February is Black History Month, Perera and the museum wanted to do whatever possible to educate people on the important role of black artists not only on a global level, but in the U.S
“Many African-American artists are often not included in the art historical story, much like women and other marginalized people,” Perera said. “So we must today make an effort to correct this history and show the incredible talent and influence of African-American artists on American art.”
Perera acknowledges some people may be apprehensive about making art, thinking they can’t because they aren’t artistic, but she dismisses that belief. She insists making art is not something only artists can do. The importance lies more in creativity than anything else.
“Being creative is something we all have inside of us,” Perera said. “This event is for people to try something new, stay in the moment, learn some cool new facts, be introduced to new artists and come away with a new appreciation of themselves and the role of black artists in America.”
The event is free and takes place Feb. 21 at 8435 Ned Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to noon.