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20 North
Gallery Presents Black History Month
2012: Legacy – Peggy Grant’s 35th
Annual Exhibit
Downtown
gallery pays tribute to iconic arts
visionary, with exhibition of local,
regional and national artists
in the
longest-running Black History Month art
event in Toledo
On
Friday, January 27th, 20
North Gallery opens Black History
Month 2012: Legacy – Peggy Grant’s 35th
Annual Exhibit. The show will
continue through Saturday, March 10,
2012. The exhibition was founded by
Peggy Grant (current Art Director of 20
North Gallery) in 1977, shortly after
Congress enacted legislation recognizing
the month of February as Black History
Month in the United States. Since then,
the show has been exhibited throughout
various locations in the Toledo
community and now, for seventeen years,
is proudly presented by 20 North
Gallery. This event has become an
integral part of Toledo’s Black History
Month celebrations—and in recognizing
the contributions and accomplishments of
prominent African-American artists and
leaders in our community.
Each
year’s exhibit showcases art work of the
best Black artists of our region, as
well as many nationally recognized
artists. In addition, 20 North Gallery
facilitates school visits and
participatory workshops given by
visiting artists in local elementary and
secondary schools. Other related events
during the run of this exhibit have
included live poetry readings at 20
North Gallery featuring African-American
poets, storytelling, and live musical
performances. The exhibit and outreach
are made possible by the lifetime of
support paid to this groundbreaking
exhibition by its founder, Peggy Grant.
Peggy
Grant states, “Growing up in America’s
South, the way of life I witnessed was
greatly divided by the social and racial
barriers that were in place at the
time. When I came to the Toledo-area
pursuing my art career, I was astounded
by the opportunities to make friends
with people of all races and cultures.
My mission since arriving in the
Midwest has been to support Black
artists in the Toledo Area who had not
been previously recognized by the
mainstream art culture.” Since that
time in the mid-1950s, Mrs. Grant has
actively promoted the work and
professional careers of such noted
artists as LeMaxie Glover, Marvin Vines
and Wil Clay, among others. Her
corporate curatorial work at
Owen-Illinois provided a platform for
many regional artists to exhibit their
work in an international venue, giving
greater recognition to African-American
artists of our community.
Displayed
in Black History Month 2012: Legacy –
Peggy Grant’s 35th Annual
Exhibit is the work of many
celebrated Toledo-area artists,
including: Aaron S. Bivins; Charles T.
Gabriel, Jr.; Alice Grace; Ronald
Jamison; Elizabeth V. Jordan; Marcus
Nunn; Ahavalyn Pitts; Brenda Price;
Robert E. Shorter; Mack Walton; Warren
and Yolanda Woodberry; as well as works
by Wade Harrison of Atlanta, Georgia;
John Wade III from Ft. Wayne, Indiana
and paintings and original book
illustrations by the late Wil Clay of
Toledo.
20 North
Gallery, exhibiting artists and Peggy
Grant, will welcome friends and
collectors at the free Opening Reception
on Friday, January 27th, from 6 - 9p.m.
Reception attendees can begin Black
History Month by enjoying light
refreshments and conversations with
these regional artists and reminiscences
with exhibition founder, Peggy Grant.
Special tribute will be paid that
evening to Mrs. Grant at 6:30p.m.,
honoring her contributions to Toledo’s
diverse arts culture.
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Photo Gallery
( Click on any photo to start the slide show )
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