EVENTS: Brush up on Black history, through art

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

The show hanging at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural and Educational Center is a celebration of 50 years of African American achievement.

The show, curated by Weldon and Richlin Ryan, of Palm Coast, drew 50 pieces by 18 artists from around Florida.

“The whole notion of the show was inclusivity,” Weldon Ryan said. “It was not a black thing or a white thing — it was a collaboration of diversity for the civil rights movement. The whole notion of art as artists, white, black, it did matter. There’s a whole diversity of different people that were involved in getting the show together; a collaboration.”

Winners for the show are as follows: first place, Anthony Armstrong for "First Day" serigraph; second place, Lawrence "Blinky" Walden for " Decorative African Mask with Dreads" assemblage sculpture; third place, Alice Johnson for " Urban Scene" watercolor on board; and honorable mentions to Joyce Hayes, Onicas Gaddis, Anthony Armstrong, Lawrence Walden and Anthony Armstrong.

The gallery is located at 1000 Vine Street, in Daytona Beach, and the show will hang through the closing reception 6-9 p.m. April 11.

The Odyssey Art Show
An art show celebrating African American artists will open with a reception 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center Visual Gallery, 698 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Featured artists are as follows: Sheila Crawford, Arthur Dawson, Emile Dillon, Bettie Eubanks, Duane C. Fernandez Sr., Doreen Hardie, John Harrison, Joyce Hayes, Monica James, Lawrence Philp, Weldon Ryan, Richlin Butnett-Ryan and Xavier Ryan.

RACE
City Repertory Theatre will open its new show “RACE” by David Mamet 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, for six shows, including 2 p.m. Sunday matinees Feb. 16 and 23.

“RACE: tells the story of a white celebrity accused of raping a young black woman. He approaches the law firm of Lawson and Brown, and the laywers who run the firm, two African Americans and one caucasian, must decide whether to take the case.

CRT is located at 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B207, in Palm Coast. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased at crtpalmcoast.com or 585-9415.

Someday
As part of the 450th anniversary of the city of St. Augustine, the Saint Augustine Orchestra, under the direction of William McNeiland, will perform a concert to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act.

“Someday,” a symphonic reflection on the American Civil Rights Movement, is composed by Bob Moore for the St. Augustine Orchestra. The composer attempts to musically represent the historical realities of slavery and the years of oppression leading up to 1964. Rev. Tindley’s hymn, “We Shall Overcome,” is used as transitional material leading to the events of 1964.

Also, Bill Prince, Jazz Festival Hall of Fame recipient, will spotlight African American music as guest soloist for a selected jazz repertoire of Duke Ellington.

Performances will be 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1, at the Lightner Museum, 25 Granada St., St. Augustine; and a 3 p.m. Sunday performance at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 State Road A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach. The cost for each performance is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at staugustineorchestra.org.