LVCA First Friday celebrates Black History Month with art exhibit, music

The Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts exhibited art from multiple Pennsylvanian Black artists at its Black History Month exhibit First Friday.

The fourth year of the exhibit, a partnership with Branch 26AA-B of the NAACP of Lebanon County, Friday’s event featured two live paintings, music by Luther Tyree, and artwork in a wide array of styles and topics.

Joined together, the pieces, which will be on display at the LVCA throughout February, depict the past, present, and future of Black Americans.

Featured paintings by Reina 76 Artist depict Octavius Valentine Catto and Rebecca J. Cole, two African Americans who shaped Pennsylvanian history, in a style she described as abstract impressionism.

Civil rights activist, English and mathematics educator, and prominent Philadelphia cricket and baseball player Catto was born free in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1839 but moved north with his family during childhood. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans, and served as the corresponding secretary of the Pennsylvania Equal Rights League and vice president of the State Convention of Colored People. He was killed on Election Day, 1871, in a wave of racially motivated violence meant to intimidate Black voters in the Fourth Ward of Philadelphia.

Reina noted that the Octavius V. Catto Memorial was the first of an African American on public property in Philadelphia, where she grew up. The memorial was unveiled in 2017, after she moved away, but she traveled back to see it.

Cole was the second African American woman to become a doctor in the U.S., and the first in Pennsylvania, who lived 1846-1922. A physician who opened a practice providing medical and legal services to impoverished women and children, Cole practiced medicine for 50 years. She was also an activist, who co-led protests against discriminatory practices by the Women’s Centennial Committee (which wanted to oversee a separate Colored Women’s Centennial Committee) and eventually succeeded and joined the committee.

Reina expressed frustration that she did not learn about African Americans in Pennsylvania’s history growing up.

“It’s breathtaking,” Reina said of the historic contributions of Black Pennsylvanians. “These are human beings who were targeted, and not appreciated. That’s why I included the keystone symbol; they are part of the fabric of Pennsylvania, and they will not be ignored or erased.”

Reina spoke about the importance of depicting Black history, and the role of artists in culture and activism. Her process, she said, is “extremely emotional and intuitive,” and puts her lived experience as a Black and Venezuelan woman and knowledge of history in a format accessible to the public.

“Artists are on the forefront of bringing culture and diversity to our communities,” Reina said, describing her experience connecting with youth through her political art. “It’s important for me to share it through my eyes as the creative.”

She said she appreciated the chance to show in a more rural area, especially alongside other Black artists.

“I never thought that I would be exhibiting artwork with other artists of color in such a positive and uplifting way,” said Reina. “We need more of this. We may be different, but we’re still human. We have the right to share our talents among our community.”

Many of the paintings displayed by Wilkinsburg-based artist and muralist Have a Art depict and celebrate people he knows personally. Some depict family members, others supporters of his art.

“I try to lift the people up around me who are doing something spectacular,” he said, going on to say of the value of art, “It brings community together; we fit into so many different labels, and once we stop looking at the ones that are on the surface, we find that we have a lot more in common than we thought.”

One of the live painters, he said he was glad to be at an event that celebrates artists and connects them with the general public.

“Things like art and music really bring people together, which is really necessary in the time that we’re in today,” he said, emphasizing the value of in-person connection.

“I feel like it’s important that we capture the past, present and future of culture. Every day we’re making history if you’re living your life to the fullest.”

This sentiment was echoed by King Prolifik, another featured artist who painted live Friday. Harrisburg-based artist Prolifik described his style, a combination of realism and futurism, as Afro-Futurism.

“There’s a bit of optimism in using my art to paint how we exist, and the fact that we exist at all, in the future,” said Prolifik, who also discussed the importance of representation in art and media.

Like Have a Art and Reina, Prolifik said he was glad to be able to display alongside other artists, some of whom he already knew and others who were new to him.

“We need more events like this, we need more moments when artists can show off their work,” he said. “We have the special experience to be able to observe what’s going on in the world, and to translate that into something beautiful and consumable. It deserves to be shown off to the public so the world gets the chance to experience our art.”

While these featured artists were new to showing at LVCA, having been contacted by organizer and artist Joyce Hansen, local artist Arwen Flores returned to exhibit after participating four years ago as a junior in high school.

“I think it is definitely needed,” said Flores, emphasizing the need for a supportive community in Lebanon. “Especially in times like these where everyone is so separated, it reminds people we’re all humans.”

She said she was happy to show alongside more experienced artists and get the chance to talk to them during the event.

“I feel really grateful to also be a part of them, and see more famous people that have been in bigger places than Lebanon,” Flores said.

Also on display were stamps celebrating African Americans and major events relating to African American history, collected by local Jim Joppy.

Harriet Tubman (abolitionist known for rescuing enslaved people through the Underground Railroad), Doris Miller (first Black recipient of the Navy Cross who assisted wounded sailors at Pearl Harbor), and Langston Hughes (poet, activist, playwright, early innovator of jazz poetry, and leader of the Harlem Renaissance) were among figures depicted on the stamps.

Joppy also checked birthplace information for each figure, and made a list of the people born in Pennsylvania for a local connection.

“Stamps reflect America history, and in this particular instance, they reflect African American history,” he said. Referring to several informational sheets and pamphlets on the table, he added, “Anybody can pick things up and read it and learn something they didn’t know.”

Lori Burrus of the NAACP, also involved in organizing, said the NAACP is proud of the partnership they have fostered with both the LVCA and artists in preparation for this event. She said the event has only grown in exhibitors and attendees, with extremely high attendance this year despite snowy weather.

Next year, Hansen said, they hope to involve more students from local schools alongside professional artists.

Black History Month continues throughout February, with events including a showing of The Six Triple Eight and the annual Freedom Fund Gala to be hosted by the NAACP.

The pieces now on display will remain at the LVCA the rest of the month, and can be viewed every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.