“Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art” Opens At The Studio Museum In Harlem On November 13th Celebrating The Iconography & Importance Of Ebony & JET Magazines.
The Studio Museum celebrates the iconography and cultural importance of Ebony and JET magazines with the new exhibit “Speaking of People: Ebony, Jet and Contemporary Art”, opening November 13th. The exhibit curated by Lauren Haynes "explores the ways contemporary artists use Ebony and Jet as a resource and as inspiration in their practices." Haynes commented on the breadth of the exhibition ahead of the opening:
“It’s incredibly exciting to see how so many artists have been so widely influenced by Ebony and Jet,” said Lauren Haynes, curator of the exhibition. “The idea is that there is no one black experience in America, but all of these artists have been directly affected by both magazines.”
The magazines published by Johnson Publishing Company have festooned coffee tables in the homes of black families over their sixty year run and served as the go-to source for many seeking news, information, arts and culture relevant to the black community. From typography and advertisements to relevant topics and tall afros, Ebony and JET have left lasting impressions on generations of consumers seeking to stay abreast of topics related to the black experience.
The upcoming exhibition features photography, painting, sculpture and sound works inspired by both publications. Jeremy Okai Davis, Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Mickalene Thomas, Godfried Donkor, Lyle Ashton Harris and Purvis Young are amongst the artists included in the exhibit which will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue featuring a foreword by chief curator Thelma Golden with essays from Hayes, artist Hank Willis Thomas and a host of others. Get more information about the exhibition via studiomuseum.org.
