Kansas City Art Institute
H&R Block Artspace
16 E. 43rd St.

Black Is, Black Ain’t

June 17 to October 17

image: Andres Serrano

Taking its title from Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” the exhibition “Black Is, Black Ain’t” will open June 27 at the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute. The exhibit brings together works by 26 black and non-black artists whose work will explore a shift in the rhetoric of race from an earlier emphasis on inclusion to a present moment where racial identity is being simultaneously rejected and retained. A soul/funk/hip-hop extravaganza with DJs Fat Sal and Joc Max will serve as an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 26. The exhibit will remain on view through Oct. 17.

“Given that an exhibition of all African-American artists no longer passes for one about race,” said Raechell Smith, diretor of the Artspace, “the discourse of race, as it resides in the visual arts in the broadest sense, is a very diffuse affair. Race is no less mercurial and complex as an organizing principle for an exhibition than it is a tricky issue in general. Just as one might ask what, one might also ask where is race. The work in ‘Black Is, Black Ain’t’ addresses race from various angles including history, class, the body and gender.”

“Black Is, Black Ain’t” was curated by Hamza Walker and organized by The Renaissance Society at The University of Chicago. Artists included in the exhibit are: Terry Adkins, Edgar Arcenaux, Elizabeth Axtman, Jonathan Calm, Paul D’Amato, Deborah Grant, Todd Gray, Shannon Jackson, Thomas Johnson, Jason Lazarus, David Levinthal, Glenn Ligon, David McKenzie, Rodney McMillian, Joshua Mosley, Virginia Nimarkoh, Demetrius Oliver, Sze Lin Pang, Carl Pope, William Pope L., Robert Pruitt, Randy Regier, Daniel Roth, Joanna Rytel, Andres Serrano, Hank Willis Thomas and Mikalene Thomas.

The exhibit was made possible by an Emily Hall Tremaine Exhibition Award, with additional support from the Woods Fund of Chicago. For generous support of this exhibition and the 2009-2010 exhibition series, the Artspace gratefully acknowledges the Richard J. Stern Foundation, the H&R Block Foundation, the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and Boulevard Brewing Company.

About the H&R Block Artspace
Since 1999, the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute has been dedicated to presenting quality exhibitions of contemporary art and a range of public programs for a growing audience of students, educators, artists, arts enthusiasts and the general public. For generous support of the 2008-2009 exhibition series, the Artspace gratefully acknowledges the Richard J. Stern Foundation, the H&R Block Foundation, the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and private contributions. The Artspace is located at 16 E. 43rd St., one block east of Main Street. Public hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. For more information about upcoming exhibitions and public programs, visit the Artspace on the Web at www.kcai.edu/artspace or call 816-561-5563.

About the Kansas City Art Institute
Founded in 1885, the Kansas City Art Institute is a private, independent four-year college of art and design awarding the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with majors in animation, art history, ceramics, digital filmmaking, fiber, graphic design, interdisciplinary arts, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and studio art with an emphasis in creative writing. KCAI also hosts a free public lecture series — “Current Perspectives” — and a range of public programs including exhibitions, events and partnerships in the community to benefit the general public as well as evening, weekend and summer classes in art, design, multimedia studies and desktop publishing for children, youth and adults. For more information, visit KCAI on the Web at www.kcai.edu.