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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Celebrating African Americans and the Arts Showcases the Power and Worldwide Influence Black Artists Possess
Black art has shaped American culture since enslaved Africans arrived on U.S. soil more than 400 years ago. From music, dance, theatre literature, or visual arts, African Americans have been trailblazers in the arts and created works that have shaped American culture as a whole, all the while, serving as a form of protest, empowerment, strength and resilience.
This February, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the creators of Black History Month, chose “African Americans and the Arts,” as the 2024 theme, in order to celebrate Black artists contributions to American culture.
“Artists shift culture. Artists make new realities and different ways of being accessible to the collective imagination. Artists encourage truth seeking and open-hearted connection with those who are different. Artists make us confront the reality of our connectedness,” said native Washingtonian theater-maker, teaching artist, and artivist, Chelsea Dee, creator of the Free Black Chesapeake Experience. “This truth- that we are all equal, connected, and responsible for one another- is at the core of our democracy. There has been a concerted effort in the last few years to obscure the truth of our connectedness- but artists refuse to let us forget. I suppose that is why dictators and authoritarians fear the power of artists and seek to silence them first.”
Kailasa Aqeel, lead singer of the D.C.-based band Black Folks Don’t Swim, emphasized Black art has shaped American culture, but noted racist systems have worked to diminish Black narratives and erase their power.
“Not only have white people historically recognized then worked to capitalize on Black art and voices, from the transatlantic slave trade to today, they’ve bought and sold our art for their own gain,” Aqeel told The Informer. “However, the beauty of Black art and culture is that you can never silence it or hide its true power.”
While they were stripped of their drums and traditional instruments, enslaved Africans and their descendants held strong to the spirit of their arts and adapted their own flare, which can be heard in the cadence and sound of Negro Spirituals.
“Black people who were brought to the U.S. through the transatlantic slave trade brought with them traditions of communal music-making,” said Brown University’s Charrise Barron, assistant professor of African Studies and Music in a 2022 article.
Post slavery, and by the 1920s, with the emergence of The Harlem Renaissance, Black creative expression was electric through New York City and spreading across the U.S. and internationally. Notable authors like Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and James Weldon Johnson were just a few of the many contributors who used their literary works to spark necessary dialogue and innovate new ways of thinking. “The New Negro” began to navigate self-expression and societal issues through their own lens.
Prior to and after the Harlem Renaissance, African American art chronicled movements and showcased the brilliance, beauty and boldness of Black culture.
From the late 1930s through 50s artists such as Billie Holiday protested lynching through songs such as “Strange Fruit,” (1939), which had people around the world discussing the killings of Black bodies.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s relied heavily on artists and musicians such as Harry Belafonte, Mahalia Jackson and the outspoken Nina Simone, who sang “Mississippi Goddamn” in 1964.
With the emergence of Black Power in the late 1960s and early 70s, came songs like James Brown’s “Say it Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud,” in 1968, and Marvin Gaye’s 1971 album “What’s Going On.”
In 1973, shortly after the beginning of Black Arts Movement— which featured theatre, poetry and new styles of visual art and literature— a couple of teenagers threw a back-to-school party in their apartment in the Bronx, New York. The party, featuring disc jockey Kool Herc producing beats would unknowingly change the face of music thereafter and birth hip hop.
The widespread cultural impact of hip-hop, which celebrated 50 years in 2023, is much like the influence of the Black arts as a whole. From the rhythmic beats and rap flow to the trendsetting looks and fashions that branched with its origin, hip hop, like much of Black art, has influenced people and cultures worldwide.
Celebrating Black artists in February 2024, emphasizes the true influence of Black art historically and today.
“In America, Black artists connect the history to the present and mischievously invite us to imagine the future,” Chelsea Dee told The Informer. “Right now, we need the creative vision of our Black artists to help guide us and inspire us towards new futures.”
African American artists have historically inspired change.
D.C. native Samantha Figgins, of the groundbreaking Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, established in 1958, told The Informer, that the company’s founder always believed in engaging audiences by allowing them to see themselves, and igniting action to promote a stronger society.
“Mr. Ailey, one of his favorite things to say was, ‘We are supposed to be holding up a mirror to society, showing the world an image of themselves,’” Figgins said. “If you’re in the audience, you should be able to look up on stage and see somebody who you resonate with— that’s what this company was meant to be for Black people, to see yourself on stage.”
Artivists such as Chelsea Dee note that acknowledging Black artists’ contributions, helps society better under African Americans influence on art historically and to today.
“The country owes its continued existence to the work, love, and struggle of Black artists. We hold space for history and the future in our art,” said Chelsea Dee, who works with students and artists across the nation through her work and artivism.
“In this country, Black artists give us back our collective power to imagine, to dream, to see beyond this present time. In 2024, we are in need of that imagination work,” the D.C. native and artivist continued. “Like the work of cartographers, we need the dreams and visions of Black artists, to map a way forward, showing us new ways of being.”
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Celebrating Black Excellence: A Journey Through African American-Focused Award Shows
African American-focused award shows have been pivotal in recognizing and celebrating Black excellence across various artistic domains. From the pioneering NAACP Image Awards to the vibrant BET Awards, these ceremonies have become crucial platforms for acknowledging outstanding achievements within the Black community.
“No matter what anybody says, I’ve learned to stay true to my voice, stay true to my audience, not chase people’s opinion. I know my audience and who I’m writing for, and staying on that track has brought me to this place,” award-winning filmmaker and arts mogul Tyler Perry told BET leading up to the 2020 NAACP Image Awards.
Black award shows offer a sacred space for African American artists to not only be celebrated by their own, but use the honor to speak candidly to their people.
“We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, and we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying Black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil – black gold,” actor Jesse Williams of “Grey’s Anatomy” told a BET Awards crowd in June 2016 when accepting the “Humanitarian Award.” “Ghettoizing and demeaning our creations then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit.”
Audiences are left with memorable moments with Black award shows and honors. The one-time Motown 25th anniversary television program is when Michael Jackson first mystified audiences with the moonwalk. The 2003 BET Awards Jackson joined James Brown on stage, with the King of Pop honoring the King of Soul, in a legendary performance.
Below are some of the Black award shows that have offered a stage to honor, celebrate and empower African American artists.
The NAACP Image Awards, inaugurated in 1967, remain committed to honoring exceptional performances in film, television, theater, music, and literature by Black individuals. Although the awards ceremony gained a primetime television spot in 1996, it wasn’t until 2007 that network or cable television broadcast the show live.
The Soul Train Awards emerged in 1987, thanks to the vision of Don Cornelius, founder of the iconic music showcase program “Soul Train.” The show focused on recognizing top Black performers in the entertainment and music industries and has stood the test of time, celebrating over thirty years of excellence, and still shining a spotlight on Black entertainers.
In 1991, The Source magazine stepped into the arena by initiating awards on the set of the show Yo! MTV Raps. What started as an informal recognition of achievements in the rap industry, The Source Awards eventually evolved into a full-fledged production by 1994, albeit with a relatively short run until 2004. The endeavor aimed to honor those contributing to a genre fighting for respect and recognition.
The BET Awards, launched by the Black Entertainment Television Network in 2001, marked another milestone in celebrating the achievements of Black individuals in entertainment. With performances by music artists, the BET Awards have continued for over two decades.
The Black Reel Awards, hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African Americans in Film (FAAAF), took its first steps in 2000 in Washington, D.C. Recognizing excellence within the African diaspora in the global film industry, the awards initially had online presentations before transitioning to live shows in 2002. As the oldest cinema-exclusive awards ceremony for African Americans, the Black Reel Awards have maintained prestige, with category winners receiving the coveted Black Reel statuette.
Annually, TheGrio Awards recognize icons, leaders, and legends whose influence has impacted the Black community and culture. The awards showcase excellence in various fields such as film, music, comedy, television, sports, philanthropy, business, fashion, social and environmental justice, education, and cultural innovation. This event pays homage to history makers, change agents, and artists who shape and inspire Black culture.
This year, hosts Touré and Liana Brackett will guide viewers through the star-studded arrivals of A-list celebrities, providing insights into the significance of the celebration.
“TheGrio Awards Red Carpet Show” is set to premiere on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. with additional airings Feb. 9 through Feb. 11, all at 8 p.m.
Following the glitz of the red carpet, Touré hosts “TheGrio Awards Honorees,” a captivating recap. This program will showcase highlights from the TheGrio Awards, featuring esteemed honorees such as Dwayne Johnson, Al Sharpton, Steve Harvey, Tamron Hall, Misty Copeland, and the legendary Smokey Robinson. Touré and Grio founder and CEO Byron Allen will dissect memorable acceptance speeches and dynamic performances.
The show is scheduled to premiere on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10 p.m., with subsequent airings on Feb. 9- Feb. 11 all at 11 p.m.
Honoring African American artistic contributions
Happy Black History Month!
If you’re like me, you don’t need the first of February to arrive in order to shout the James Brown 1968 tune, “Say it Loud– I’m Black and I’m Proud,” or acknowledge the influence of African American artists on society. However, in joining the nationwide celebration of Black history and culture, The Washington Informer will use each week of February to highlight Black arts and honor African American creatives’ contribution to arts and culture worldwide.
This year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the creators of Black History Month, is focusing on “African Americans and the Arts,” for its 2024 theme.
Through interviews with local artists, historians and research, Washington Informer reporters will explore how African American artists have historically contributed to the arts and American culture as a whole.
The influence of Black creativity can be seen at the core of American arts and culture— even politics. Historically, Black artists have proven to be the pulse that keeps the heart of America beating.
From the performing arts such as music, theatre, and dance, to visual arts, and literature, The Washington Informer will relay stories that reveal how Black art was not solely used as a source of entertainment, but a form of protest, power and a means of promoting peace and revolution.
Even as white artists stole and capitalized off of African American artists, the power of Black art prevailed. Black artists, through the creation of musical genres, artistic styles, fashion trends, and creative movements, have proven over centuries the strength, resilience, beauty and boldness of Black artistry.
This first week of February, we dive into the deep history of Black artists and their contributions to the fabric of this country and examine how African American creatives continue to influence culture today. Under this week’s subtheme, “And the Award Goes to,” this week, The Informer is particularly highlighting, award-winning, trailblazing Black artists.
Although African American history is important 365 days a year, tap into celebrating the greatness of Black artists this February. Dive into the history of some of your favorite African American artists and artivists (artist activists), learn from and be inspired by them, and honor their legacies by furthering their mission toward a stronger nation and world.
Syphilis Cases in the U.S. Are the Highest Since 1950
The United States saw more than 207,000 cases of syphilis in 2022, marking the highest number of cases in a year since 1950, according to a new report on sexually transmitted infections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Compared to 2018, syphilis infections increased by nearly 80 percent in 2022. And cases of congenital syphilis—when an infected mother passes the disease to her baby during pregnancy—are also rising. Americans reported more than ten times as many cases in 2022 compared to 2012.
“We have long known that these infections are common, but we have not faced such severe effects of syphilis in decades,” Laura Bachmann, acting director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, says in a statement.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. During the primary stage of infection, people get sores around the infection site. Symptoms of the secondary stage include rash, fever, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.
Without treatment, syphilis can spread to the brain and nervous system or lead to vision loss, hearing loss or paralysis. However, the condition can be cured with antibiotics that prevent the infection from progressing to later stages.
As cases have increased, they have disproportionately affected some racial and ethnic groups, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rates of syphilis were highest for American Indian or Alaska Native people and second highest for Black or African American people.
“The syphilis epidemic touches nearly every community, but some racial and ethnic groups bear the brunt because of longstanding social inequities,” Jonathan Mermin, director of the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the CDC, tells the New York Times’ Apoorva Mandavilli.
The U.S. started tracking syphilis cases in 1941, and case rates declined dramatically in the 1940s and 1950s, likely because penicillin became more widely used as a treatment. But since 2011, cases have increased every year.
To explain the trend, experts pointed to a rise in substance abuse, reduced use of condoms and fewer sexual health clinics and other similar services at the state and local levels.
Even in places with national health care, “sexual health services remain inadequate relative to the need pretty much everywhere,” Jay Varma, a former deputy commissioner of health for New York City, tells the New York Times. “But it’s particularly a problem here in the United States.”
In 2022, cases of syphilis rose by 17 percent in the U.S. compared to the previous year, while cases of congenital syphilis rose by 31 percent. Just over 59,000 cases of primary and secondary stage syphilis were reported in 2022, a rate of 17.7 cases per 100,000 people.
But among the American Indian or Alaska Native population, there were 67 such cases per 100,000 people, and Black or African American people reported 44.4 cases per 100,000. One congenital syphilis case occurred for every 155 births in the American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2022.
South Dakota had the highest rate of infectious syphilis cases in 2022, more than double that of New Mexico, the state with the second highest rate, according to Mike Stobbe of the Associated Press (AP). An outbreak in the Native American community led to the increase, Meghan O’Connell, chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board, tells the publication.
HHS has established a National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force to reduce infection rates. The task force will direct resources to places that have been impacted the most, promote health equity and engage with impacted communities.
The antibiotic used to treat syphilis—an injectable form of penicillin called Bicillin—has been in short supply in the United States, CNN’s Jacqueline Howard wrote in October. In January, the Food and Drug Administration made an equivalent treatment available to address the shortage.
In October, the Indian Health Service announced a new initiative that includes resources for supporting tribal communities in preventing syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections. The CDC also published draft guidelines on how men who have sex with men and transgender women could use the antibiotic doxycycline to prevent becoming infected with sexually transmitted infections.
“Some people face tremendous barriers to STI prevention and health services,” Bachmann says in the statement. “So, the most important work is often outside the clinic, whether it be reaching out to communities with testing, interviewing patients to offer services to their partners, or delivering treatment directly to someone.”
8 prominent Black leaders in medicine
They have created campaigns to battle opioid addiction, re-envisioned violence prevention, and discovered a breakthrough treatment for sickle cell disease. They have run medical schools, chaired the nation’s first health equity task force, and served as the first African American to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Often, their success came despite poverty, racism, and great personal loss. In honor of Black History Month, we share the incredible stories of eight contemporary medical leaders.
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD
Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, was raised in a chaotic household. Her father abused her mother, and even burst through the window of their Macon, Georgia, home one night with a gun.
Her school life was also difficult. In second grade, a racist teacher told her that she need not bother trying to learn.
But Montgomery Rice’s mother told her, “All things are possible. There are no limitations.”
Today, as president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) — the first woman in that role — Montgomery Rice works to convey that message to scores of future physicians.
Since taking the helm at MSM in 2014, Montgomery Rice has nearly doubled the number of MD candidates and enhanced its research labs. In 2022, MSM joined the newly launched Accelerate Precision Health partnership, a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to advance precision medicine for everyone, particularly people of color.
The Harvard-trained OB/GYN is also a world-renowned researcher, and she has been particularly dedicated to exploring infertility and addressing maternal mortality rates among Black women. At Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where she served as dean before moving to MSM, Montgomery Rice founded and directed one of the first centers focused solely on studying conditions that disproportionately impact women of color.
Reflecting on her MSM role, Montgomery Rice has said, “Medicine allowed me to find my passion, and leadership allowed me to find my purpose…. I didn’t even know something like this existed for people like me. So I have come to a place that I didn’t expect, but I know I’m in the right place at the right time.”
Griffin Rodgers, MD
Griffin Rodgers, MD, knew from a young age that he wanted to care for patients, particularly those in underserved communities.
After all, Rodgers — who now directs the National Institute on Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) — deeply admired his mother’s work as a New Orleans public health nurse in the 1960s.
But when Rodgers lost three close friends to the painful blood disorder sickle cell disease (SCD) during high school and college, he knew he also wanted to pursue biomedical research.
Rodgers went on to receive his medical degree from Brown University in 1979, and after completing a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology, began conducting research at NIDDK, part of the National Institutes of Health outside the nation’s capital.
In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first-ever medication to treat SCD, hydroxyurea, thanks to Rodgers’ research.
Previously, doctors had little to offer SCD patients — which affects millions of people of African descent — other than blood transfusions. By sparking the production of healthy blood cells, hydroxyurea significantly reduces pain, hospital stays, and other SCD problems. It can even increase life expectancy of patients.
Today, Rodgers continues to research blood disorders. But as NIDDK director, he is also responsible for nearly 700 employees working to address some of the country’s most common, costly, and chronic diseases.
Rodgers has spent practically his entire career at NIDDK, rising to director in 2007. In that role, he oversees wide-ranging efforts, from work on an artificial pancreas to the creation of the most comprehensive atlas of the human kidney.
In 2023, the Institute released Pathways to Health for All, a multistep research effort to address health inequities in the United States, including the reality that African Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than White people.
Of leading the Institute, Rodgers expresses gratitude for being able to accomplish even more than what he could achieve through his own research. “Being an administrator … you can make a lasting contribution potentially to millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of people worldwide,” he has said.
Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD
For decades, violence in America was seen simply as a matter of crime and punishment. But Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, believed violence was a public health problem.
Prothrow-Stith — now dean of the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles — came to that conclusion during her residency in a Boston emergency department (ED) in the early 1980s. After a stabbing victim declared he would soon avenge his attack, she recognized that EDs were too often practicing revolving-door medicine.
So Prothrow-Stith threw herself into researching violence, ultimately concluding that it needed an approach much like that used in addressing HIV/AIDS and smoking: through education and prevention. In 1991, she released Deadly Consequences, the first book on youth violence for a mass audience. Prothrow-Stith also created groundbreaking conflict-resolution curricula for children and teens that were ultimately adopted in schools across all 50 U.S. states.
But Prothrow-Stith was not satisfied with researching and writing alone.
Over her career, her leadership contributions have included serving as associate dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In 1987, she became the first woman, first Black person, and youngest individual to serve as Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health. There, she expanded treatment for HIV/AIDS and substance use disorders and created the first Office of Violence Prevention in a state department of public health.
Last year, Prothrow-Stith was involved in another first: the establishment of an independent medical school at Drew University, the only historically Black university west of the Mississippi. Until then, the school graduated physicians through a partnership with the University of California Los Angeles.
Prothrow-Stith notes that the school will work to attract trainees from South Los Angeles, a severely underserved region, through such efforts as mentoring students as early as kindergarten.
“There’s nothing like training people from the communities that they’re going to serve because that’s where it gets authentic,” Prothrow-Stith told The Guardian last year. “That’s where the level of empathy and the appreciation of humanness comes in. It’s what medicine has needed.”
Marcella Nunez-Smith, MD, MHS
At the height of the pandemic, when President Biden needed someone to spearhead his COVID-19 Equity Task Force, he turned to Marcella Nunez-Smith, MD, MHS. In January 2021, the Yale researcher and educator became the first-ever presidential advisor to focus solely on combating race-related health inequities.
Nunez-Smith had already spent months helping shape the incoming administration’s pandemic strategy as co-chair of President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board, but the new role represented a decades-long passion.
As a young girl growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Nunez-Smith saw her father suffer a debilitating stroke, the result of the territory’s inequitable health care. She vowed that no other family should face a similar fate.
Today, Nunez-Smith continues to pursue that aim with a wide-ranging portfolio.
She directs the Yale Equity Research and Innovation Center, which she founded in 2013, and a two-year health equity leadership program at the Yale School of Management. Her own research includes a project to develop a questionnaire that effectively measures patients’ experiences with discrimination in health care.
Motivated in part by personal brushes with racism — patients have assumed she’s come to empty their trash — Nunez-Smith has also published widely on the experiences of underrepresented individuals in medicine.
Looking ahead, Nunez-Smith hopes the United States will no longer tolerate the deep inequities that COVID-19 exposed.
“I imagine a future for our children and their peers, where they look back at this time with historical interest [and say]: ‘Oh my goodness, can you believe the pandemic ravaged communities differently? That would never happen now!’” she has said. “That’s what I want them to inherit.”
Alister Martin, MD, MPP
A fundamental vision drives Alister Martin, MD, MPP: Doctors should aspire to treat not only patients’ bodies but also the broader body politic.
Martin — an emergency medicine physician, Harvard Medical School assistant professor, Harvard Kennedy School researcher, and advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — has pursued that goal in multiple domains.
His first effort focused on the millions of Americans struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD).
In 2017, Martin founded Get Waivered to help physicians obtain the then-required Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe buprenorphine, an effective OUD treatment. Previously, most EDs sent opioid users home with little more than the names of detox programs.
In 2019, he took aim at patients’ lack of access to voting — something he viewed as a social determinant of health — by creating the nonpartisan Vot-ER. The initiative has drawn more than 26,000 U.S. health care providers to such efforts as helping patients obtain emergency absentee ballots so they can vote right from their hospital beds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-founded an organization called GOTVax, which used a get-out-the-vote framework to bring vaccines to under-resourced communities in Boston (his work was featured in this video). Not long after, he was named a White House fellow for 2021-2022.
Among Martin’s most recent projects is Link Health, an outreach program that addresses the digital divide by helping low-income patients gain Internet access for telehealth.
Growing up the son of a single mother in New Jersey, Martin knew the toll of uneven access to health care. He also saw the power of the ED to help address it.
EDs “are not just about taking care of gunshot wounds and stroke,” but can also help lower-income individuals tackle key health inequities, he has said. “We have a responsibility, I believe, to try to address those issues for the people who have no other options.”
Selwyn M. Vickers, MD
Growing up in Alabama during the Jim Crow 1960s, Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, could not have envisioned a future as a world-renowned cancer surgeon and researcher.
But he did have powerful mentors to inspire him.
His maternal grandmother traveled 120 miles to attend high school, and his grandfather chose to learn to read and write in his 40s. His uncle, a successful doctor, sparked a similar dream in the young Vickers.
Today, Vickers impacts the care of thousands of patients each year as president and CEO of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in Manhattan.
By the time he became the first African American to head MSK in 2022, Vickers had already filled numerous other leadership roles, from president of the American Surgical Association to dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.
In every position he holds, health equity is a guiding goal.
He pursues this aim both in clinical care and academic research, and helped to establish such efforts as Enhancing Minority Participation in Clinical Trials (EMPaCT), a network that works to diversify biomedical studies, and the Center for Healthy African American Men, a first-ever academic-community collaboration to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to improve African American men’s health.
“What drove me was the legacy of the challenge that this country has been dealing with since [abolition in] 1865,” Vickers has said. “[The United States] continually created second-class citizenry for people of color. That’s been pervasive in several areas,” he added, “economics, education, and certainly not the least of them, health care.”
David Satcher, MD, PhD
David Satcher, MD, PhD, knows personally the dangers of medical racism. At age 2, barely able to breathe from whooping cough, Satcher was barred by Alabama’s segregationist rules from receiving care at any nearby hospital.
Thanks to the area’s only local Black doctor, who tended to him on his parents’ farm, Satcher managed to survive.
Motivated by that experience, Satcher went on to pursue family medicine — and subsequently to serve in positions of groundbreaking national leadership.
After earning MD and PhD degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1970, Satcher held administrative and teaching positions at both the UCLA School of Medicine and School of Public Health. From 1982 to 1993, he served as president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
In 1993, Satcher became the first African American to direct the CDC. In 1998, he was appointed U.S. Surgeon General. In that role, he focused on such crucial issues as tobacco use among minority groups and the need for school-based sex education to prevent disease and unplanned pregnancy.
After leaving government service, he founded the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta with the aim of addressing health disparities through research and leadership training. Satcher’s own research revealed a disturbing reality: more than 886,000 deaths could have been prevented from 1991 to 2000 if African Americans had received the same care as White people.
Stepping up to lead, as well as training others to lead, has always been important to Satcher — he spearheaded civil rights sit-ins as a college student and facilitated President Clinton’s apology for the notorious Tuskegee experiments in 1997.
Among his advice to others is recognizing that leadership sometimes requires personal sacrifice. “That’s how it was with going to jail as a student hoping one day to go to medical school,” he has said. “It was a risk [but I knew that] if I was going to be a leader, I had to stand for something.”
James Hildreth Sr., MD, PhD
When he was a young boy, James Hildreth, MD, PhD, suffered two tragedies: the death of his father from poorly treated cancer and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The losses were so devastating that Hildreth — now president and CEO of Meharry Medical College in Nashville — barely spoke to anyone for months. But then he decided to channel his pain into something positive by becoming a doctor.
Hildreth not only went on to achieve that goal but has since served as a leader in the battle against two devastating diseases, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
In 2021, President Biden appointed Hildreth to his Health Equity Task Force, where the Rhodes Scholar helped craft recommendations for addressing the pandemic’s inequitable burdens. Hildreth also helped assess the groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccines when they were submitted for FDA approval.
Hildreth was accustomed to leading: He had already served as dean of the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences and associate dean at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Also a world-renowned researcher on HIV/AIDS, Hildreth has contributed to that field with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, 11 patents, and the discovery of pivotal aspects of the virus’s deadly power.
Since taking the helm at Meharry in 2015, Hildreth has helped the nation’s largest private historically Black academic health sciences center achieve national recognition by establishing the first U.S. school of global health. Expected to open in 2026, the institution will promote creative collaborations among emerging health leaders around the world.
Under Hildreth’s leadership, Meharry made another bold move in 2023: It launched a 10-year initiative to create the first genomics database of people of African ancestry. Working together with major pharmaceutical companies, Meharry intends to collect genomic data from up to 500,000 volunteers. The goal is more equitable medical research and better treatments for Black populations worldwide.
“Starting today … we begin to leave the past in the past where it belongs,” Hildreth said in announcing the initiative. “[It] will ensure that — at last — our future, and the future of generations to come, will be different from those who came before.”
Black History: Casting Back a Century in Washington, D.C.
… in the impressive achievements of African-Americans in Washington, D.C. during … examples involve racism toward non-White peoples who were not African-American. “Two … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News
Things to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, Feb. 1-8
Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.
EVENTS
Grand National Roadster Show: O’Reilly Auto Parts sponsors the 74th annual “longest-running indoor car show in the world,” and presented by Meguiar’s, from noon-8 p.m. Feb. 2; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 3; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 4. The show, its 18th consecutive show at Fairplex Pomona, includes hot rods, customs, lowriders, muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles. Parking $10. Admission $30 ages 13 and older; $10 ages 6-12; free for ages 5 and younger (three-day passes available for purchase). Tickets are sold online: rodshows.com. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. rodshows.com/gnrs
Pasadena City College Flea Market: Find antiques, vintage collectibles, new treasures or vinyl records, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 4. Free admission. Upcoming dates: usually the first Sunday of the month. Use the parking structure #5 on Bonnie Avenue ($2). The market is in outdoor parking lots 1, 3 (on Hill Avenue) and also in parking lot structure #4 (levels 2 and 3; Del Mar Boulevard). The college is located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-585-7906. Email: fleamarket@pasadena.edu. pasadena.edu/community/flea-market. Updates: www.facebook.com/pccfleamarket
Smorgasburg Los Angeles: The outdoor food and drink market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 4 (and also, subsequent Sundays). Check the website or Facebook for vendors. Free admission. No pets allowed at this venue. Rain or shine. Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles. la.smorgasburg.com and www.facebook.com/SmorgasburgLA/
Los Angeles Conscious Life Expo – Planetary Transformation: The 22nd annual event includes presentations on body and mind alternative healing, meditation, paranormal, spiritual and wellness topics, Feb. 9-12. Admission on Feb. 9-11 requires a day pass per each individual day (includes exhibit halls, lectures, free events and workshops). Exhibit Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 9; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 10; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 11; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 12 (post conference). Admission $40 ($45 at the door) on Feb. 9; $50 ($55 at the door) on Feb. 10; $45 ($50 at the door) on Feb. 11; $99 for a three-day pass; the post conference on Feb. 12 requires separate tickets for all individual lectures. LAX Hilton Hotel, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles. 800-367-5777. www.consciouslifeexpo.com
Typewriter Connection’s Love Letters – A Valentine’s Pop-up Market and Type-In: The public is invited to use a typewriter to compose a Valentine’s Day greeting to loved ones, with assistance by artisans, crafters and poets, 3-8 p.m. Feb. 10. The event will have calligraphy and cardmaking tutorials, letterpress arts, papercrafts, a display of vintage typewriters and Valentine writing stations. Free admission, however register to attend on the Eventbrite link: tinyurl.com/5yntcpj6. As We Dwell, 441 Seaton St., Los Angeles. Email: typewriterconnection@gmail.com. Facebook: tinyurl.com/tvjkbp7s. www.typewriterconnection.com
Fifty Shades of Wildlife – Wildlife Learning Center: An adults-only event that includes a self-guided tour of the facility, 4:30-5 p.m. Feb. 10, followed by a presentation on the mating rituals of giraffes, squirrel monkeys, sloths and other animals, 5-6 p.m. Minimum age: 18. Reservations required in advance. Tickets $40 individual; $75 couple. Event also includes chocolate covered strawberries and one glass of champagne or sparkling cider. The Wildlife Learning Center has been giving, since 2007, “displaced, rescued, and zoo-born wild animals a home” (read more on the website). Location, 16027 Yarnell St., Sylmar. 818-362-8711. www.wildlifelearningcenter.org. www.wildlifelearningcenter.org/50shadesofwildlife
My Funny Valentine – Old Hollywood Talent Show: Power of Positive Music Movement presents the event with contestants in K-12 and adult categories, 5 p.m. Feb. 10. Guest judges: Singer-songwriters Jean Johnson-Witherspoon and Valerie Doby. Student are free to register; $10 fee for adults (register online here: tinyurl.com/8dsx5p2d). Tickets $25 donation. The Cat’s Crawl Performing Arts Theatre, 660 Heliotrope Drive, Los Angeles. 818-201-2441. Details and the event flyer: www.popmm.org
Valentine’s Day Sweetheart’s Dinner and Dance – Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Event includes a four-course dinner, a complimentary glass of champagne and an opportunity to self-tour the museum and Air Force One, 6-10 p.m. Feb. 14. Reservations are required by 8 a.m. Feb. 7. Cost $206 per couple (tax and tip are included). A cashless bar is available (credit or debit cards, Apple or Google Pay only). Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. 805-577-4057. www.reaganfoundation.org. Details and to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/mwt23kmm
Black History Month Celebration – Forest Lawn-Glendale: The event begins with a community resource fair and reception, 4-6 p.m. Feb. 17, followed by dance and musical performances, poetry and guest speakers Sidney Hurd and Dr. Stephany Powell, 6:30-7:15 p.m. Free admission. Location, inside the Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 855-800-5296. www.forestlawn.com. forestlawn.com/all-events/
L.A. Chinatown Firecracker: The 46th event has a number of types and lengths of races, Feb. 24-25. On Feb. 24: a 19/50-mile bike ride (8 a.m. for the 50-mile and 8:20 for the 19-mile). On Feb. 25: 5K Run (8 a.m.) and 5K walk (8:20 a.m.); a 10K Run (8:20 a.m.); a 10K Walk (8:40 a.m.); a 1K Kiddie Run and the 2K PAW’er Dog Run/Walk, (9 a.m.). Fees to enter races vary. Register for a race on the link on the website. Los Angeles Chinatown Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles. 818-925-8434. firecracker10k.org and www.facebook.com/thefirecracker10k
Art Deco Society of Los Angeles’ Hollywood Deco – Art Deco Costume from Film and Stage: The society presents a live, vintage fashion show with costumes from the personal collection of Greg Schreiner, at two seating, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. March 9. A vintage marketplace is scheduled, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (open only to ticket holders). Tickets are available to society members first, with any remaining tickets for sale to the public later in February. Join the society at the $125 “sponsoring” membership level to have access to tickets to limited-capacity society events such as the fashion show. Fun dress code: vintage day wear. Southwestern School of Law (Bullocks Wilshire, 1929 historic building), 3050 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. artdecola.org/events-calendar/bullocks-wilshire-costume-show-2024
ONGOING EVENTS
Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience: Drop-in to a 360-degree, two-story high projection show to experience the Dutch artist’s drawings, paintings and sketches. Hours: timed admission on various dates; through Feb. 25. Admission $34.90 ages 13 and older; $29.90 ages 65 and older; $20.90 ages 4-12; VIP admission is also available. Location, 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. vangoghexpo.com/los-angeles/#
Bubble World – The Experience: Fun meets science as you wander through 10 plus rooms and immerse yourself into a world of bubbles. Hours: timed admission on various dates; through March 17. Tickets $31.90; $27.90 for age 65 and older; $23.90 for age 4-14 (depending on dates). Location, 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. For more information, feverup.com/m/12776
Island Packers – Winter Whale Watching: Spot Pacific gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel as they journey from Alaska to Baja California. Cruise passengers may also see fin or humpback whales plus Common dolphins. Two boarding locations: Channel Islands Harbor, 3550 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard; Ventura Harbor Village, 1691 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. February-April tickets: $45 ages 13-54; $41 ages 55 and older; $32 ages 3-12. Check the website for all prices, other cruising trip types and island destinations through the year. Check website for details on boarding locations. 805-642-1393. islandpackers.com and islandpackers.com/book-wildlife/
ART
Ashley Shellhause: The City of Agoura Hills presents a solo art show and sale by the artist, with an opening reception 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8. Gallery hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Exhibit runs through March 12. Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center, 29900 Ladyface Court. Kimberly Hollands, recreation supervisor, 818-597-7361 or khollands@agourahillscity.org. www.ashleyshellhause.com/news
Eastern Projects Gallery: New: “Gary Wong: Homeland Security – Boxes and Skins.” Gallery hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through March 9. Location in Chinatown, 900 N. Broadway, Suite 1090, Los Angeles. 323-327-8020. www.easternprojectsgallery.com/5983855-gary-wong. www.easternprojectsgallery.com/
LA Art Show: Galleries from the United States and around the world present art for sale in specialized sections including Modern + Contemporary, European Pavilion and Works on Paper, Feb. 14-18. This year’s event also includes DIVERSEartLA, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, with art, multimedia and technology exhibits that present ideas on AI, humanity and memory. The show’s 2024 charity partner is the American Heart Association’s “Life Is Why” campaign — 15% of proceeds from tickets sold will be donated to the cause. Hours: noon-8 p.m. Feb. 15-16 (general admission); noon-8 p.m. Feb. 17; noon-6 p.m. Feb. 18 (general admission). Tickets for the opening night premiere, 6-10 p.m. Feb. 14, $250 plus service fee (includes early entry at 11 a.m. on Feb. 17-18). General admission $35 (see other admission options and to purchase online: tinyurl.com/txwr37kz; admission may be purchase at the door). Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. www.laartshow.com/faqs. www.laartshow.com
Lowell Ryan Projects: New: “Erin Trefry: Happy Phantom.” Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; and by appointment. Exhibit runs through March 2. Location, 4619 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-413-2584. Email: info@lowellryanprojects.com. www.lowellryanprojects.com. www.facebook.com/lowellryanprojects
ONGOING ART
Thinkspace Projects: “Super A (aka Stefan Thelen): Atypical” (Gallery I); “Humbly (aka Bryan Reynald Antonio): Make Them Real” (Gallery II); “Gustavo Rimada: Campo Santo” (Gallery III); “Anthony Solano: Alive & Well” (Gallery IV); L. Croskey: Cuttin’ It Close” (The Doghouse Gallery). Gallery hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits run through Feb. 3. Location, 4207 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-558-3375. Email: contact@thinkspaceprojects.com. thinkspaceprojects.com
Art Share L.A.: “Somos,” a group show curated by Fabian Debora, executive director of Homeboy Art Academy. “Somos” artists: Showz Art; Onni Arte; Fabian Debora; Ricardo Estrada; Jesse Fregozo; Ariana Melendez; Megumi Nakazawa; Rick Ortega; Giovanni Rubio; Obed Silva; Tonantzin; Esmeralda Villarreal.
Also, “Inner Links,” a group show from modern contemporary artists who create in Los Angeles County. “Inner Links” artists: Phoebe Clemens; Otha “Vakseen” Davis III; John Galan; Daniela Garcia Hamilton; Sara Janti; Paul Juno; Rebecca Laws; Perseus Lira; Randi Matushevitz; Elizabeth Munzón; Sara No Special Name; Cynthia Ortega; Steven Rahbany; REBORNZ; RERUN; Little Ricky; Nia Simone; Ramón Vargas; Matthew Weinberg; Zoxer. Gallery hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits run through Feb. 10. Location, 801 E. Fourth Place, Los Angeles. 213-657-4278. artsharela.org/exhibitions/
Shulamit Nazarian Gallery: “Tanya Aguiñiga: Telar Terrenal/Earthly Loom.” “Anastasia Komar: von Neumann’s Dream.” “Aryana Minai: Soft Waters Heard Here.” Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits run through Feb. 10. Location, 616 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. 310-281-0961. shulamitnazarian.com
William Grant Still Arts Center: The 43rd annual Black Doll Show, “Conjure: Reclaiming African American Traditions Through Hoodoo and Other Spiritual Dolls.” The exhibit is curated by Monica Bailey and Jahsun Ifakolade Edmonds. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through Feb. 10. Location, 2320 S. West View St., Los Angeles. 323-734-1165. wgsac.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/43rd-annual-black-doll-show-opens-dec-2nd-2/
Corey Helford Gallery: “Art Collector Starter Kit X,” the 10th annual group exhibition of 12″ x 12″ works from established and new artists (Main Gallery). “Li Shanmei: Lucid Dreaming” (Gallery 2). Gallery hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits run through Feb. 17. Location, 571 S. Anderson St. (enter on Willow Street), Los Angeles. 310-287-2340. www.coreyhelfordgallery.com
Nicodim Gallery: “Christian Ruiz Berman: No Shortcuts to Aztlan” (in the upstairs gallery). Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through Feb. 17. Location, 1700 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles. 213-265-7166. www.nicodimgallery.com/exhibitions
If Memory Serves – Photography, Recollections and Vision – Honoring Aline Smithson: Los Angeles Center of Photography presents the exhibit. Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through Feb. 24. Brand Library and Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. 818-548-2051. www.brandlibrary.org. Details about the exhibit: tinyurl.com/pfenbwyz
Michael Kohn Gallery: “William Brickel: Was It Ever Fair.” Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Exhibit runs through March 2. Location, 1227 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. 323-461-3311. www.kohngallery.com/exhibitions-2
L.A. Louver: “JoJo Abot: A God of Her Own Making.” Group Show (Second Floor Gallery). “Deborah Butterfield: Sunlight Creek” (Skyroom). Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits runs through March 3. Location, 45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice. 310-822-4955. lalouver.com
ReflectSpace Gallery: “Shepard Fairey: Peace Is Radical.” (www.reflectspace.org/post/shepard-fairey). Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Exhibit runs through April 14. Gallery is inside the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St. 818-548-2021. reflectspace.org
BOOKS
Diesel, A Bookstore: Jenny Taitz discusses and signs “Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes,” 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Manjula Martin discusses and signs “The Last Fire Season,” 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6. Gina Moffa discusses and signs “Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss,” 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Free seating is limited at the outdoor events. Purchase a book in advance to reserve a seat (click on the website tab for the author’s date). Location, 225 26th St., Santa Monica. 310-576-9960. www.dieselbookstore.com
Book Soup: Andrew Buss discusses “Top Five – How High Fidelity Found Its Rhythm and Became a Cult Movie Classic,” 7 p.m. Feb. 1. Harvey Lisberg discusses “I’m Into Something Good – My Life Managing 10cc, Herman’s Hermits and Many More!” 7 p.m. Feb. 2. Location, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-659-3110. www.booksoup.com
Vroman’s Bookstore: Duane Swierczynski discusses “California Bear,” 7 p.m. Feb. 1. Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham discuss their young adult book “Lunar New Year Love Story,” 7 p.m. Feb. 5. Kemper Donovan discusses “The Busy Body,” 7 p.m. Feb. 7. Frank C. Girardot Jr. discusses “Becoming Clark Rockefeller – Murder, Love Deception and the Con Man Behind It All,” 7 p.m. Feb. 8. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.626-449-5320. vromans.com
Bill Doyle – Discovery Cube Los Angeles: The author signs “The Fifth Hero – Escape Plastic Island,” from 11:30-noon, 1-1:30 and 2:30-3 p.m. Feb. 3 (the children’s museum will have a limited supply of books). The special event at the museum also includes a craft activity, the “Worm Zone” exhibit and “Become the Fifth Hero” activity (recommended for ages 5-13; sign-up for a time slot at Guest Relations), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with museum admission: $18 ages 15-61; $17 ages 62 and older; $16 ages 3-14. Details on the Feb. 3 event: www.discoverycube.org/los-angeles/events/book-signing-event-la/. Location, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. Information about the author and his books: billdoyle.net. www.discoverycube.org
CHARITY AND VOLUNTEER
Cupid’s Undie Run Los Angeles – Fundraiser for Children’s Tumor Foundation: A one-mile fun run and a party, noon-4 p.m. Feb. 10. Minimum age: 21. Dress code: “undies” or tutu; “keep it PG-13” is the rule (see suggestions on the FAQ link). Registration fee $45 until one-week before the event; $50 after. Frequently asked questions about the fundraiser: cupids.org/faq-contact. Location, the Buffalo Club, 1520 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica. Information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation (helping people affected by a group of genetic conditions known as neurofibromatosis): www.ctf.org. Register here: tinyurl.com/3bp63y5x
Volunteers Cleaning Communities: Join the group for clean-up projects in the San Fernando Valley. Find a list of upcoming projects, and also how to make a donation for clean-up supplies, volunteerscleaningcommunities.com
Mount Baldy Run-to-the-Top Labor Day Trail Race: The 59th annual event is a fundraiser for the San Antonio Canyon Town Hall that helps to provide funds for the Mount Baldy community’s all-volunteer Mount Baldy Fire Department and all-volunteer West Valley Search and Rescue and other nonprofits. The event, 8 a.m. Sept. 2. Registration fee $75 online; $80 on Sept. 2 (register here: ultrasignup.com). Details on the race: www.run2top.com
COMEDY
Kyle Ayers – Hard to Say: Stand-up comedy by Ayers — who reflects on his diagnosis with trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder — with special guests Jermaine Fowler, Aparna Nancherla and Reggie Watts, 7 p.m. Feb. 4. Doors open, 6:30 p.m. No late seating. Tickets $15. Elysian Theater, 1944 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. Information on the disorder: tinyurl.com/53y5nb37. www.elysiantheater.com/
DANCE
Foothills Dancemakers: Two modern dance concert performances by area dance companies, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and 4 p.m. Feb. 11. Dance companies: Benita Bike’s DanceArt; Nancy Evans Dance Theatre; Lineage Dance; Pennington Dance Group. The companies came together in 2019 to promote awareness of, and support to, concert modern dance in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Tickets $25; $20 for seniors and students. Location, Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena. For more information, click on “Foothills Dancemakers” here: lineagepac.org
DISCUSSION
Ukraine War anniversary: A screening of a documentary “Beyond the Battle: Unsung Heroes of Ukraine” (2023), 6 p.m. Feb. 6. The creators of the film, Igor and Elena Yasno, will answer questions after the screening. Minimum age: 16. Calabasas Library, multi-purpose room, 200 Civic Center Way. 818-225-7616. Email: Karilyn Steward, ksteward@calabasaslibrary.org. Details: tinyurl.com/mr3bfkfj
Culinary Historians of Southern California: Natalia Molina gives a lecture “Placemakers” about the Nayarit restaurant that Molina’s grandmother, Doña Natalia Barraza, opened in 1951 in Echo Park, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10. Molina is the author of “A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community.” Free admission, but a registration on Eventbrite is requested. Use garage parking at 524 S. Flower St., Los Angeles (take ticket for parking with you and get it validated if you have a library card; see details on the website for parking instructions). Los Angeles Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles. Updates/upcoming: www.facebook.com/chsocal. www.chsocal.org. Details and to register on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/runsfwd4
Weird Tujunga: The Little Landers Historical Society presents a talk on the subject by author and historian Mike Lawler, 1 p.m. Feb. 10. Donation $5. Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave. (at the corner of Valmont Street), Tujunga. 818-352-3420. Email: llhs@boltonhall.org. www.facebook.com/boltonhallmuseum; www.boltonhall.org
FARMERS MARKETS
Old Town Newhall Farmers Market: A certified market, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 24500 Main St., Newhall. www.facebook.com/OldTownNewhallFarmersMarket/
Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Rain or shine. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. www.instagram.com/mainst.canogaparkfarmersmarket
El Nido Farmers Market – Pacoima: El Nido Family Centers and the City of Los Angeles present the market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, Pacoima Family Source Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market
Encino Farmers Market: ONEgeneration presents the market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Location, 17400 Victory Blvd. (between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue). Farmers market manager, 818-708-6611 or email: farmersmarket@onegeneration.org. www.onegeneration.org/farmers-market/
Woodland Hills Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 5650 Shoup Ave. 818-300-3023. Facebook: bit.ly/44cFl0P
Canyon Country Farmers Market: A certified market, 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Highway. www.facebook.com/CanyonCountryFarmersMarket/
FOOD/DINING
Fuil Wines Pop-Up Tasting Room: Owner-winemaker Matt Espiro Jaeger discusses and pours the winery’s current releases on a rotating tasting menu, noon-3 p.m. Feb. 11. Tastings $15 (purchase online or at the door). Minimum age: 21. Walk-in or make a reservation on the website. Future pop-up wine tastings will be on the second Sunday of the month. Location, Buvette Wine Bar, 15005 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. www.fuilwines.com/
Pizza City Fest: The event includes pizza samples from Southern California pizza makers, demonstrations and discussions, 1 p.m. April 27-28. See details for each day on the website. Admission $125 (per day); $200 per day VIP (enter at noon and other perks). L.A. Live, Event Deck, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. www.lalive.com. www.lalive.com/pizza-city-fest-la
MOVIES
Pan African Film and Arts Festival: The 32nd event includes more than 140 film screenings, Feb. 6-19. Check the website for schedule of films. Tickets $13.50; $11 for ages 62 and up, students and children (check here for details and passes: www.paff.org/info/). Films are shown at Cinemark at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw and XD, 4020 Marlton Ave., Los Angeles (www.paff.org/venues). The ArtFest is Feb. 8-19 (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday; Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles; www.paff.org/artfest). paff.org
MUSEUM
Santa Monica History Museum: Feb. 2: “Unhoused – A History of Housing in Santa Monica,” through Dec. 31. Museum is closed until the opening of the new exhibit. Hours: 2-5 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Admission $5; free for 65 and older and ages 17 and younger. Location, 1350 Seventh St., Santa Monica. 310-395-2290. www.santamonicahistory.org
Valley Relics Museum: Take a trip down San Fernando Valley memory lane, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 3-4 and 10-11 (see website for other dates). Admission $15 and up. The museum is located at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Hangar C3 and C4, entrance is on Stagg Street, Van Nuys. Purchase tickets at the door or online: bit.ly/3kWHgjx. www.facebook.com/valleyrelics; valleyrelicsmuseum.org
Autry Museum of the American West: Feb. 10: “Masters of the American West,” through March 24. “Master of the American West Sale,” Feb. 24 (information on how to attend and tickets on Feb. 24, and also VIP Weekend tickets for Feb. 23-24: tinyurl.com/5svfxzur). Ongoing special exhibits: “Sherman Indian School: 100 + Years of Education and Resilience,” through May 2024 (theautry.org/exhibitions/sherman-indian-school). “Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond,” through June 15, 2025 (theautry.org/exhibitions/reclaiming-el-camino-native-resistance-missions-and-beyond). Museum hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission $16; $12 ages 62 and older, ages 13-18 and students older than 18 with ID; $8 ages 3-12. Location, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org
Holocaust Museum LA: Feb. 15: “To Paint Is to Life: Art and Resistance in Theresienstadt,” artwork from four artists who depicted life in the Theresienstadt ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, opening night, 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 15 (reservations required for the opening: tinyurl.com/ys4c33yd). Information about the exhibit that runs through Nov. 30 (www.holocaustmuseumla.org/topaint). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $15; $10 ages 65 and older; free for ages 17 and younger. Free admission on Sunday. Admission is by timed admission ticket. Location, 100 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles. 323-651-3704. Email: info@hmla.org. www.holocaustmuseumla.org
The Getty Center: New: “Drawing on Blue,” through April 28. Ongoing special exhibits: “Remix: Recent Acquisitions of Photographs,” through March 3. “Conserving Eden,” through April 21. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission but a timed-ticket admission is required (bit.ly/2SbTzys). Parking $20 (www.getty.edu/visit/center/parking-and-transportation). Location, Getty Center Drive at North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. www.getty.edu
Japan House Los Angeles: New: “Design Museum Japan – Bridging Design and Life,” through April 14. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed March 9-10 for Academy Awards weekend. Free admission. The museum is at Ovation Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 800-516-0565. www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles
ONGOING MUSEUM
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Ongoing special exhibits: “Outside the Mainstream,” through Aug. 4. “Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema,” through Aug. 4. “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” through Aug. 4. “Significant Movies and Movie Makers,” three exhibits through Jan. 4, 2026: “Casablanca,” “Boyz n the Hood,” and Lourdes Portillo.” Timed advance admission tickets are available (but not required) for the museum that explores the art and science of movies and movie-making. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and Monday. Admission $25; $19 ages 62 and older; $15 students, age 18 and older with ID; free for ages 17 and younger. Location, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Fairfax Avenue), Los Angeles. 323-930-3000. academymuseum.org
African American Firefighter Museum: Artifacts, fire apparatus, pictures and stories about African American Los Angeles firefighters. Hours: timed entry admission, 1, 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday (make a reservation here: tinyurl.com/yxshdera). Donation. Location, 1401 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-744-1730. https://aaffmuseumla.org/
Bolton Hall Museum: Hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free admission, but a $5 donation is appreciated. Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. 818-352-3420. Email: llhs@boltonhall.org. www.facebook.com/boltonhallmuseum; www.boltonhall.org
California African American Museum: Closed for repairs due to storm-related damage. Check website or Facebook for re-opening and also for off-site programs. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Parking $15 before 5 p.m.; $18 after 5 p.m. (in the blue structure parking lot; entrance to the blue structure is on Figueroa Boulevard at 39th Street.). Location, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles (in Exposition Park). 213-744-7432. www.caamuseum.org and www.facebook.com/CAAMinLA/
California Science Center: Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is free to the center but there is a charge for special exhibits (bit.ly/3zfD8DA). Location, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. californiasciencecenter.org
Craft in America: Ongoing special exhibit: “Spirit of Play: Craft and Imagination,” through March 2. Hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission. Location, 8415 W. Third St., Los Angeles. 323-951-0610. www.facebook.com/CraftinAmerica. craftinamerica.org/page/center
Discovery Cube Los Angeles: Ongoing special exhibit: “Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer,” the first-ever museum exhibit using the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where children will have mental and physical challenges to solve puzzles, learn about balance and reflexes and creative problem solving, through Feb. 19 (tinyurl.com/4zcw78s7). Hands-on exhibits make science fun for children. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $18 ages 15-61; $17 ages 62 and older; $16 ages 3-14. Location, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. www.facebook.com/TheDiscoveryCube. www.discoverycube.org
Forest Lawn Museum – Glendale: Ongoing special exhibits: “Reina de Los Angeles,” photography of murals and shrines in Los Angeles that celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe and Mexican culture from the photo archive of Nydya Mora, through Feb. 11 (tinyurl.com/bde5acsz) and “Shaping Gravity – Abstract Art Beyond the Picture Plane,” through March 10 (tinyurl.com/yk376nne). Free admission. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Location, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. forestlawn.com
Fowler Museum at UCLA: Ongoing special exhibits: “Janyak: Armenian Art of Knots and Loops,” through April 7. “The House Was Too Small: Yoruba Sacred Arts from Africa and Beyond,” through June 2. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Free admission. Parking directions: enter from Sunset Boulevard at Westwood Plaza, turn left into the pay-by-space area of Lot 4 (198 Westwood Plaza). Location, 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood. https://fowler.ucla.edu/
The Getty Villa: Ongoing special exhibit: “Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt,” through Jan. 25, 2027. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. Free admission, but a timed-entry reservation is required. Parking $20. Location, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Grammy Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Hip-Hop America: The Mix Tape Exhibit,” through Sept. 4. “Roxy: 50 and Still Rockin’,” through winter 2024 (grammymuseum.org/event/50andstillrockin).”Shakira, Shakira: The Grammy Museum Experience,” through winter 2024. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Admission $18; $15 ages 65 and older; $12 ages 5-17 and college students with ID. Location, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-725-5700. grammymuseum.org
Italian American Museum Los Angeles: Ongoing special exhibit: “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon,” through Oct. 13 (tinyurl.com/mrrb4pbh). Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission free; donations requested. Location, 644 N. Main St., Los Angeles. 213-485-8432. www.iamla.org
Japanese American National Museum: Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday; closed on national holidays (www.janm.org/visit). Admission: $16; $9 ages 62 and older and children; free for ages 5 and younger (timed advance tickets are recommended). Location, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-625-0414. Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamuseum. janm.org
La Brea Tar Pits: Museum hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except closed on the first Tuesday of the month and national holidays. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older and students with ID; $7 ages 3-12. Parking $18. Location, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-763-3499. tarpits.org/
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes: Ongoing exhibits: “18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium.” “LA Starts Here!” “Calle Principal: Mi México en Los Ángeles.” Hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles. www.lapca.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Ongoing special exhibits: “Eternal Medium: Seeing the World in Stone,” through Feb. 11. “The World Made Wondrous: The Dutch Collect,” through March 3. “Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca,” through June 2. “Imagined Fronts: The Great War and Global Media,” through July 7. “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting,” through Aug. 4. “Vincent Valdez and Ry Cooder: El Chavez Ravine,” through Aug. 11. Plan your visit information here: bit.ly/2P3c7iR. Admission $20; $16 ages 65 and older and students ages 18 and older with a valid ID; free for ages 17 and younger (reserving/purchasing an advance, timed-entry online is recommended; prices are for residents of Los Angeles County). Museum is closed on Dec. 25. Museum is open, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 (normally closed on Wednesdays). Location, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-857-6010. www.lacma.org
Martial Arts History Museum: Explore the history of martial arts plus exhibits on Asian art, culture, dance and music. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Admission $10; $8 ages 65 and older; $5 ages 6-17. Location, 2319 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. 818-478-1722. Email: info@mamuseum.com. www.facebook.com/martialartshistorymuseum. martialartsmuseum.com/
Museum of African American Art: Ongoing special exhibit: Metro Art presents “Here: Arts and Culture Along the K,” through Feb. 25. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Level Two, Suite 283, 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Crenshaw. 323-294-7071. Email: info@maaala.org. www.maaala.org
Museum of Contemporary Art: Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is free but an advance online timed-entry ticket is required. Special exhibits are $18; $10 seniors and students; free for ages 11 and younger. Locations: the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles; MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 213-633-5351. www.moca.org/visit
Museum of the San Fernando Valley: Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 18904 Nordhoff St. (southwest corner of Nordhoff and Wilbur Avenue), Northridge. 818-347-9665. themuseumsfvnow.org/
Natural History Museum Los Angeles County: Ongoing special exhibit: “100 Carats: Icons of the Gem World,” the centerpiece of the exhibit is a display of the 125 carats Jonker I Diamond, the “largest stone cut from the Jonker diamond — the fourth largest diamond in the world when it was found in 1934” — through April 21 (nhm.org/experience-nhm/exhibitions-natural-history-museum/100-carats). Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday (closed on Tuesday). Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and students with an ID; $7 ages 3-12. Location, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhmlac.org
Petersen Automotive Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Hollywood Customs: Modified for the Movies,” the exhibit includes vehicles used in film and television. “Corvettes in Competition – Racing America’s Sports Car.” “Around the World on Two Wheels: Highlights from the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum,” through March 2. “Inside Tesla – Supercharging the Electric Revolution,” prototypes of Tesla vehicles, historical perspective and design study, through April 2024. “Splendor & Speed: Treasures from the Petersen Collection,” through June 2. “We Are Porsche.” “Arsham Auto Motive,” life-sized vehicle sculptures and posters (www.petersen.org/exhibits). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $21; $19 ages 62 and older; $13 ages 12-17; $11 ages 4-11. Location, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-930-2277. www.petersen.org
Rancho Camulos Museum: Docent-led museum tours: 1, 2 and 3 p.m. (tours are available on Sunday throughout the year). Donation $10. Rancho Camulos is the only National Historic Landmark in Ventura County. Directions: from the 5 Freeway, take the exit to Highway 126, travel 3.5 miles west of the Ventura County Line. The entrance is on the south side of the roadway. The museum is two miles east of Piru. Location, 5146 E. Telegraph Road. 805-521-1501. Email: info@ranchocamulos.org. ranchocamulos.org
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Jan. 1). Admission (Jan. 29-March 14): $16; $13 ages 62 and older; $9 ages 11-17; $6 ages 3-10. Upcoming special exhibit: “Defending America and the Galaxy: SDI and Star Wars,” March 15-Sept. 8 (admission increases during the run of this exhibit). Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. www.reaganfoundation.org
Skirball Cultural Center: Ongoing special exhibit: “This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement,” through Feb. 25 (tinyurl.com/ad63ar52). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed for Jewish and national holidays (www.skirball.org/visit). Admission is by advance time-entry ticket for special exhibits, including “Noah’s Ark at the Skirball.” Admission $12; $9 seniors and students; $7 ages 2-12; www.skirball.org/visit). Location, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-440-4500. skirball.org
Wende Museum of the Cold War: Ongoing special exhibits: “Darling Godsonny: Ivan the Terrible Advises the Infant Stalin” and “Visions of Transcendence: Creating Space in East and West” and “Ceija Stojka and Scenes from Roma Life” and “Wende Times,” the work of six Los Angeles high school students, from their internships at the Wende Museum, on the topic of social media posts on conspiracy theories and artificial intelligence-generated fake news stories, all four exhibits run through April 7. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday (wendemuseum.org/about-us/visit). Free admission. Location, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. 310-216-1600. 310-216-1600. Email: visit@wendemuseum.org. wendemuseum.org
MUSIC
Raehann Bryce-Davis: St. Matthew’s Music Guild presents a recital by the mezzo-soprano, 8 p.m. Feb. 2. Tom Neenan, president of the music guild, gives a pre-concert lecture at 7:10 p.m. Tickets $45. St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. 310-573-7422. www.raehann.com. www.musicguildonline.org/event/raehann-bryce-davis-mezzo-soprano/
Booker T. Jones – 60 Years of Green Onions and the Hammond B-3 – A Soraya Jazz Club concert: Special guest Matthew Whitaker, 8 p.m. Feb. 3. Tickets $59 and up. See the ticket option for dinner. The Soraya at California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St. 818-677-8800. www.thesoraya.org. Jazz Club details: thesoraya.org/en/jazzclub. Concert details and to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/252f6zbp
Big Mardi Gras Rock Show of New Orleans: Big Chief Alfred Doucette and Big Pearl (Lani Ramos of Big Pearl and the Fugitives of Funk), with special guest Rick Whitfield, perform, 3 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets $37.30 and up; $25 children and students. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-500-4200. www.rickwhitfield.com/about.php. www.facebook.com/ElPortalTheatre. Details and to purchase tickets: elportaltheatre.com/mardigras.html
Glendale Noon Concerts: Stella Cho, cellist, and Sakura Tsai, violinist, perform music by Reinhold Glière and Maurice Ravel, 12:10 p.m. Feb. 7. Free; donations welcome. Parking information: glendalecitychurch.org/location. Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale. 818-244-7241. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Makiko Hirata: The musician, known as “Dr. Pianist,” performs a recital, 1 p.m. Feb. 10. Platt Branch Library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. musicalmakiko.com/en. Details: tinyurl.com/29vt5ju4
THEATER
White Out: Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s “Thresholds of Invention” series of pieces-in-progress presents a play written and performed by Dave Trudell on how race has played a role in life decisions and also “intersects with his queerness,” 2 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets $25 (tinyurl.com/2bdn7rzm). Location, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-477-2055, Ext. 2. www.odysseytheatre.com
The Winter’s Tale: Antaeus Theatre Co. present the play by William Shakespeare, previews 2 p.m. Feb. 4; 8 p.m. Feb. 6-8. Opening night, Feb. 9, is sold out. Minimum age: 10. Show runs 8 p.m. Feb. 10; 2 p.m. Feb. 11; dates through March 11. Tickets $20 for previews; $40 (see website for senior and student prices). Kiki and David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Broadway, Glendale. 818-506-5436. antaeus.org
Solofest 2024 at Whitefire Theatre: The 42nd season of solo shows including premieres and audience favorites. Check the website to shows on various dates through March 16. Tickets $25 (unless otherwise noted). Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. (at Sunnyslope Avenue), Sherman Oaks. 818-687-8559. www.whitefiretheatre.com
ONGOING THEATER
Sukkot: The 6th Act presents the world premiere of a play by Matthew Leavitt about a “half-Catholic, half-Jewish” family coming together to help each other with grieving for a loved one, 8 p.m. Feb. 2-3; 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets $35. Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. The 6th Act Facebook: tinyurl.com/3r6y6uxu and website: tinyurl.com/mpj2nhyv. Tickets: the6thact.ludus.com/index.php
Mercury: The Road Theatre Co. presents a black comedy by Steve Yockey about what happens to inhabitants of a town when the temperature rises. Show runs 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; through Feb. 18. Tickets $39; $15 seniors and students. NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-761-8838. www.roadtheatre.org
Strangers on a Train: Theatre 40 presents a play written by Craig Warner, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, about two men speculating about a perfect murder. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1-3; 2 p.m. Feb. 4; dates through Feb. 18. Tickets $35. See the website for parking information. Theatre Forty, on the campus of Beverly Hills High School, 241 S. Moreno Drive. 310-364-0535. theatre40.org/product/strangers-on-a-train/
Twelve Angry Jurors: The Group Rep presents a play based on the 1954 teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman L. Sergel, about a jury deciding upon their verdict after closing arguments to a murder trial. Show runs 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; dates through March 3. Tickets $35; $30 seniors and students. Lonny Chapman Theatre, main stage, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-763-5990. thegrouprep.com/
Middle of the World: Rogue Machine presents a new, multi-cultural play by Juan José Alfonso about a chance meeting during a ride share that changes the lives of two people forever. Show runs 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; 8 p.m. Monday; dates through March 4. Tickets $45; $35 seniors; $25 students. Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 855-585-5185. www.roguemachinetheatre.org
Submit calendar listings at least two weeks in advance to holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment
The Best Things To Do in Seattle This Month: February 2024
Jump to: Comedy | Community | Film | Food & Drink | Holidays | Live Music | Performance | Readings & Talks | Visual Art
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Vir Das may not be a household name in the States, but the Bollywood star is India’s biggest English-speaking stand-up comedian—the first from the South Asian country to have a Netflix special. In fact, he has four, and was also hailed by Variety as a “Top 10 Comic to Watch.” Get a taste of his charismatic brand of comedy in his lockdown show, Outside In, before heading to the Seattle stop of his brand-new tour. JW
Moore Theatre, Belltown (Fri Feb 2)
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“Never has she ever read a newspaper,” but batshit Broad City angel Ilana Glazer will still head to Seattle to spread the good news. (What’s the good news? That she still exists and she’s still hilarious. Try to keep up.) Ilana has been voicing the plucky deuteragonist on Netflix’s Green Eggs and Ham for the last few years, a role that feels somehow perfect for her. I’m hoping she shares the details on her toy collection and love of sandwiches. LC
Moore Theatre, Belltown (Thurs Feb 8)
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With shows like Reservation Dogs and writers like Tommy Orange on the rise, Native arts and performances are getting some overdue shine. This evening of laughs spotlights Native comedy greats like Miguel Fierro, Oakland-based stand-up Jackie Keliiaa, Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma member Adrianne Chalepah, and queer trans comic Howie Echo-Hawk—expect a night of stereotype-shirking laughs and thoughts on the land back movement. LC
Neptune Theatre, University District (Mon Feb 19)
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With the Better Half Marathon, it’s easier than ever to take the next step (and then the next, and then another one, ad nauseam) in any relationship. Enter in one of four categories: bromance, besties, lovers, and lonely hearts, and choose from 5K, 10K, and half marathon races. If you’re really trying to show someone you can’t do it without them, sign up for the half marathon relay. Entry includes a running hoodie, race photos, and a hot post-race meal (nothing says sexy like sweatily scarfing down oatmeal together). My sister, a runner who completed her first half marathon last year, tells me My Better Half is supposed to be a “great race” because the course is “along the water and downhill, and also the medal is cute.” SL
Seward Park, Seward Park (Sun Feb 11)
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Love is in the air—or is that plant fragrance? If topiaries tickle your fancy and flowers float your boat (so to speak), head on over to a weekend full of blooming displays at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. You can check out over 20 display gardens built around the theme “I Heart Spring,” and browse the marketplace for a new plant baby (or a dozen) to take home. With over 90 seminars and talks from gardening specialists, I’m hoping to finally learn how not to kill every living thing I bring into my place. SL
Seattle Convention Center, Downtown (Feb 14–18)
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It doesn’t matter if you’re a gamer, sci-fi nerd, anime fan, fantasy fairy, or cosplay artist, Emerald City Comic Con is for you! Don’t miss this jam-packed weekend of panels, meet-and-greets, cosplay, comics, fanfic, and screenings. This welcoming con offers youngling lightsaber training, furry meetups, and panels on topics like mental health in pop culture and LGBTQ+ representation in the superhero world. Celebrity guests include America’s favorite ass (Chris Evans), James Hong of EEAAO and Kung Fu Panda fame, the first female (and 13th overall) Doctor Jodie Whittaker, LOTR buds Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, and many more. Good news for Twilight fans (Washington pride!), four of the actors who played members of the Cullen family will make appearances. SL
Seattle Convention Center, Downtown (Feb 29–Mar 3)
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Kick off Black History Month in the grooviest way possible with the Afrofuturist masterpiece Space Is The Place, which sees space prophet Sun Ra and the whole Intergalactic Solar Arkestra return to Earth (Oakland, to be exact) after a cosmic trip to prep Black people for an impending apocalypse through teleportation tunes. Their music aims to transport listeners to a “planetary paradise away from violence and racial prejudices”—if you haven’t seen the sci-fi classic yet, make this the year you fix that. LC
Central Cinema, Central District (Feb 2–7)
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Relive your lunchbox-toting years at this annual hybrid festival, which promises a “cine-magical extravaganza for tots, teens, and everyone in between.” Sound corny? WHO CARES?? CFFS has presented an annual lineup of children’s flicks for 19 years and has grown to become the largest film festival on the West Coast dedicated to kids and their families. Get into it—you’re basically guaranteed to see something sweet and life-affirming. This year’s slate includes a youth-juried roundup of over 150 films by international artists, plus affordable “field trips” for educators and their students, cosmic-themed workshops, and more. LC
Northwest Film Forum, Capitol Hill (Feb 2–10)
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Life is short. Spend 10 hours of it watching Peter Jackson’s entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, then spend another 10 hours watching his entire Hobbit trilogy. (Don’t say I never gave you any good life advice.) As someone who just read The Hobbit for the first time over Christmas, I’m rather enraptured by J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of talking bears and breakfast-loving little guys like Bilbo, and Middle-earth seems as good a place as any to defrost from a long winter. On February 3, the newly minted SIFF Cinema Downtown will screen the entire LOTR trilogy for diehard Ringers, but you can also catch individual screenings February 2-15. LC
SIFF Cinema Downtown, Belltown (Feb 2–15)
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Originating in 2018 as a partnership between the National Nordic Museum and the cultural association Pacific Sámi Searvi, the Sámi Film Festival has blossomed into a hybrid event with extensive in-person and virtual film programming from Sámi (indigenous Northern Scandinavian) cultures. This year’s festival explores the work of “newly released and classic Sámi features, documentaries, and short films” selected by guest curator Liselotte Wajstedt, including an in-person screening of Katja Gauriloff’s Je’vida, the first film in the Skolt Sámi language. LC
National Nordic Museum, Ballard (Feb 8–11)
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Dan Savage’s pioneering erotic film fest will premiere an all-new lineup of sexy films featuring all genders and orientations at On the Boards this year. Since 2005, HUMP! has brought inclusive, creative, and kinky films to the big screen—scope out the sex-positive fest in person for a tantalizing treat. This year’s fest features not one but two feature-length lineups—part one includes a feast of “24 brand-spanking-new films” for your eyeballs. It’s worth a venture outside of your sex dungeon, but you can still wear the latex catsuit. LC
On the Boards, Uptown (Feb 8–Mar 2)
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For the 18th edition of Port Townsend’s proudly quirky two-day festival, over 20 brewers will flaunt the most esoteric and offbeat beers they have to offer. (Last year’s “Strangest Brew” winner was Double Bluff Brewing’s French Onion Soup beer, made with puréed caramelized onions, to give you an idea of what’s in store.) A steady lineup of local music and food vendors will keep energy levels high, and local glass blower Patrick Forrestal of Port Townsend Glassworks will show off his talents with a live demonstration. JB
American Legion Hall, Port Townsend (Feb 2–3)
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Too many Valentine’s Day menus are overwrought and fussy, leaning too heavily on cloying clichés. Not so with L’Oursin’s three-course prix-fixe meal—the charming French bistro presents bright, refreshing, romantic options like a blush-pink chicory and chèvre salad, dry-aged salmon crudo, seared scallops with tarragon velouté, ravioli featuring the appealingly named “winter luxury squash,” passionfruit tarts, and chocolate crèmeux, as well as optional supplements (like foie gras and oysters) and wine pairings. JB
L’Oursin, Central District (Wed Feb 14)
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The first of Seattle Center’s 2024 cultural festivals celebrates Tết, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year. A fashion show will feature colorful ao dai, traditional Vietnamese dresses, and the rest of the schedule is jam-packed with art, music, performances, and hands-on experiences that showcase Vietnamese culture. Expect red and yellow everywhere (they’re considered lucky colors) and get excited for lion dances and Vietnamese food from vendors like CÀPHÊTERIA and Cỏ May Bistro. There will also be a health fair providing free services, screenings, and support. SL
Seattle Center, Uptown (Feb 3–4)
Madame Mars’ Mystic Society: A Mardi Gras Spectacular
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Let them eat king cake! Emerald City Trapeze will channel some Mardi Gras spirit with this blend of magic-conjuring cabaret, flying trapeze, circus, and drag performances, all set to live music within the portal of Madame Mars’s pink-lit, “magnificent parlor.” Show some extra love for the Bayou State by heading to the 21+ show on February 10, which will laissez les bons temps rouler with a moonlit after-party beneath the big top. LC
Emerald City Trapeze Arts, SoDo (Feb 9–10)
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Seattle’s largest indoor Night Market celebrates Lunar New Year for the fourth year in a row with an adults-only evening of entertainment, delicious eats, and a makers market. Don’t miss the drunken lion dance or DJs and dance performances from K-POP Seattle, and be sure to explore wares and treats from dozens of AAPI-owned businesses. On our list: slurping hot noods from Oh Dang while browsing delightfully cute creations from Peachy x Noodle. There’s even a bar dedicated to two of Seattle’s favorite things: alcohol and boba—a dream come true! General admission tickets are just $15, but for ten bucks more you can treat yourself to “All Day Happy Hour,” which includes a tote bag, access to the express bar, and two drink tickets. SL
Magnuson Park Hangar 30, Sand Point (Sat Feb 10)
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Every year, the Northwest African American Museum hosts a Smithsonian scholar for Black History Month. Don’t miss 2024’s keynote from Dr. Doretha Williams and her family history team on Black ancestry and genealogy. NAAM is always worth a visit, as they showcase African American art, history, and culture in the PNW year-round, including with current exhibitions Positive Frequencies and Oregon Black Pioneers. SL
Northwest African American Museum, Central District (Thurs Feb 15)
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There are so many music festivals in the PNW these days, but there’s always been a noticeable lack of soul, funk, and R&B fests. Olympia’s new Funk OFF! festival is looking to fill that gap with three days of live music, dancing, food trucks, and other “merrymaking activities.” Highlights from the lineup, which covers both homegrown and touring talent, include pioneering soul artists George Porter Jr. (of the Meters), New Orleans funk ensemble the Rumble (ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.), soulful singer-songwriter Ron Artis II & the Truth, and the Seattle-based prog-funk band Polyrhythmics. AV
Capitol Theater, Olympia (Feb 2–4)
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The post-holiday winter months can feel a bit bleak—it’s cold and dark with no twinkling lights to illuminate your neighborhood. That’s why I love a late winter festival—it helps that special December magic live on while forcing you out of hibernation. At Seattle Chamber Music Society’s annual six-day winter program, they will celebrate the fertile musical history of the British Isles with two weekends of music from Britain’s greatest composers of the early 20th century along with works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and other great masters. AV
(Benaroya Hall, Downtown (Feb 2–4)
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We all have that one song that transports us to a very specific place and time. For me, it’s the Cold War Kids’ “Hang Me Up To Dry.” The first strum of the distorted guitar pulls me straight back to autumn of 2009, walking around in the rain at the Seattle Center’s Fun Forest (RIP) with my best friend while sipping soy milk lattes and talking shit about our middle school teachers. “Hang Me Up To Dry” is angsty, sweaty, and cacophonous—it’s the mother of all indie sleaze songs. I shrieked when I heard it on the soundtrack of Emerald Fennell’s Y2K period flick Saltburn. The West Coast indie rockers will ride the wave of nostalgia back to Seattle in honor of their 20th bandiversary. Indie pop duo Hovvdy will open. AV
Moore Theatre, Belltown (Sat Feb 3)
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With the Cold War Kids, Grouplove, Silverun Pickups, and now the Kills touring, it’s shaping up to be a big month for indie sleaze. Throw on any song by the Kills, new or old, and be transported to a grimy underground club circa 2008 with glitter particles floating through the air and American Apparel disco pants abound. The duo will play songs from their first album in six years, God Games, which guitarist Jamie Hince described as “godless spirituals.” AV
Showbox SoDo, SoDo (Wed Feb 7)
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My cat Whisper loves the oldies station. Every night, I tune into KIXI (880 AM) and observe his reaction to solid gold classics. Some of his favorites include Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Henry Mancini’s “Moon River,” the Temptations’ “My Girl,” and the Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).” For that reason, I like to imagine an alternate universe where cats are allowed to attend concerts. In that fantasy, Whisper is joined by fellow kitties who share his affinity for Motown. Alas, I may have to attend this concert in his honor. Be grateful that you’re not a feline so that you can witness iconic vocal groups the Temptations and the Four Tops, both of which still have at least one founding member several decades into their careers. AV
Paramount Theatre, Downtown (Sat Feb 10)
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Most of us know Leslie Feist for her 2007 twee hit “1234,” which was used to market iPod Nanos to the masses back in the day. But, the Canadian singer-songwriter is so much more than that. In my opinion, her best work came in 2019 with Pleasure. The album showed her range with angsty PJ Harvey-esque wails and delicate harmonies—to this day, it’s my favorite album to listen to while taking a bath (if you’re a bath person, then you know that this is high praise). Last year, Feist returned with her sixth album, Multitudes, which leans into avant-folk with plucked guitars and ethereal layered vocals. Yet another immaculate bath-time record—props to her! AV
Showbox SoDo, SoDo (Fri Feb 16)
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In 2022, Jon Batiste won the coveted Grammy for Album of the Year, beating out pop radio heavies like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and Doja Cat—and for good reason! On his award-winning album WE ARE, Batiste is credited for playing over two dozen instruments along with self-producing, writing, arranging, and composing. He will support his newest output, World Music Radio, which is more radio-ready than ever with pop hooks, hip-hop beats, and A-list features like Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, and Seattle’s own Kenny G. AV
Paramount Theatre, Downtown (Sat Feb 17)
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With Ticketmaster charging exorbitant prices for big-name concerts, I prayed to the pop gods not to announce any tours that would entice me. So of course, the Queen of Pop herself had to go and announce her Celebration tour. Described in the press release as a career-spanning “one-of-a-kind experience” that pays respects to her career’s birthplace of New York City, Madonna has vowed to give fans “the show they have been waiting for.” Plus, RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Bob the Drag Queen is opening the show. Goddamnit, I guess I have no choice but to go. I mean what more is there to say? Bitch, it’s Madonna! AV
Climate Pledge Arena, Uptown (Feb 17–18)
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Mosh along to Kyoto-based punk quartet Otoboke Beaver’s fast and ferocious anti-love songs from their album Super Champion. The album soars on seething rage and masterful riffs with feminist anthems like “i am not maternal,” “You’re No Hero Shut Up Fuck You Man-Whore,” and “Dirty Old Fart Is Waiting for My Reaction.” They get an A+ for song title creativity. AV
The Crocodile, Belltown (Feb 20–21)
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Celebrate the Thin White Duke’s “golden years” with the Seattle Symphony, which will perform a unique interpretation of David Bowie’s emotionally intense final album, Blackstar. The lyrics will be sung by actor/writer/director John Cameron Mitchell, who is best known for creating the cult-classic film and Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. If you’ve seen his cover of “Moonage Daydream” in the TV adaptation of Lindy West’s Shrill, then you probably saw this coming. AV
Benaroya Hall, Downtown (Fri Feb 23)
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Pop sensation Dorian Electra gained a queer cult following and critical acclaim after the release of their 2019 ’80s-tinged hyperpop debut, Flamboyant. Their newest release, Fanfare, sounds like an absolutely bananas version of Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom era with elements of metal, hip-hop, and baroque. My favorite lyric on the album? “Fuck it, put it up me like puppet / Love it, fill me to the brim like bucket / Shove it, Miss Piggy squeal like Muppet” from the track “Puppet.” I’ll let that poetry marinate with you for a moment. Electra will be joined by the electropop duo Frost Children and indie rock project atlgrandma. AV
Neptune Theatre, University District (Fri Feb 23)
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Former Portland Mercury contributor Daniela Serna writes: “As Helado Negro, Roberto Carlos Lange creates shimmering and effervescent synth-pop that inhabits the twilight spaces between cultures. Born in South Florida to Ecuadorian parents and currently based in New York, Lange imbues his music with the heat and bright party sounds of Latin America, and often switches between Spanish and English. It’s crafted with musical dexterity—record samples, loops, synths, and a myriad of live instruments are the building blocks of Lange’s electro-psych-pop dreams.” He will return to Seattle with songs from his new album, PHASOR (out February 9). Written and recorded during lockdown, he describes the album as “an homage to going outside again.” AV
Neptune Theatre, University District (Feb 25)
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Chances are good that you’re already familiar with this ethereal story of love, agency, and good versus evil. Swan Lake is a must-see for the uninitiated, and a graceful reminder of ballet’s power for die-hard fans. Crafted “by the light of [theatrical set designer] Ming Cho Lee’s luminous moon,” Kent Stowell’s ultra-dreamy adaptation of the wing-flapping masterpiece envelops viewers in the tale of Prince Siegfried and Odette, Queen of the Swans set to Tchaikovsky’s original score. LC
McCaw Hall, Uptown (Feb 2–11)
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Back in 2012, Stranger theater critic Brendan Kiley wrote: “Critics talk about hip-hop theater and hip-hop dance-theater, but artists like Abraham are making that critical frame obsolete, demonstrating that hip-hop is an influence, not a cage,” and the sentiment holds true today. Abraham and his dancers will return to the stage with a new dance-based work that’s “galvanized by Black culture and history.” The New York Times recently reported that Abraham is “known for his use of popular music — recently, he has choreographed substantial works to D’Angelo and James Blake,” so expect some tunes you recognize. LC
Moore Theatre, Belltown (Wed Feb 21)
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This series of biographical vignettes traces the life of the American Muslim minister and radical Black human rights activist El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, aka Malcolm X, from his early experiences with white supremacy to his conversion to Islam, ground-shaking activist work, and eventual murder. Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Anthony Davis (Central Park Five) created an intriguing minimalist and jazz-fused score for the operatic work, which is a co-production with Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, and the Metropolitan Opera. LC
McCaw Hall, Uptown (Feb 24–Mar 9)
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I credit the Iranian American Pushcart Prize winner and poet Kaveh Akbar for sparking my initial interest in poetry—his confessional collection Calling a Wolf a Wolf is totally extraordinary, especially if you or someone you love has lived with addiction. Suffice it to say I’m excited about Akbar’s debut novel, excellently titled Martyr!, which tells the story of a martyr-obsessed, “newly sober orphaned son of Iranian immigrants” who meets a terminally ill painter living at the Brooklyn Museum. He’ll discuss the book with Claire Dederer, whose book Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma expands on the questions she probed in her 2017 Paris Review essay “What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men?” LC
Elliott Bay Book Company, Capitol Hill (Thurs Feb 1)
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Self-proclaimed “internet yeller” Ijeoma Oluo is also the author of the New York Times bestseller So You Want To Talk About Race and the follow-up book Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America, both of which offered critical perspectives on how to navigate the issues of racism and white male supremacy embedded in American culture. But for those wondering “Okay, what now?” Oluo’s latest book might answer your question. Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World — and How You Can, Too looks closely at how folks are enacting change from within the powerful, garbaggio systems that be. Creating seismic shifts for intersectional racial equity is not only possible, it’s necessary, and Oluo’s got thoughts on how you can find an entry point. In this discussion, Oluo will share “how to take conversations on race and racism out of a place of pure pain and trauma, and into a place of loving action.” LC
Town Hall Seattle, First Hill (Fri Feb 9)
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Whether you’re prejudiced against parsnips or biased against beets, local cookbook author Becky Selengut is here to help you gently break down your aversions to veggies that have traditionally gotten the short end of the stick. Her newest release Misunderstood Vegetables is dedicated to this mission, with seasonal recipes like charred chard with spicy chili oil and celery root gratin, sure to convert even the pickiest palates. She’ll chat about the plight of unpopular produce with friend, fellow cookbook author, and Spilled Milk co-host Matthew Amster-Burton, followed by a Q&A and book signing. JB
Book Larder, Fremont (Thurs Feb 22)
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With ten poetry collections, two memoirs, and several plays and children’s books under her belt (not to mention four albums—yep, she’s also an accomplished saxophonist), three-time Poet Laureate of the United States Joy Harjo (a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation) will head to Seattle after winning Yale’s 2023 Bollingen Prize for American Poetry. She’ll chat with self-described “punk-ass sick neurospicy indigiqueer” Arianne True, an alum of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. LC
Town Hall Seattle, First Hill (Tues Feb 27)
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Aiming to redefine stereotypes and notions of luxury in Black culture, the group exhibition Black & Boujee challenges the Eurocentric conception of opulence, centers Afrocentric aesthetics, and will likely expand your perceptions on all things expensive. The show is a great reason to visit Bainbridge Island—it’ll showcase works by Black artists and designers working in painting, sculpture, and other mediums to investigate the “complexity of navigating luxury in a society shaped by racial inequalities.” LC
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Winslow (Feb 1–20)
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The brilliant, genre-transcending Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta died on September 8, 1985 after somehow “falling” from a window amid an argument with her husband, the minimalist artist Carl Andre, who passed away on January 24. Let’s pay Andre homage the right way: By focusing solely on Mendieta and her “earth-body” works, which stand the test of time and are infinitely stronger than anything he ever created. That’s what Colleen RJC Bratton does in Edgeless Burial, which directly references Mendieta’s Siluetas series of ephemeral body tracings created in varying landscapes. Bratton’s drawings “find their roots in the landscapes that birthed them,” including the Puget Sound, the Cascades, and a small farmstead, among other places. Bratton reckons with impermanence, transformation, and the climate crisis in her multimedia time-lapses and “biomorphic” installation, which also reference Washington’s landmark decision to legalize human composting. LC
Gallery 4Culture, Pioneer Square (Feb 1–29)
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If you’re already familiar with the Portland art scene, you’ve likely heard the name “Jessica Jackson Hutchins” float around. Jackson Hutchins’s tactile works transform everyday objects into art forms that are both intimately familiar and reverently heightened, and her ambitious, raw, playful style, which runs the gamut from massive sculptural installations to clothing pieces, is easily recognizable. The artist often employs castoff household objects to create her earth-toned, figurative, and vessel-like forms; in 2016, her process expanded to include collage-like window pieces in fused glass, some of which you’ll see in Jessica Jackson Hutchins: Wrecked and Righteous. The exhibition surveys the last 30-ish years of her career in a nonchronological presentation of furniture pieces, relief paintings, and more, plus “wearable food vessels” that will be activated during a special performance. LC
Frye Art Museum, First Hill (Feb 1–May 5)
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Sky Hopinka, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, descendant of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño people, and 2022 MacArthur Foundation grant awardee, blends English and “Indigenous dialects such as Chinuk Wawa, a revived Chinookan creole of the Pacific Northwest” in his ground-quaking works, which often layer elements of poetry, prose, and image to think carefully about language as a strong cultural force. I was honored to write about Hopinka’s work back in 2019, so this solo exhibition—the artist’s first in the Pacific Northwest—feels especially exciting. Subterranean Ceremonies includes four recent films and new photographs that “focus on personal and political notions of Indigenous homeland,” inspired by transitory landscapes and Hopinka’s own wanderings. LC
Frye Art Museum, First Hill (Feb 17–May 26)
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Conceptual artist and activist Hank Willis Thomas blends mixed media with mass-produced, archival, and contemporary images to create photographs, sculptures, and installations that reckon with important questions about the role of art in civic life. LOVERULES, which pulls works spanning 20 years of Thomas’s career from the Jordan D. Schnitzer Family Foundation’s collection, includes some of his most well-known pieces, including the corporate advertising-inspired works Branded and Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America. Staying curious about advertising and visual culture as creators of “narratives that shape our notion of value in society,” Thomas spotlights the cultural tropes that influence race relations, inequality, and resistance. LC
Henry Art Gallery, University District (Feb 24–Aug 4)
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment
Celebrate Black History Month with these books recommended by the New York Public Library
… the achievements of African Americans and their vital … Study of African American Life and History, is “African Americans and … the effects of systemic racism and internalized oppression. … and frustrations as an African-American parent. The Autobiography … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News