What is Black Art? This question came to prominence in the 1960s at the confluence of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Should art created by African American identified artists be for its own sake, or should it somehow benefit the black community? It is also the subject of the travelling art show “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power” on exhibit at the De Young Museum through March 15th.
The Black Aesthetic highlights library materials which tackle questions surrounding the Black Arts Movement of that time and includes a display of books, poems, magazine articles, and visual art from the 60's and 70's. We hope it will lead viewers to engage with these materials from not only a historical perspective, but also invoke thoughts about the impact and role of art coming from the black community today.
Includes images and highlights from the full exhibit found at the Magazines and Newspapers Center on the 5th floor of the Main Library.
Created by staff from SFPL’s African American Center and the Magazines and Newspapers Center.