9/30/98
Contact: Clair Carpenter, (740) 593-1304
ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University College of Fine Arts Dean Raymond Tymas-Jones will focus on the shared themes of African-American women's art and music during a public lecture and recital at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at The Ridges Auditorium.
Tymas-Jones' presentation coincides with the Kennedy Museum of Art's current exhibit, "Bearing Witness: Contemporary Works by African American Women Artists." A reception in the museum will follow.
Featured in Tymas-Jones' presentation will be the work of three distinguished African-American women composers of this century: Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds and Undine Smith Moore.
"The compositions of each composer represent the richness and depth behind African-American cultural and musical expressions," Tymas-Jones said. Tymas-Jones will perform songs representative of the composers' musical contributions. Accompanying him at the piano will be Professor of Music Dora Wilson.
"Bearing Witness" includes more than 60 prints, drawings, mixed-media installations and sculptures by 24 prominent African-American women artists. The exhibit, which originated at Atlanta's Spellman College, is on national tour. It will remain at the Kennedy Museum through Oct. 14.
Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Thursday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Guided tours of the exhibit are conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, the museum will conduct a "Rides to the Ridges" event from 3 to 7 p.m. An Ohio University van will be stationed near Baker Center, giving students and community members the opportunity to take advantage of free rides to the museum to view the exhibit. No reservations are needed.
The visit of "Bearing Witness" to the Kennedy Museum is funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. The exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, a division of the private, nonprofit arts organization Mid-America Arts Alliance. The alliance is assisted by its six partner state arts agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts and private contributors.