Central Ohio’s celebration of the Harlem Renaissance continues this fall and into early next year, as the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Museum of Art, CAPA, and other arts organizations, educational institutions and community partners throughout central Ohio join in to commemorate this vital, year-long celebration of this cultural milestone and Columbus’ ties to it.
I, Too, Sing America – the Harlem Renaissance seeks to unify the greater Columbus community by sharing the history, heritage and global influence of the Harlem Renaissance: an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion that centered in Harlem, New York and its connection to Columbus. It is generally considered to have spanned from about 1918 until the mid-1930s, but its ideas and the spirit of the movement impacted the world for decades to come.
“The Harlem Renaissance movement that we are commemorating is a significant cultural event on so many levels. It really is the story of America, not only black America and this unparalleled outpouring of arts and culture is with us today,” said Larry James, one of the founders of the community project. “We sincerely hope everyone throughout central Ohio can take some time through the end of 2018 and experience one or more of these events, to recognize, reflect on and celebrate the enormous artistic, cultural and intellectual impact of the Harlem Renaissance.”
Upcoming events and exhibits in Columbus include:
- August Gallery Hop and Mural Series, Aug. 4: The monthly gallery hop in the Short North neighborhood will be celebrating the Harlem Renaissance, with gallery exhibits, a mural series and other expressions of art reflecting the theme.
- Near East Side Hop — King Lincoln Community Week, Aug. 23 to 26:
- Including a gallery showing at the Maroon Arts Group Shipping Container Gallery – Showcasing art from Columbus’ most talented Black artists and a MLK Library Children’s Art Event.
- Creative Control Fest, Sept. 28 and 29: The Creative Control Fest will foster a platform for the mutual exchange of resources with creatives of color in the industries of art, music, design, activism, tech, scholarship and entrepreneurship.
- Harlem Gospel Choir, October 5: Performing contemporary gospel with a touch of jazz and blues, the Harlem Gospel Choir is synonymous with powerful vocals, glorious sound and infectious energy. For over two decades they have been America’s premier gospel choir and have toured the globe thrilling audiences with the inspirational power of black gospel music.
- Columbus Museum of Art, October 19: The date of the highly anticipated “I, Too, Sing America – the Harlem Renaissance” exhibition. This collection will show at CMA until Jan. 20, 2019.
- Dance Theatre of Harlem, November 16: Now in its fourth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.
- BalletMet at the King Art Complex, Nov. 17: The King Arts Complex Hosts a 1920s speakeasy-inspired performance at the Nicholson Auditorium in partnership with BalletMet, featuring dance, live music and spoken-word artists.
- P.I.L.O.T. Awards — Harlem Renaissance End of the Year Event, Dec. 8: A new awards program dedicated to the Harlem Renaissance campaign and its impact on the Columbus arts community.
Visit cbusharlem100.org/event-directory for a full listing of all concerts, readings, exhibitions and other joyous happenings centered on Columbus’ celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance.
