Free screening in Hannaford Hall, 88 Bedford Street in Portland
“HBO’s original documentary, ‘Black Art: In the Absence of Light,’ serves as a powerful introduction for mainstream audiences to a small cross section of the countless brilliant Black visual artists working today with a whiff of the genius that preceded them.”
85 min. Not Rated. Directed by Sam Pollard.
Directed by Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Mr. SOUL!, Eyes on the Prize), this film shines a light on the extraordinary impact of Driskell’s exhibit Two Centuries of Black American Art on generations of Black artists who have staked a claim on their rightful place within the 21st-Century art world. Interweaving insights and context from scholars and historians, along with interviews from a new generation of working African American curators and artists including Theaster Gates, Kerry James Marshall, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald and Carrie Mae Weems, the documentary is a look at the contributions of Black American artists in today’s contemporary art world.
In conjunction with David Driskell: Icons of Nature and History (on view through September 12), PMA Films and Indigo Arts Alliance present a free screening of Black Art: In the Absence of Light at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 8 in Hannaford Hall, 88 Bedford Street on the USM campus in Portland.
Please RSVP to reserve seating. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30 p.m. The film is preceded by live musical performance by Kafari beginning at 5:45 p.m. and an introduction by Indigo Arts Alliance. Walk-ins will be accommodated based on day-of seating availability.
For COVID safety, attendance will be limited to 50% capacity and masks will be required of all attendees.
Join us 6 p.m. Thursday, September 9 for a live virtual conversation with Black Art: In the Absence of Light filmmaker Sam Pollard conducted by Indigo Arts Alliance Executive Director and co-founder Marcia Minter and Sarah Workneh, Co-director, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Register here.