January 27, 2016  

Black Cultural Center announces spring Cultural Arts Series

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The spring Cultural Arts Series at Purdue University's Black Cultural Center will include lectures, art exhibitions, a heritage tour, a film and artistic performances.

"This spring's schedule of events features something for everyone in the community, and we encourage participation by all," said center director Renee Thomas. "The slate includes the artistic and cultural richness of African-Americans and is designed to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of African-Americans and their culture."

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Upcoming events include:

* Through February. Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St., Lafayette. "Ambiguous Reflections of Race and Identity: A Question of Color," by artist Gerald Griffin. Griffin, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, owns Griffin Fine Art and Interior Design. The exhibitions are presented in cooperation with the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. Griffin also will be featured in an "Art Talk" at 4 p.m. Feb. 4 in the BCC Multipurpose Room.

* Feb. 10 through March 31. Black Cultural Center, 1100 Third St. "Funky Turns 40: Black Character Revolution Firsts Panel Exhibition." The exhibit presents historical information and captures key animation art images from the late 1960s and the 1970s. Included are Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, the Jackson Five, School House Rock and 1970s morning cartoons that featured positive black characters.

* Feb. 3. 5:30 p.m. Hillenbrand Hall. Soul food dinner and film screening of "Switching Lanes." A soul food dinner is available for $12.63, tax included. The film screening is free. The 2013 film follows two girls who live in a "separate but equal" town of Sumerton. Through their love of track and field, the two girls form a friendship in spite of racial tension in their community.

* Feb. 10. 7 p.m. Lilly Hall, Room 3118. Alumni Speaker Series. Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, senior vie president of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement for Nielsen, will give a talk titled "Climbing Out of Entry Level Hell." The hands-on session with Pearson-McNeil, a 1984 graduate of the Brian Lamb School of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts, will arm students with 12 tips to head into the workforce with confidence.

* Feb. 25. 7 p.m. Black Cultural Center, Multipurpose Room 1. BCC Coffee House, featuring the Performing Arts Ensembles.

* Feb. 27. 8 p.m. Lafayette Theater, 600 Main St., Lafayette. Concert by BCC artist-in-residence Meklit Hadero, a folk-jazz-global roots singer, musician and cultural activist. Presented by Purdue Convocations, the Office of the Provost and the BCC. Tickets are $18-25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.purdue.edu/convocations/event/meklit/

* March 2. 7 p.m. Stewart Center, Room 302. Tamara Winfrey Harris, author of "The Sisters Are Alright; Changing the Broken Narrative for Black Women in America," will speak. Harris specializes in the intersection of race and gender with politics and pop culture.

* March 4-5. Black Cultural Center's Soul of Cleveland Tour. Michael Morris, professor of history at Purdue, will discuss the importance of African-American culture to the origin and development of rock 'n' roll at 3 p.m. at the BCC. Tour participants will visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland and tour the Louis Stokes Museum. The museum honors the first black congressman elected in the state of Ohio.

* April 1-2. 7 p.m. each night. Black Cultural Center. Haraka Fest. Black Cultural Center writers ensemble. Program directed by Khari B.

* April 9. 7:30 p.m. Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette. "Gospel Meets Symphony." The Black Voices of Inspiration partners with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra for an evening of song. Directed by Nick Palmer and James Dekle. Tickets are $8-$39. To order tickets, visit https://lafayettesymphony.secure.force.com/ticket/#details_a0So0000001VNgTEAW

* April 15-16. 7 p.m. each night. Black Cultural Center. New Directional Players spring production.

* April 23. 7 p.m. Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Jahari Dance Troupe Spring Revue. Choreography by Joshua Ishmon. Admission is $5 for Purdue students, $7 for the public. 

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu 

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