NSU’s 2019 Black History Month events begin on Friday, Feb. 8, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Rick Case Arena in the Don Taft University Center, with the 16th Annual Art Exhibition “Face to Face: Art Through Haitian Eyes” opening reception.
This year’s exhibition, on loan from and curated by the NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale, will feature painted pieces created by Haitian artists.
“This exhibition gives us the opportunity to share the collection with the public… This is the world premier of this exhibition, which has been drawn completely from the NSU Art Museum collection,” said Bonnie Clearwater, director and curator at the NSU Art Museum.
“[The pieces] really transcend the scope of art in the twentieth century, from landscapes and city scenes to more experimental work and abstraction,” explained Clearwater.
The collection will reside in the Alvin Sherman Library Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery after the event. The celebration will also spotlight work from NSU’s own performing and visual arts department student works, which will be displayed in the UC Spine afterwards.
“I think things will be much more harmonious if we embrace our diversity and our differences as opposed to seeing them as a way to keep ourselves apart from each other.”
-Mara Kiffin, director in the division of public relations and marketing communications, chair of the African presence organizing committee and black history month committee.
“I want this to be a celebration. For everyone to come with an open heart and an open mind and realize…everyone is just the same, so why do we resort to this foolishness [separating ourselves from one another]?” said Mara Kiffin, director in the division of public relations and marketing communications, chair of the African presence organizing committee and black history month committee.
“Celebrations of diversity and culture— it’s important. I hope people embrace it, and I hope people come out and have a good time,” added Kiffin.
The opening exhibition on Feb. 8 will be the kick off of NSU’s Black History Month events, and will include a musical performance by NSU’s Riff Tides, refreshments, giveaways and guest speakers. Additionally, it will also celebrate the Urban League of Broward County for their 44 years of service to the community, as well as black Greek organizations, such as the undergraduate ones on campus.
“It’s important for us to embrace our differences. We learn more from our differences than our similarities. Each culture and ethnic and racial group has something to share, something to offer that we can learn from, we can benefit from and we can appreciate.” said Kiffin. “I think things will be much more harmonious if we embrace our diversity and our differences as opposed to seeing them as a way to keep ourselves apart from each other.”
Black History Month will also feature the 6th Annual “Let’s Speak Truth” poetry and spoken word night hosted by QUICKthePoet. The event will be held in the Alvin Sherman Library Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery on Friday, March 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Visit https://www.nova.edu/blackhistory/events.html for more information about NSU’s Black History Month events. A link to RSVP for the opening reception can also be found on that page, or call (954) 262-5357 to reserve a seat.
