Our Current Exhibit:

Black History Month – African Americans and the Arts

February 9, 2024 – March 30, 2024
Cost – Free, Donations Appreciated
Museum Hours: Thursdays Thru Sundays 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

African Americans and the Arts

In alignment with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s 2024 Black History Month festival theme, Petaluma Blacks for Community Development presents African Americans and the Arts, an exhibition at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, February 9-March 30. The exhibition will celebrate African American expression across several genres, including music, dance, literature, film, architecture, and the visual arts. Works from artistic and cultural movements such as the New Negro movement, Black Renaissance, hip-hop, and Afrofuturism will be featured.

African Americans and the Arts will showcase local contemporary artists Denise Ward and Orin Carpenter, and will also highlight the artistic achievements of acclaimed African American painters across the decades, including Joshua Johnson, Alma Thomas, and Faith Ringgold. The exhibition will also highlight the accomplishments of award-winning science fiction writer Octavia Butler, groundbreaking dancer Misty Copeland, pioneering architect Norma Merrick Sklarek, and lauded filmmaker Spike Lee. Additionally, the exhibition will recognize the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop and honor the contributions of numerous Black American musicians.

An opening reception for the exhibition will take place at the Museum on February 9 at 6:30pm. The event will include a performance by special guest Makeda Kumasi, a multi-talented dancer, storyteller, teacher, and much more. Kumasi will dance and play African drums. Admission to the opening reception is $10, but no one will be turned away.

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development will kick off Black History Month at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum with a sold-out annual jazz concert featuring Dorian Mode on February 2 at 7:00pm.

Other Black History Month events organized by Petaluma Blacks for Community Development and partners include the following:

• Feb 4: Art in Conversation with Denise Ward and Orin Carpenter at the Petaluma Arts Center
• Feb 15: Tina Rogers will perform two 30 minute hip-hop sessions at the Polly Klaas Center
• Feb 17: Keenan Webster will share music of the banjo related instruments at the Petaluma Library
• Feb 18: Art in Conversation with Denise and Rose Hill at the Santa Rosa Museum
• Feb 24: Annual Black History Program at the New Life Christian Church

Please see petalumamuseum.com for exhibition information and visit pbcd4us.com for additional information and programming details.