Visual Voices Exhibit honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Paul Laurence Dunbar at VTA

Victoria Theatre Association and Shango: Center for the Study of African American Art and Culture opens the 12th annual VISUAL VOICES exhibit, Monday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. The exhibit, located in the Orchestra Lobby of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, features visual art by local artists who were challenged to create artwork that celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the literary voice of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The exhibit runs Feb. 12-March 30, 2018and is free to the public.

"The research and creativity of the VISUAL VOICES artists revealed that Dayton's own Paul Laurence Dunbar was aware of and sensitive to the social, political, and economic plight of African Americans," says Bing Davis, curator of the King/Dunbar VISUAL VOICES project. "Dunbar found his own way to speak about the African American condition. His writings not only bring a smile, but also informs, inspires, and moves the reader to action."

"As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," continues Davis, "we trust that this art exhibit, inspired by Paul Laurence Dunbar, will encourage viewers to recommit to the struggle that Dr. King's life has come to symbolize."

The King/ Dunbar VISUAL VOICES art exhibit features the work of thirteen contemporary African American artists: Abner Cope, Dwayne Daniel, Cliff Darrett, Bing Davis, Derrick Davis, Horace Dozier, Lois Fortson-Kirk, Al Harden, Kevin Harris, Morris Howard, James Pate, Craig Screven, and Yvette Walker Dalton.

VISUAL VOICES is on display at the Schuster Center Feb. 12 - March 30 and open at the EboNia Gallery April 8 -June 25. The exhibit will then move to the Dayton Power and Light Headquarters June 26- July 30.

Funders for this project are Dayton Power and Light Foundation (corporate sponsor), a grant from the African American Community Fund of the Dayton Foundation, and ZIKS Family Pharmacy.

Community Partner: Dayton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

For more information about Bing Davis, EboNia Gallery and Shango: Center for the Study of African American Art and Culture visit bing@wbdavisart.com.

For more information about VISUAL VOICES and Victoria Theatre Association, visit www.victoriatheatre.com.

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