Juneteenth Art and Celebration—Jim Crow America and Me with Arvie Smith
June 18 | 1:00- 2:30pm
Tuition: $15
Hoffman Center for the Arts | 594 Laneda Avenue | Manzanita
Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for that state’s enslaved peoples. It has been celebrated ever since and was declared a national holiday in 2021. Like Juneteenth, Arvie Smith was born in Texas. In 1938, when he was born, segregation was common in Texas and throughout the United States, and he grew up experiencing the effects of deep prejudice. Through his paintings, Arvie Smith challenges his audience to confront historical and contemporary injustices. His paintings are bright, colorful, lyrically painted, ironic, celebratory, and searingly critical of society’s view of African Americans. We are honored to have Arvie Smith join us to present a comprehensive look at his paintings, and his life that formed them, on this Juneteenth weekend. Join us on Sunday June 18th.
Arvie Smith: left to right: Bacchus, Leda and the Swan, Narcissus and Echo, and Down in the River to Pray