Greenbelt is blessed with an abundance of events celebrating Black History Month – hope you’re partaking! I’ve particularly enjoyed the art shows.

At the New Deal Cafe

All month, the New Deal Cafe is filled with art by local Black artists, and the reception held in their honor was both moving and instructive.

I made a video of Whiskey Girl’s introductory remarks and reading of her poem, but I’ll direct you to 25:45 on Jon Campanile’s video of the whole event – he was close enough to get great sound. Whiskey Girl warned us that healing brings disruption and that this might be uncomfortable, then read a poem that begins: “Oh White people.”  So I listened up! Click here to watch.

And here are some of the pieces on display at the Cafe. And for sale.

From left: “The Reason Why I Sing: Hummingbird” by Lindsey Vance and “Hand in Hand: Black Love” by Shaymar; “zora” by Jess the Messenger

Blue Robin’s “Into the Chrysalis, I see.”

From top:  “Playful Clouds” by Pzay; and “Washing Kwame” by Captain Planet and the Planeteers.

At the Community Center

At the same time the New Deal reception was going on, there was an opening reception in the Greenbelt Community Center for “PIECED: Fiber Arts by Fashion Designer Venus Stanton and the Uhuru Quilters Guild.” They’ll be on display until March 17. It’s gorgeous!