This week on Open Studio, as we head into Presidents' Day, we revisit our story on the portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama. They permanently reside at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, but last September they toured the U.S. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was theirlast stop. We went there to talk to people about how these portraits resonated with them.
Jared Bowen also sits down with multimedia artist Lyle Ashton Harris. The artist uses self-portraiture as a way to ultimately turn the lens on society, creating images that question the conventions and constructs of race, gender, and discrimination. These are images that also make us look at ourselves as much as we’re looking at him. That work and much more is now on view at the Rose Art Museum in an exhibition that spans his 35-year career.
Finally, we continue our Black History Month coverage with Step Afrika!, the dance company that blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities with traditional African dance. Jared Bowen caught up with C. Brian Williams, founder and executive producer of Step Afrika!, when Step Afrika’s production of “Drumfolk” was performing at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre.
