In a spirited homage to the impactful 1971 documentary, “Five,” produced by Delawarean Dom Albi, The Biggs Museum of American Art proudly announces a month-long celebration, showcasing the brilliance of five Black Artists from the Biggs Collection.
The focal point of this celebration is the streaming of the 30-minute film “Five,” a poignant creation by Delawarean Dom Albi. The film presents short documentary sketches featuring Barbara Chase Riboud, Charles White, Romare Bearden, Richard Hunt, and Betty Blayton. Delving into their creative processes, inspirations, and the social forces at play in the early 1970s, each artist’s narrative unfolds in a captivating display of artistry.
Simultaneously, The Biggs will shine a spotlight on five African American Artists from their collection, offering an enriching experience to visitors. Complementing this, a specially curated souvenir booklet will guide guests on a self-guided tour, inviting them to explore the nuances of each artist’s work.
To further enhance the experience, The Biggs will host guided tours of the Biggs Five every Sunday throughout February from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m., in collaboration with the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Established in 1946, The Links, Incorporated is a renowned not-for-profit committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and those of African ancestry. As part of the Citywide Black History Celebration, The Biggs extends an invitation with free admission each Sunday in February.
Mark your calendars for additional free admission days during the museum’s traditional BIGGS Weekend, occurring the first weekend of each month, Friday through Sunday. On February 3, visitors are encouraged to participate in a hands-on craft from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., drawing inspiration from the pastel colors in Edward Loper, Jr.’s “Breakfast Club.” Using pastels, participants will create portraits reflecting those closest to the artist, pondering the question, “Who is in your breakfast club?”. This program will be repeated for Sunday’s Visitors from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
To conclude this immersive month-long celebration, The Biggs will host a compelling lecture by DSU Professor of Art, Lori Crawford, on Leap Day, February 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. Titled “Leaps & Bounds: Contemporary Black Artists,” the lecture promises to showcase the remarkable endeavors of Black artists across the country and in Delaware in recent years.
Embrace the journey of art, culture, and history at The Biggs Museum of American Art this February.
Schedule of Events
All Events are FREE. No registration is necessary. Hours of operation: Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Feb 2
- Free admission
Feb 3
- Free admission
- Family Creative Studio – 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Inspired by Edward Loper, Jr.’s The Breakfast Club, participants will use pastels to create a portrait of the people in their inner circle who would make up their “Breakfast Club.”
Feb 4
- Free admission
- Family Creative Studio – 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Inspired by Edward Loper, Jr.’s The Breakfast Club, participants will use pastels to create a portrait of the people in their inner circle who would make up their “Breakfast Club.”
- Tour of “the Biggs Five” facilitated by the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated 2-2:30 p.m.
Feb 11
- Free admission
- Tour of “the Biggs Five” facilitated by the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated 2-2:30 p.m.
Feb 18
- Free admission
- Tour of “the Biggs Five” facilitated by the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated 2-2:30 p.m.
Feb 25
- Free admission
- Tour of “the Biggs Five” facilitated by the Dover (DE) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated 2-2:30 p.m.
Feb 29
- Free admission
- Lecture, “Leaps & Bounds: Contemporary Black Artists”
- The Biggs will host a compelling lecture by DSU Professor of Art, Lori Crawford, on Leap Day, February 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. Titled “Leaps & Bounds: Contemporary Black Artists,” the lecture promises to showcase the remarkable endeavors of Black artists across the country and in Delaware in recent years.
Expanded Lecture Description:
Lecture: Leaps & Bounds: Contemporary Black Artists
Thursday, February 29 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Join us at The Biggs for an inspiring evening of art and culture with the free-to-attend lecture, “Leaps & Bounds: Contemporary Black Artists.” Hosted by DSU Professor of Art, Lori Crawford, this captivating lecture will take place on Leap Day, February 29, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Step into the world of contemporary Black artists as Professor Lori Crawford explores the remarkable endeavors of these talented individuals across the country and right here in Delaware. The lecture promises to be a thought-provoking journey through the diverse and impactful works of Black artists, highlighting their contributions to the art scene in recent years. See what creatives such as Kerry James Marshall, Renee Cox, Kehinde Wiley, Nina Spencer and many others are saying to the world.
While the event is free to attend, we encourage you to register to secure your spot for this enriching experience. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to delve into the dynamic world of Contemporary Black Art and gain insights into the creative expressions that have shaped and defined our cultural landscape. Register now and join us on Leap Day for an evening of Leaps & Bounds.
About the Speaker
Lori Crawford has been teaching at Delaware State University for over 25 years. Her primary areas in teaching are Computer Graphics and secondarily in African American Art History and Gender Studies. Crawford earned her Bachelor of Arts from Morehead State University and was the first African-American female student to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Computer Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1996. Lori Crawford was recently honored with a 2024 Artist Fellowship from the Division of the Arts in the category of Interdisciplinary for Established Artists. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the country including solo exhibitions at the Biggs, the Rehoboth Art League, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and venues in Syracuse, NY, Gettysburg, PA, and Washington, DC. Ms. Crawford’s work can be found in the collections of Paul R. Jones, Donald Byrd, McNeese State University, Baton Rouge Community College, and other public and private collections.