Cleveland exhibition highlights Karamu Artists Inc. printmaking

The Cleveland Museum of Art will host an exhibition called “Karamu Artists Inc.: Printmaking, Race, and Community.” This event highlights the significant role of Karamu House, a renowned center for Black American culture since 1915, in the world of printmaking. The exhibition opens on Sunday, March 23, and will run until mid-August. Visitors can view the display for free with museum admission. Karamu House has a rich history, including a printmaking workshop established in the 1930s. Notable figures, such as poet Langston Hughes, participated in learning printmaking techniques there. Britany Salsbury, the exhibition curator, expressed the need to better understand the works created by Karamu artists. Many artists from this collective, including Elmer W. Brown and Hughie Lee-Smith, are recognized figures in the art world. However, their contributions have not always received the attention they deserve. The exhibition will showcase over 50 prints from Karamu Artists Inc. It aims to explore their methods, accessibility to printmaking, and the community spirit that defined their work during times of racial unrest. Salsbury noted that these artists' ideas were sometimes ahead of their time. To complement the exhibition, the museum will host various programs, including workshops and lectures on related topics, starting on Tuesday, March 25. A special lecture featuring Richard J. Powell will be on Saturday, March 29. Other events, including an intimate stage production, will also celebrate the legacy of Karamu House. A catalogue featuring works from the exhibition will be available for purchase, along with a limited-edition print by artist Antwoine Washington.