Exhibitions
Emory Douglas
30 October - 19 April 2009
Level 1
Emory Douglas, First and only Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party exhibits his work in our UK premiere exhibition.
40 years on from the 1968 Mexican Olympic Games, when John Carlos and Tommy Smith controversially raised their fists in a Black Power salute, this exhibition looks at the meaning and history behind this gesture, as told through the graphic artwork of Emory Douglas, the official artist of the Black Panther Party and its first and only Minister of Culture.
Douglas created a compelling, motivational graphic style. His art from this period, documents growing civil unrest and rapid change. Previously unseen in the UK, the exhibition shows Douglas’ work from this period, including posters, cartoons and campaign pamphlets.
Emory Douglas became an active member of the Black Panther Party in 1967. He quickly became responsible for the design of the Black Panther's, Black Community News Service, the official paper of the party, in which he used his strong graphic style to communicate recent news and events to the largely illiterate local black community.
His slogans, ‘All Power to the People’, ‘Revolution in our Lifetime’, and his use of pigs and rats for the first time, to represent police and politicians, have become part of everyday language.
Coinciding with Barak Obama’s historic White House challenge, the exhibition in Manchester is a timely reminder of just how much the political and social climate has changed since 1968.
Read about the exhibition in March's Museums Journal here
"Is this the most explosive exhibition of recent years? Urbis deserves praise for doing it."
"Urbis has delivered a stunning and information rich exhibition for Manchester and the UK. It feels almost revoutionary. I can't think of another UK museum that would have taken a chance on an exhibition like this."
Felicity Heywood, Museums Journal March 2009
See our short film of the exhibition here
Read Urbis's Mark Rainey interview with Emory Douglas here
Listen to Emory Douglas interviewed on bbc radio manchester. Click on The People to listen again here
Read about Emory Douglas in The Times here
Read about Emory Douglas in The Guardian here
Watch Bobby Seale: The Black Panther Party's Ten Point Program here
Emory Douglas prints for sale
Limited edition prints signed by Emory Douglas avaialable in Urbis shop
Choose from three of Emory's most striking designs, available in the Urbis shop priced £29.99
limited edition silk-screened art prints signed by emory douglas
also available from Station 4 (from late Nov)
Station 4 is extremely proud to present the art of Emory Douglas, The Minister of Culture for The Black Panther Party. We are introducing three historic Emory Douglas propaganda art
pieces originally published in The Black Panther newspaper in 1970 and 1971.
Each silk-screened print has been artfully reproduced by The Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company headquartered in Oakland, California and are signed by Mr. Douglas and numbered on
archival cotton rag paper and reprinted in collaboration with the artist.
www.station4.co.uk
Emory Douglas in Parliament
Wednesday November 5th, 6:30pm
Grand Committee Room
Parliament
Come and join ex-Black Panthers Emory Douglas and Billy X Jennings alongside George Galloway MP to discuss the ramifications of the US presidential election results for the US and the world.
Emory Douglas and Billy X will also be exhibiting Black Panther artwork, some of which will be for sale as this event will also be a fundraiser for Black Panther Alumni projects and ex-Panther political prisoners.
Speakers: Emory Douglas, Billy X, George Galloway MP
Chair: Kevin Ovenden
Organised by Black Panther Commemoration Committee and Respect Renewal.
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=30384722334&ref=ts
http://blackpanther1966.blogspot.com/
Black Power on Film
Every Thurs
4pm
Level 1, Free
Throughout the Emory Douglas exhibition films and documentaries exploring the Black Power movements, both here in the UK and the States, will be screened each Thursday afternoon.
Click here for film programme
SEnd us your art.....
We've started a flickr group to get people talking and thinking about using art for change. We'd like you to upload images exploring the theme of revolution. Maybe artwork you've seen, street art, or even something you've created, stretch the boundaries as much as you can, we want everyone to be inspired and get talking!
follow this link to upload your images:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/revolutionaryart/
Flickr Gallery
A word from the artist........
"To Urbis, I Emory Douglas, as the former Revolutionary Artist and Minister of Culture of The Black Panther Party, personally want to thank you for putting together such an informative and unique interactive retrospective of my work. It gives the visitors insight into the climate of the time from which the art itself evolved, and also insight into the social concerns from which I draw my inspiration these days, it is truly amazing. It was a wonderful journey meeting such nice people at Urbis whom in some way played a part of making the exhibit truly a beautiful, educational, experience. From my personal observations of people visiting the exhibit there were people of all ages, colour and background experiences who were very much into the total dynamic of the exhibit. I commend you again for how you used your imagination in this endeavour, oversize blowups of the art and the framing of the art itself, text quotes, historical audio and film, photos, classroom atmosphere with reading materials of that moment and time. The way all the phases interconnected and flow to the conclusion makes it truly a one of a kind exhibit of my work which has never been done before in this way. Thank you again for putting so much passion into this project. Much appreciation."
Emory Douglas
Emory Douglas celebrated by local community group
Local writers group Cultureword visited the exhibition on Wednesday 4 February, where they held a poetry workshop, using the exhibition as inspiration.
You can see the results on their blog http://www.commonwordblogs.org.uk/
thank you to our supporters
Sites we like...
Iconic olympic moments - The Black Power Salute
www.itsabouttimebpp.com/index.html
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/
http://dearkitty.blogsome.com/2008/10/29/black-panthers-in-british-parliament/
Comments
Emory Douglas was in Houston and gave a great lecture at the Station Museum and a local University. His energy is intoxicating and inspiring. Everyone should hear him speak and see his work. -w
Im involved in a positive Project called Reclaim. The aim of the project is to reduce the Gun & Knife crime rate. A few month's back Mr Emory came down from the Usa to do some Art workshops with us which we all enjoyed. The pieces of art we made were put into his exhibition. Wednesday was the Launch and i have never seen a exhibition like it before. The work was so powerful and inspiring. I am now a big fan of Emory
"(Emory Douglas has) taught me a lot of things about the Black Panthers – including the origins of the Black Power salute. They were an organised group but a lot of people associate it with drugs and guns when in fact it was about obtaining equal rights."
Emory Douglas exhibition is fantastic. It had my Yr12 Art students gobsmacked with the content. We visited the day before Obama won the election and the timing couldnt have been more perfect to get the message home. They are learning about Civil Rights in A Level History, so I've encouraged that department to bring a group too. As an old exhibition designer myself I thought content and layout were excellent. Ive told everyone at school about it too. best emotive exhibition I've seen. Thank you.
Added: 11/11/08
Added by: Mishka Henner
Just wanted to write to let you know I saw the Emory Douglas show at Urbis today and thought Axis did an absolutely stunning job with the design.
I realize the subject matter was incredibly strong, but the way the exhibition flowed, the style of arrangement, informational graphics and room layouts (the classroom was inspired) - this is one of the best exhibitions I've seen in a very long time. Most impressive was the sheer amount of information and detail you had to work with, and not once did I get tired of looking. The variety of rooms, displays and multi-media kept the last room as fresh and interesting as the first.
I've spent a lot of time in London these past few months and visited many exhibitions in first class venues but in my humble opinion, this one topped them all.
Congratulations on a great job.
I was really impressed by this exhibition I saw at Manchester's Urbis. I have never looked at Emory Douglas's work before and I had only a dim understanding of the Black Panther movement. The exhibition was great because it taught me so much about the background of this time in America as well as the brilliant poster designs of Douglas. It is really important to understand the political context of these posters, I wont go into that in this blog, but it is interesting to see how a graphic designer really pushed a political message and really did help to make a difference in society.
Added: 18/11/08
Added by: Billy X
The exhibit is the best yet. I like how it was arranged and the thought and time that went into making it a great success. A person walking through the exhibit for the first time, not knowing much about the Black Panther Party could walk away with a better understanding of the BPP and seek out more info about the organization. You and your staff were On it. I must have spoken to a hundred people to get their reactions and thoughts and pass them cards on how to get more info. One of the things I did check out was the variety of ages of the people coming to see the exhibit. I saw many older people maybe my age and many with their children pointing and talking to them about the images. On the opening day I saw many young people, many asking questions about the history of the BPP. Another thing that stood out to me was the size of many of the photos, and how they were presented, the videos were a great addition, giving the viewer a background history and a chance to take in the info. Emory's Art speaks for itself, and in the exhibit was a few pieces I haven't seen before, some was from the late 80's and early 90's, a time I was living in NY. You have raised the bar in exhibits of his art, to another level - good work.
Added: 06/04/09
Added by: Christine Wong Yap
The whole exhibition—art, graphics, displays, historical context, and multiple voices and personalities—makes for a vibrant, thorough, interactive experience. I was happy to see lots of visitors taking their time absorbing the show, which in turns inspires shock, rage, pride, admiration, outrage, grief, and gratitude. The quality of the exhibition is phenomenal, and Mancs should take note.