Celebrating the Delta and its surrounding area’s rich musical heritage, two exhibitions highlight the pioneers who brought the blues to life. A Cast of Blues features 15 resin-cast masks of blues legends created by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson, as well as 15 color photographs of performers and of juke joints by acclaimed photographer Ken Murphy. The Freedom & Blues Exhibit features over 60 portraits of Blues greats from the Delta Rhythm & Bayous (DRB) Highway (including portions of U.S. Highway 65 South and U.S. Highway 82). An assortment of Pine Bluff and UAPB-related visual artists created these
renderings.
Deltaplex News was present at the announcement ceremony of the two exhibitions Wednesday and spoke with Orson Weems the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Music Education Initiative who explained more about the purpose of the initiative which began in June 2020.
He was then asked about he got in partnership with the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission and the Arts and Science Center.
Jimmy Cunningham Jr. the Director of Tourism and Development for the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission also spoke with Deltaplex news about what those exhibitions will include.
A Cast of Blues will be displayed in the Loft Gallery of The ARTSpace, 623 S. Main Street in Pine Bluff, AR from April 6-May 25, 2023. The Freedom & Blues Exhibit is housed next door at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Incubator, 615 S. Main Street, Pine Bluff, AR.
For more information on both exhibits, call the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission at 870.534.2121 or visit www.ExplorePineBluff.com.
Featured Art at Ceremony:
KoKo Taylor Robert Lockwood Jr
