ST. GEORGE — A Staten Island art non-profit will host a three-weekend exhibit showcasing black history in the borough starting on Saturday.
The Staten Island Creative Community will host a free series of exhibits, talks, workshops and more to celebrate black history in the borough and explore contributions made by famous artist and musicians.
"One of the things that struck me is that a lot of really extraordinary black artists, writers, musicians and dancers on Staten Island that have never been showcased," said Joyce Malerba Goldstein, co-curator for the event. "Some of them are getting old and I was afraid that they'd be gone before we did something."
Every Saturday and Sunday for the three weekends, the SICC will host an event on the bottom floor of the space and a free exhibit of local artists on display above it, Goldstein said.
Events include a presentation of the history of the underground railroad in the borough and an oral history of the "Black Angels," a group of nurses who cared for patients at Sea View Hospital during the tuberculosis epidemic in the early 1900s when no one else would, Goldstein said.
The gallery will include work from local artists Lenny Prince, Antonio Bennett, Vernon Reid from Living Colour and prints by Romare Bearden from the collection of co-curator Sheila Rohan.
"It's going to be very cool, it's going to be dynamite," Goldstein said.
The SICC will hold the exhibition at the former Fishs Eddy Space, 139 Bay St., which was donated to the group for exhibits by the realtors. It's the second event they've held in the space. They plan to hold a gallery of SICC members at the space next month, Goldstein said.
"We are happy that we can provide this space to the Staten Island Creative Community for this amazing show," said Guy Pennisi of Shore to Shore Realty Partners.
"Staten Island is rich with cultural history. This SICC exhibit will provide visitors the opportunity to understand the creativity, struggles and triumphs of African Americans on Staten Island.”
The exhibit will open on Saturday, Feb. 15, with the gallery opening at noon and an opening reception starting at 6:30 p.m. For a full list of exhibits, visit the SICC's website.
