Opening Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, Kennedy Heights Arts Center in partnership with Juneteenth Cincinnati is pleased to present a stunning new exhibit entitled Beyond Emancipation. Beyond Emancipation is an exploration of post-emancipation African-American culture through contemporary art, with works on display representative of the connection between the past and recent history.

The exhibition honors the 25th anniversary of Juneteenth Cincinnati. "Juneteenth" or "Emancipation Day" celebrations are held across the country annually on or near June 19th as an occasion to celebrate one of the most important events in American history -- the end of slavery in America. Cincinnati has held an annual Juneteenth festival since 1988.

Curator Barbara Gamboa describes the exhibiting artists as "a rich and powerful group". The show will include contemporary paintings, photographs and three-dimensional work from talented and influential Cincinnati artists Jimi Jones, Robert Harris, Michael Todd, Kelly & Kyle Phelps, Melvin Grier, Jymi Bolden, Terrance Hammonds and Thom Shaw. In addition, ceramics created by students at the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be on display.

A selection of historical photographs lent from Cincinnati families will supplement the artwork, and together, these images take the viewer on a journey through ideas and culture -- recognizing and celebrating the connection between past and present.

Image credit: Jimi Jones, Crossing the Delaware, oil/mixed media on canvas

About Juneteenth Cincinnati
Juneteenth represents one of the most important events in United States history: the end of slavery. "Juneteenth" or "Emancipation Day" is an occasion to remember the legacy of slavery and to celebrate emancipation. The Juneteenth tradition in Cincinnati began in 1988 as a neighborhood festival and over the years it continued to grow, with attendance estimates reaching as high as 20,000 people of all races. Since 1993, the festival has been held in Eden Park annually on Father's Day weekend. Festival features include free, family-centered activities such as traditional story telling, magic acts, sack races, sweet potato pie bake-off, music (blues, African drumming & dancing, gospel, jazz, reggae, etc.) and vendors offering a wide variety of food, clothing, art, folk crafts and ethnic literature. Juneteenth Cincinnati will return again on June 16 and 17, 2012. More information can be found at www.juneteenthcincinnati.org.