Arts agency partners with ATB Fine Art Group Inc. to build bridges and understanding

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is proud to announce its newest main exhibition, “Karibu: A Celebration of Black Artists in Palm Beach County”, set to open to the public on Jan. 18, 2021 at the Council’s headquarters in downtown Lake Worth Beach.

Karibu (pronounced kah-ree-boo) means “welcome, come in” in Swahili. This celebratory concept of Black culture, not unlike the Southern tradition of Sunday dinner after church, invites everyone to embrace the journey of life and learn through the eyes and creativity of local Black artists. The exhibition is intended to build cultural bridges (not walls) between different communities. 

Presented by the Council and curated by ATB Fine Art Group Inc., the Harlem Renaissance-style exhibition will run through March 13, 2021. It will feature the following visual artists:

• Turgo Bastien 
• Caron Bowman
• Anthony Burks Sr.
• Jamaal “Visualist” Clark
• Dariel Donovan
• Michelle Drummond
• Eminent By Buera
• Lee Glaze
• Tracy Guiteau
• Shica Hardy 
• Shawn Henderson
• Andrew Hollimon
• Lawrence Jean-Louis
• Scott Jeffries
• Kianga Jinaki
• Lupe Lawrence
• Ron Lawrence
• Sadesosublime
• Cynthia Simmons 
• Shani Simpson 
• Jahnoi Smith 
• Treal Toonz by JaFleu
• Raquel Williams 
• Brian Wood 
• Gillian Kennedy Wright

“The Cultural Council gallery exhibitions celebrate Palm Beach County artists,” said Dave Lawrence, the Council’s president & CEO. “As we work to make the Cultural Council an even more inclusive and accessible organization, we are shining the spotlight on artists of color for our newest exhibition, Karibu, curated by Anthony Burks and Trina Slade-Burks. We will continue to grow the roster of artists that exhibit in our galleries and we are looking forward to sharing the exceptional work of these artists through this exhibition.”

“Our goal has always been to highlight and provide platforms for visual and literary black artists as a collective of gifted, artistic pioneers,” said Trina Slade-Burks. “This particular exhibition is meant to showcase artists who are emerging, mid-career and established as well as folk, self-taught and classically trained artists. The artist’s works are not focused solely on visuals of Africa or people of African descent. To the contrary, their creations should always reflect the diversity of talents, influences and muses of artists of African descent.”

Special Events

In celebration of “Karibu: A Celebration of Black Artists in Palm Beach County” the Council will host a Member Preview Open House on Saturday, Jan. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. (For Council members only. Advance registration required; limited to 30 guests/hour). Attendees will receive a free gift. To RSVP, visit palmbeachculture.com/karibu.

The Council will also host “I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration” in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Coordinating Committee of West Palm Beach on Saturday, Jan. 16 fromnoon to 3 p.m. in the Project Space, located directly behind the organization’s headquarters.The free event will include live art demonstrations from four of the exhibition’s artists (Anthony Burks Sr., Lawrence Jean-Louis, Scott Jeffries and Raquel Williams), family-friendly art activities, and live performances by Fresh Wind Dance Group, Tony McDowell’s Peace Camp Actors, Tristan Blake and Derron Blake (orators), In-Time Youth Choir Singers, Elysse Wilson and Matt Brown (musicians).

Karibu is generously sponsored by Palm Beach Media Group, Florida Weekly and The Palm Beach Post.

If You Go

What: “Karibu: A Celebration of Black Artists in Palm Beach County”
When: Jan. 18 through March 13, 2021 (limited hours and capacity; Tuesday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m.)
Where: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County (601 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth Beach, Fla. 33460)
Details: All artwork featured in this exhibition is for sale. Proceeds from artwork sales directly benefit local artists and support the Council’s mission to grow arts and culture in Palm Beach County. To inquire about a piece, please email art@palmbeachculture.com.