The notion that art and culture merely illustrate history must be abandoned. Rather, they participate, influence, sustain, and help people remember social and political movements.

Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960-1980
African American artists had an integral role in the development of the art scene in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles, during the latter part of the twentieth century. LA began building its reputation as a cultural capital in the late 1950s, and by the early 1960s, the city was recognized as the “second center of American art,” after New York. As the Civil Rights Movement increased radical activism in ethnically diverse communities, there was also a new strength of African American communities in LA. The social energy was in part due to the rising number of black American citizens that migrated to California, creating a growing majority. Moving to a new city was a way to flee old lives and create a fresh start. For many artists and architects, migration to the west coast presented the opportunity to find and develop a living as a creative person, and this environment also …show more content…
Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960-1980 presented African American artists who lived and worked in LA during a time of revolutionary changes in art and society, and it examined the artists’ legacy of work. It opened in October 2011 at the Hammer Museum of the University of California, Los Angeles, and was curated by Dr. Kellie Jones, a professor at Columbia University. This momentous exhibit presents 140 artworks by 32 artists active during this historic period. The artists of these works were inspired by and they challenged the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. This group of African American artists were looked up to as “frontrunners” who influenced, supported, and explored the significant contributions of African Americans to the cultural community that became an important part of the city’s thriving art