Celebrate Black Creativity at MSI

By Lauri Apple in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 18, 2009 5:35PM

You still have time to catch the 38th annual Black Creativity exhibit, which runs until March 1 at the Museum of Science and Industry. This year's theme is "Green Revolution," and highlights the lives and accomplishments of 30 African American architects, designers, engineers and business leaders in the green movement. Learn about innovators such as Johari Cole, who owns Iyabo Organic Farms, organic chef Bryant Terry, and George Washington Carver, an early 20th century botanist and inventor whose studies and teaching revolutionized agriculture in the United States. In addition to the exhibition are workshops, a juried art exhibition and a Keep Chicago Beautiful certification for parents, educators and college students on Feb. 28.

The Black Creativity exhibit was birthed out of “Black Aesthetics,” a smaller exhibition created by local families to honor the achievements of African Americans, explains Exhibit Design and Development Manager Angela Williams. Over the years, the program has grown from an art show to an annually themed exhibit with a full month of activities and programming. Each year the exhibit highlights the contributions of African Americans in a specific area or industry, while encouraging deeper interest in black culture and heritage. Past topics have included music, film and television, engineering, industrial design and architecture.