ST. LOUIS, April 6, 2023—The Saint Louis Art Museum is marking the 50th anniversary of hip hop through collaborations with local artists and organizations in conjunction with the exhibition “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century,” which opens at the museum on August 19.
Organized by SLAM and the Baltimore Museum of Art, “The Culture” presents a sweeping art history of hip hop culture and its myriad expressions across the globe. The multidisciplinary and multimedia exhibition was developed as a collaborative effort, engaging both museums’ curatorial and education departments with an emphasis on community access and engagement.
The museum’s Five Pillars Community Engagement Initiative invites St. Louis-area organizations to respond to one of the five elements of hip hop—emceeing (or rapping), DJ-ing, breakdancing, graffiti and knowledge. DJ Afrika Bambaataa, one of the three “godfathers” of hip hop, which traces its origins to a 1973 party in the Bronx, is credited with creating the classification system meant to capture the original essence of hip hop.
“Inspired by the varied creative modes of hip hop, the Saint Louis Art Museum is thrilled to celebrate this artistic milestone through both community engagement and curatorial collaborations embedded within ‘The Culture,’” said Min Jung Kim, the Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum. “We’re delighted to partner with local artists and organizations who honor hip hop’s 50th anniversary in St. Louis through their unique and abundant talents.”
The local collaborations aim to engage the community through multidisciplinary presentations, including dance, spoken word, visual art, music and panel discussions. Programs and events will be led by collaborators and teaching artists and will take place at the museum and other locations throughout St. Louis surrounding when “The Culture” is on view. The partner organizations include:
Graffiti Pillar: St. Louis ArtWorks—Teaching artist Byron Rogers is leading a 13-week graffiti mural residency at St. Louis ArtWorks through the end of April. A mural created by student apprentices will be placed on the exterior of the St. Louis ArtWorks building and will be unveiled at an event on Saturday, April 29. In operation since 1995, St. Louis ArtWorks is a job training and art education program for area youth ages 14-19.
Knowledge Pillar: Harris-Stowe State University—An on-campus discussion with an art therapist from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, April 12 will focus on mental health, artmaking and hip hop. Harris-Stowe is the only Historically Black College and University in St. Louis and prioritizes student success by providing affordable and quality higher education to underserved populations.
Breakdancing Pillar: Kode Redd Dance—In connection with the opening of “The Culture” at SLAM, Kode Redd Dance will host a dance event at the museum celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Kode Redd Dance is a professional/pre-professional commercial hip hop dance company based in St. Louis.
DJ Pillar: St. Louis County Library—A DJ-ing workshop for teens and adults will be held on a Saturday in August, date to be determined. Workshop attendees will be invited to display their skills at a neighborhood block party event. Also, several library branches will have live DJs on site during August to celebrate the hip hop anniversary and the opening of “The Culture.”
Emcee Pillar: UrbArts Gallery—In September, local hip hop pioneers will lead Breakbeat Scholars, a rap and beat-making residency with a culminating performance showcase at UrbArts Gallery in North St. Louis. UrbArts Gallery is the exhibition space of Urbstetiks, an arts organization rooted in the Black Arts Movement tradition, which aims to create a platform for community development.
In addition to these community-centered programs, SLAM is also partnering with Harris-Stowe State University to employ students as engagement guides for “The Culture,” which runs through Jan. 1, 2024. The students will be trained on exhibition content and visitor engagement and mentored by museum docents.
Visit slam.org for updated information closer to the opening of “The Culture.”
CONTACT: Molly Morris, 314.655.5250, molly.morris@slam.org
