Faculty member's art exhibit highlights Black History Month activities at URI Providence Campus

PROVIDENCE -- January 19, 2001 -- An exhibit of new paintings and drawings by URI art professor Robert Dilworth highlights a series of events to celebrate Black History Month at URI.

The exhibit runs February 5 through 28 in the Lobby Gallery of URI's Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education, 80 Washington St., Providence. An opening reception will be held Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m., with a brown bag "Meet the Artist" talk Feb. 9 at noon. The gallery is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The pieces in the exhibit were all completed in the last six months and reflect the plight of African-American men and the stereotypes they fall into.

"They are large figurative pieces that operate on many levels," explained Dilworth. "The figures are usually combative, though in some instances they are tender and caring for one another. They have a kind of religious tone to them as well, and they reflect internal conflicts."

Dilworth earned his BA at Rhode Island School of Design and MFA in painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Also as part of Black History Month, URI's Feinstein CCE will host "The Black Diaspora: A Celebration in Song and Dance" on February 16 at 5:30 p.m. in its Paff Auditorium. This event celebrates the contributions by people of African heritage to the performing arts, and will include a performance by the popular band TWYCE.

For Information: Steven Pennell 863-1815,
Jan Sawyer, 874-2116,
Todd McLeish 874-7892