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Art & Soul: The Visual Arts - U-M Mural Catalyst For Conversation, Inspires New Way Of Seeing Things

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This week, "Art and Soul" is about the local visual arts scene.  WEMU's Lisa Barry is joined by state and local arts leaderOmari Rush and Amanda Krugliak, curator at the Institute For The Humanities at the University of Michigan.  They talk about a new mural depicting the first African-American student admitted to the University of Michigan.

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Detroit artist Tylonn J. Sawyer creates mural depicting first African American student to attend U-M

Omari Rush
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89.1 WEMU
(From L to R) Amanda Krugliak and Omari Rush

ANN ARBOR—Detroit artist Tylonn J. Sawyer will work with U-M students to create a mural to honor Samuel C. Watson, the first African American student admitted to the University of Michigan. 

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Tylonn J. Sawyer's mural in progress

The project is part of Sawyer's residency at theInstitute for the Humanities, which will include an exhibition of new and existing work as well as a series of student engagement opportunities. 

University of Michigan
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Mural in Progress

Watson was one of the first African Americans to receive a Doctor of Medicine from Cleveland Medical College.  In 1867, he was Detroit's richest black property owner and would eventually become its first African American elected city officer.  According to the website Michigan's Story: The History of Race at U-M, Watson passed as white while attending U-M.

Sawyer will work with the students to paint the mural over the course of two weekends in October inside the U-M Modern Languages Building, with completion scheduled for Oct. 19.  A related exhibition, "WHITE HISTORY MONTH VOL. 1" runs Nov. 18-Dec. 19 at the Institute for the Humanities Gallery.

Sawyer is an American figurative artist, educator and curator living and working in Detroit.  His work centers around themes of identity—both individual and collective—politics, race, history and pop culture. 

University of Michigan
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Mural in progress

"Maybe what is most compelling is Sawyer's clear commitment not only to his practice as a visual artist, but to his role as a mentor, a teacher," said Amanda Krugliak, curator at the Institute for the Humanities.  "His engagement with young people in Detroit—his long-standing role as an educator there—sets him apart as an artist.  He is an activist, rooted and invested, directly impacting his community's present and future."    

Sawyer explains that his work "mines symbols of power and oppression from the historical strata of western art, exposing some truths while covering others to gain a clearer picture of concepts that have shaped our contemporary society."  For "WHITE HISTORY MONTH, VOL. 1," Sawyer says he was inspired by current trends to redact post-Civil War Confederate monuments from the American landscape. 

An opening reception and conversation with Sawyer and Krugliak will take place at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Institute for the Humanities Gallery, located at 202 S. Thayer St. in Ann Arbor.  The gallery is free and open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

University of Michigan
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"DNA" by Tylonn J. Sawyer

UPCOMING VISUAL ARTS EVENTS

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
Omari Rush has a continually expanding role of service as both an artistic administrator and community leader, in part through his work as curator of public programs at the Ann Arbor Art Center.
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