The closing weekend of the exhibition will feature a panel discussion open to the general public in conjunction with the biennial symposium of the Association of Historians of American Art (AHAA).

The symposium will attract scholars from around the country for presentations at the Birmingham Museum of Art and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. On Friday afternoon, a special site-specific panel will take place at the historic Marc Steel warehouse, hosting the “Joe Minter is Here” exhibit.

The session is titled: "Joe Minter’s African Village in America and the Paths for the Preservation of Art Environments." Moderated by Jade Powers (Birmingham Museum of Art), the conversation will feature Katherine Jentleson (High Museum of Art), LaStarsha McGarity (Tuskegee University), and Laura Bickford (Kohler Arts Center).

At a moment when much of Joe Minter’s art environment and personal collection face uncertain futures and environmental decay, this conversation has an urgent backdrop for one of Birmingham’s, and the country’s, cultural treasures.

While free to attend, the panel has limited capacity and program attendees must reserve tickets.

About the exhibit:
“Joe Minter Is Here” is a community-based art installation of never-before-exhibited work by the visionary artist and ambassador for peace, Joe Minter (b. 1943).

For decades, people have traveled from around the world to visit his sacred art environment, “African Village in America,” where he has used discarded materials to chronicle the Black experience. Today, his work can be found in the most prestigious collections in the country, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the National Gallery, but this will be his first solo show in his hometown, amidst a milestone year in which he was named an inaugural recipient of the national Ruth Award.

Located inside a historic warehouse in his Titusville neighborhood, this immersive exhibit will be a landmark moment to celebrate Joe Minter, introduce his story to new generations, and highlight the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

To learn more about Joe Minter, visit here.

Exhibition Times:
October 3 - 20
Thursdays – Saturdays: 10 - 6
Sundays: 1 - 5

Additional Programs:
- Thursday, October 3 (5:30-7:30pm): Opening ceremony to celebrate Joe Minter, featuring Imani Perry and a special performance by Lonnie Holley [Click here for tickets]
- Saturday, October 12 (11am-3pm): Titusville Community Marketplace and Public Forum
- Guided field trips and group tours for youth and adults will be hosted on Friday October 4, 11, and 18. Interested in a group visit? Contact Viola@createbirmingham.com.

Acknowledgements:
Produced by 1504 and presented by Create Birmingham, in partnership with Navigate Affordable Housing Partners. Made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, SouthArts, Alabama Humanities Alliance, and the Bruno Foundation.

For additional questions about the exhibition or programming, contact Tyler Jones (tyler@1504.co).