Culture

Smithsonian Channel to debut “Picturing The Obamas” Saturday, September 10

The two-hour documentary examines the history and legacy of Barack and Michelle Obama as told through their National Portrait Gallery portraits.

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2022

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Channel

Picturing the Obamas, a documentary about the commissioned portraits of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama that enamored the world, will premiere September 10th on the Smithsonian Channel.

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About Picturing the Obamas

Viewers will learn from curators, journalists, and art critics about the ways in which President Barack and Mrs. Michelle Obama’s portraits commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery disrupt traditional presidential portraiture and spur museums to reach new audiences.

The special will follow the unveiling of the White House portraits of the Obamas.

The portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama

From the moment they were unveiled in 2018, the portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama captivated the world becoming an instant social media sensation and bringing record numbers to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Historical portraits have long been reflections of white men and women in positions of power in their pose and depiction. The Obama portraits are groundbreaking not only because they feature the first Black President and First Lady, but also because of the artists behind them.

The game-changing portraits were created by two Black artists, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, a first for presidential portraits commissioned for the museum’s collection.

In response to overwhelming audience enthusiasm in DC — the portraits double annual attendance at the National Portrait Gallery — the Obama portraits embarked on a national tour last summer.

With exclusive access, Picturing the Obamas follows the portraits behind-the-scenes as they travel to museums in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston and Brooklyn.

The film examines the legacy of the first Black president and First Lady through the experiences of everyday people. The film follows a Latina community organizer, a young artist from Southside Chicago, and multigenerational members of the oldest Black sorority as they visit the portraits and reflect on the meaning of the Obamas today.

Picturing the Obamas provides first-hand accounts from the artists, museum curators, visitors, and the President and First Lady themselves.

The first hour, “Portraits of Hope,” follows the Obama Portraits Tour to Chicago and Los Angeles and examines the significance of both the paintings and the Obama presidency. Viewers will relive the rise of Barack Obama and see how the portraits have fired imaginations across the country.

The second hour, titled “Portraits of Change,” follows the Obama portraits as they make their way to Atlanta, Houston, and Brooklyn. Artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald share their experiences collaborating with Barack and Michelle Obama to create their stunning portraits.

“Barack and Michelle Obama continue to inspire individuals and communities nationwide. We are honored to have the opportunity to premiere Picturing the Obamas and explore the cultural impact of their portraits at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and this historic presidency,” explained Pamela Aguilar, VP, Content & Programming, Smithsonian Channel.

“When we unveiled the Obamas’ portraits, everyone in the room knew we were witnessing a moment in history,” said Kim Sajet, director, Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. “But I don’t think anyone anticipated the emotional impact these artworks would ultimately have on so many Americans across the country. Through the power of documentary film, Picturing the Obamas takes us out of the gallery and into communities, reminding us that art is powerful and portraiture can change the world.”

How To Watch

Picturing the Obamas premieres on Saturday, September 10 at 8/7c on the Smithsonian Channel ™.

Picturing the Obamas will be available on https://www.smithsonianchannel.com and the Smithsonian Channel app the next day.

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Related Topics:documentary Michelle Obama President Barack Obama

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Unheard Voices Staff

Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a local Black newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to now broaden into a recognized Black online media outlet. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.

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Culture

New Wu-Tang Clan concert film returns to Wilmington before PBS release

Screening as part of Wu-Tang Wednesday series by 3 Chambers and DJ RizzyBeats

Published

10 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Still from the documentary A WU-TANG EXPERIENCE: LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE

On November 6th, 3 Chambers and DJ RizzyBeats will bring the highly anticipated concert film documentary A WU-TANG EXPERIENCE: LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE back to Wilmington, North Carolina for a free community screening at Waterline Brewing Company as part of their Wu-Tang Wednesday series. The North Carolina Black Film Festival had the Southern premiere of the film in Wilmington back in May.

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Wu-Tang Clan concert film

Combining performances and revealing interviews with group members and associates, classical musicians, and concertgoers, the Wu-Tang Clan concert film documents the extraordinary concert at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre where the Wu-Tang Clan, backed by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra, weaved together songs from their vast discography of group and solo albums. Their setlist created a live score to a real-time screening of the seminal martial arts film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin—the movie that largely inspired the Clan’s aesthetic and the title of their groundbreaking debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

The documentary deconstructs stereotypes that limit classical music and Hip-Hop as mutually exclusive musical genres, dismantles these imposed limitations, and collapses boundaries and artistic mediums to amplify the ways classical music, Hip-Hop, and film can coalesce in a beautiful, innovative union.

The film is co-directed by Wu-Tang Clan’s The RZA and Gerald K. Barclay.

How to watch

Wu-Tang Wednesday will start at 5pm at Waterline Brewing Company with a Wu-Tang set by DJ RizzyBeats. A WU-TANG EXPERIENCE: LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE will screen at 7pm.

Rude Bwoys Food Truck will be on-site and Gravity Records will have vinyl records for sale.

Attendees will also be able to learn more about the upcoming 3 Chambers Fest, which happens on December 4th – 7th in Wilmington, North Carolina. Festival passes and tickets are currently on sale at www.3chambers.com.

This event is free and open to the public. This will be the only public screening in the South before the streaming premiere on PBS on November 11th.

Culture

Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) is accepting submissions for 2025 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize and Creative Baltimore Fund grant program

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) has announced that applications are now open for the 2025 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize as well as the Creative Baltimore Fund FY 2025 grant program.

Published

4 days ago

October 31, 2024

Unheard Voices

Photo by Steve Johnson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/painting-wallpaper-1070527/

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2025 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize

The Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize awards $30,000 to a visual artist or visual artist collaborators living
and working in the Baltimore region.

Established by BOPA at Artscape in 2006, it is one of the most prestigious visual art prizes in the region. The application deadline is November 15, 2024. Semifinalists will be announced in December, and in January, five finalists will be selected to exhibit their work in the Walters Art Museum, April to July 2025.

Information sessions

BOPA is hosting two information sessions — Tuesday, November 5 and Thursday, November 7 — to help
artists plan their applications and answer questions. Both sessions will take place over Zoom.

Visit promotion and arts for the link, more information, and how to submit.

About the Creative Baltimore Fund

The Creative Baltimore Fund is a grant made annually by the City of Baltimore from its general fund that is
administered by the Baltimore City Arts Council (BOPA). The program awards funds to qualified artists and
arts and cultural organizations based in Baltimore City. The Creative Baltimore Fund has two grant programs:
General Operating Support (GOS), which provides core support for established arts or cultural organizations,
and the Mayor’s Individual Artist Award.

Culture

3 Chambers Fest celebrates the fusion of hip-hop, martial arts, and anime culture

The full schedule is now live for the 2nd annual 3 Chambers Fest, taking place in downtown Wilmington from December 4-7th.

Published

1 week ago

October 27, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

The full schedule is now live for the 2nd annual 3 Chambers Fest, taking place in downtown Wilmington from December 4-7th at Jengo’s Playhouse, The Eagle’s Dare, Union Station Auditorium at Cape Fear Community College, Waterline Brewing Company, and Sokoto House.

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3 Chambers Fest schedule

Advance screening of KILLA HILL

The opening night event on Wednesday, December 4th at Jengo’s Playhouse will be an exclusive advance screening of KILLA HILL, a true crime documentary series that chronicles the escalating murder rate fueled by the crack epidemic which defined the notorious Park Hill projects of Staten Island and home of the Wu-Tang Clan.

There will be a post-screening discussion with director Gerald K. Barclay and special guests that will be announced soon.

Wu-Tang Wednesday Opening Night Party

Also Wednesday, there will be a Wu-Tang Wednesday Opening Night Party at The Eagle’s Dare with 9th Prince of Killarmy (and brother of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA) as the guest DJ immediately following the KILLA HILL screening.

Immersive movie experience Can I Kick It

On Thursday, December 5, Shaolin Jazz will bring their immersive movie experience Can I Kick It? to Union Station Auditorium at Cape Fear Community College, remixing the soundtrack live to Berry Gordy’s THE LAST DRAGON.

Taimak, star of THE LAST DRAGON, will also be in attendance for a post-film discussion and meet & greet. There will also be live martial arts demonstrations over hip-hop tracks by The Pantherz Demo Team and Cequence Henry.

Legendary hip-hop artist and battle rapper Mickey Factz

On Friday, December 6, legendary hip-hop artist and battle rapper Mickey Factz will headline the hip-hop concert at Waterline Brewing Co. that will feature Landon Wordswell, JustoMobbin, S. Dot Lee, and MindsOne. The show will be hosted by Fuzz Jaxx and will also have a video game lounge, vendors, and a food truck.

Saturday, December 7

QiGong session with Shihan White Owl at Sokoto House

On Saturday, December 7, there will be a QiGong session with Shihan White Owl at Sokoto House.

Masterclass on the business of hip-hop with Mickey Factz

Later in the afternoon there will be a masterclass on the business of hip-hop with Mickey Factz at Jengo’s Playhouse.

Anime Night

Then in the evening, Anime Night will close out the festival at Waterline Brewing Co. featuring Blerd comedy sets by LouisTee, Wills Maxwell, and Ebony Angelique. There will be live music performances by Real Life Party, Sheme of Gold, SkyBlew, MoeSOS DC and Kiko Blac. Also at Anime Night, there will be a cosplay competition and a video game tournament.