Open House: Africa in the Arts of Philadelphia

Africa in the Arts of Philadelphia brings together the work of visual artists Barbara Bullock (born 1938), Charles Searles (1937–2004), and Twins Seven-Seven (1944–2011), exploring their collaborative cross-fertilization of ideas and assertions of African and African American cultural identity. These artists participated in the activities of the Ile-Ife Black Humanitarian Center in North Philadelphia. Conceived and established in 1969 by dancer and choreographer Arthur Hall (1934–2000), Ile-Ife offered visual arts, performance, and musical arts classes and programs for the Philadelphia community. The center’s goals focused on educating audiences in traditional African culture and aesthetics and infusing African and African-inspired art forms into contemporary Philadelphia experience.