To separate elements of culture (i.e., music, literature or artwork) from Christianity would be difficult, considering the great influences it has on day-to-day lives. The Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) seeks to combine religion and culture to produce a unique collection of artwork.
The museum’s newest exhibit, “Ashe to Amen,” displays work by African-American artists whose pieces have been influenced by biblical imagery and biblical figures. To further emphasize the themes of this exhibit, MOBIA will partner with Fordham University and New York Women in Film and Television (NYWiFT) to screen the award-winning documentary “The Contradictions of Fair Hope” on Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the film details how tradition had been lost in a rural African-American community. A question-and-answer series with executive producer and director S. Epatha Merkseron will follow the screening.
Beforehand, there will be a guided tour of “Ashe to Amen” at 6 p.m. Artists featured in the exhibit range from Romare Bearden, who gained popularity in the 1960s, to artists such as Joyce J. Scott, whose work is more modern. The exhibition, which includes over 50 pieces, will be on display until May 26.
The guided tour will take place on the second floor of MOBIA, located at 1865 Broadway at 61st Street.
The screening will be held at 113 W. 60th St. at Columbus Avenue on the campus of Fordham University. Admission is free, but registration is required at www.fordham.edu/alumnievents.
For more information, call 212-636-6360 or email aaas@fordham.edu.