The Brockman Gallery in Leimert Park was the center of a community of Black artists from 1967 to 1990. On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, PBS SoCal hosted an event in collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The event celebrated a new film from the 15th season of the Emmy Award-winning arts and culture series ARTBOUND.
The event hosted prominent guests who were treated to a sneak peek of PBS’s upcoming series and a panel discussion featuring notable artists and guest speakers.
The Brockman Gallery in Leimert Park
The gallery was founded during the Black Arts movement, just two years after the Watts uprising. It would go on to feature artists including Betye Saar, Noah Purifoy, and John Outterbridge.
The Brockman Gallery ushered in a new era for Black artists, helping them gain a foothold in the mainstream art world. “Black Art: A Brockman Gallery Legacy” explores how the Brockman Gallery fostered a vibrant community of Black artists during its run from 1967 to 1990. The film features interviews with relevant artists, art influencers, and collectors. The event was held at LAPL’s Central Library in the Mark Taper Auditorium, where over 200 guests were treated to an advance screening of the PBS SoCal program, followed by a panel discussion.
Attendees included Black artists, influencers from Southern California, filmmakers, and talent from the film industry. The film premieres on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and will stream on PBS.org and the PBS app.
Private Reception
Arterial hosted a private reception preceding the screening, featuring small bites and beverages catered by Fundamental. Attendees were welcomed by City Librarian John Szabo, along with remarks from PBS SoCal’s Chief Content Officer, Tamara Gould, and Senior Director of Production, Angela Boisvert, who introduced guests to the new season of ARTBOUND and provided insight into the new documentary.
Before the main event, the theatre also gave the audience a sneak peek of all five episodes in the upcoming Season 15 of ARTBOUND. The following panel discussion featured the co-founder of the Brockman Gallery, Dale Brockman Davis; artist Charles Dickson; and LACMA’s Vice President of Education and Public Programs, Naima Keith, moderated by Bonnie Boswell of PBS SoCal.
Additional Attendees
Additional attendees included the film’s director Bryant Griffin, a representative for Supervisor Hilda Solis, author and sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen, Pakky Calistro of Angel City Press, and former director of the California African American Museum Charmaine Jefferson.
Other notable attendees included Black artists featured in the film, such as Ulysses Jenkins, Tami Outterbridge, Alitash Kebede, Dominique Moody, and many others. Attendees received a special, limited-edition ARTBOUND tote bag specifically created for this event. The tote bags featured art from each new film in the upcoming series.
ARTBOUND is an Emmy® award-winning arts and culture series that examines the lives, works, and creative processes of arts and culture innovators making an impact in Southern California and beyond. Through broadcast episodes and multimedia projects, ARTBOUND brings to light the region’s rich cultural legacy and diversity.
