![Detroit Institute of Arts pays homage to Black cinema](/content/images/size/w1200/2023/08/The-Nicholas-Brothers-in-a-scene-from-Stormy-Weather--1943---from-left--Fayard-Nicholas-and-Harold-Nicholas.-Photographic-print--gelatin-silver.-Courtesy-Margaret-Herrick-Library---Twenti.jpg)
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will host a new exhibition that celebrates the history and achievements of Black filmmakers and actors from the late 19th century to the early 1970s. The exhibition, titled Regeneration: Black Cinema, 1898–1971, will run from February 4, 2024 to June 23, 2024, and will feature more than 100 films, posters, photographs, and memorabilia.
The exhibition aims to showcase the diversity and creativity of Black cinema, from the pioneering works of Oscar Micheaux and Spencer Williams, to the independent productions of Melvin Van Peebles and Gordon Parks, to the mainstream successes of Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. The exhibition also explores the social and political contexts that shaped Black cinema, such as segregation, civil rights, Black power, and the Black arts movements.
The Regeneration: Black Cinema Exhibit at the Academy Museum celebrates and explores the visual culture of Black cinema. It’s important to highlight the work of Black filmmakers and hold discussions surrounding film history. We are proud to support this exhibit! #AcademyMuseum pic.twitter.com/sVuCGhzjzw
— Morgan Freeman (@morgan_freeman) February 13, 2023
The exhibition is organized into four sections: Origins (1898–1929), which covers the early experiments and innovations of Black filmmakers; Golden Age (1930–1949), which highlights the rise of Black film studios and genres; Transition (1950–1964), which examines the challenges and opportunities of integration and representation; and Regeneration (1965–1971), which showcases the emergence of new voices and visions in Black cinema.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog, a website, and a series of public programs, including film screenings, lectures, workshops, and performances. The exhibition is also part of a larger initiative called Regeneration: Detroit Film Project, which aims to support local filmmakers and film organizations in Detroit.
Regeneration is currently on view at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition is co-curated by Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Vice President of Curatorial Affairs Doris Berger and National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Director of Curatorial Affairs Rhea L. Combs.