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Photo: Louisville Metro Council

Young people from all over Metro Louisville will be on hand this Saturday, November 3rd to talk about gun violence and other issues surrounding such violence in society as part of the exhibit of James Pate’s KKK Series Kin Killin Kin.

“This is an important forum as young people discuss how violence has impacted their lives and the lives of their friends. They will hear from those who are trying to help offset such violence through interactions and alternatives,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), who is sponsoring the discussion. “Young people are our future and we must bring them into any conversation about making our neighborhoods safer and curbing violence.”

The Youth Voices Against Violence Forum is set for the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage between 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

There will be a panel of young people who will examine the themes of gun violence in the context of public health, bystander action, healing through the arts and mobilizing change through community dialogues. It will be moderated by Dr. Eddie Woods.

Rashaad Abdur-Rahman Director of the Department of Safe and Health Neighborhood will be on hand as well as Metro Council members.

One of the highlights of the discussion will come from James Pate, the artist of the series, who will talk about his motivations for creating Kin Killin Kin.

The exhibit is a series of paintings in charcoals and colors that realistically show how violence is impacting young men and children. A stark feature of the works shows African Americans wearing the hoods of the Ku Klux Klan as they execute acts of violence. The exhibit will run until November 12th at the Center. It is free and open to the public.

Councilwoman Hamilton first saw the exhibit in Cincinnati at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She was joined in bringing this exhibit to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage Center by Council Members Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), Barbara Shanklin (D-2), Jessica Green (D-1) and President David James (D-6).

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is located at 1701 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

To learn more go to www.kcaahc.org. Or you can call 502-583-4100.

Photo: Louisville Metro Council

It is a powerful visual art exhibit and its message is a simple one to the young people of every black community in America. The message: youth violence, black on black violence must stop. It is time to talk and find alternatives.

Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) and members of the Louisville Metro Council have brought “James Pate’s KKK Series: Kin Killin Kin” to the Kentucky Center for African American heritage and encourages everyone to view and discuss the exhibit and through the art see the impact violence on is having on young men and children in the community.

It is a free exhibit and suggested for children over the age of twelve. There will be an Opening Reception and Gallery Talk on Friday, September 21st from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

“I first saw this exhibit in Cincinnati. It hit home with me. We know that black on black crime is stealing our future,” says Hamilton. “James Pate through his art shows what is happening on our streets and how senseless violence is taking hold in the Black Community.”

“Kin Killin Kin” is a series of paintings in charcoals and colors that realistically show how violence is impacting young men and children. A stark feature of the works shows African Americans wearing the hoods of the Ku Klux Klan as they execute acts of violence.

James Pate is a contemporary visual artist whose works have been displayed in the J.B. Speed Museum in Louisville, The Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, and The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

He explains, as part of the exhibit, his reason for creating “Kin Killin Kin” which he began drawing in 2000.

“I decided as a personal private protest I would continue to compose a rendering as long as these insidious acts continue. The concept of visually comparing Black on Black terrorism to the Ku Klux Klan terrorism came directly from conversations among the black community. It is often said that we, African Americans, in a strange fruit kind of way, are doing the business of the KKK with our Black on Black violence.”

Joining Councilwoman Hamilton in bringing this exhibit to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage Center are Council Members Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), Barbara Shanklin (D-2), Jessica Green (D-1) and President David James (D-6).

Again, the Exhibit is free and open to the public.

There will be an Opening Reception and Gallery Talk on Friday, September 21st from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Councilwoman Hamilton is also moderating a Youth Voices Against Violence Forum on Saturday, November 3rd from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

“I encourage everyone young an old to take advantage of the special exhibit,” says Hamilton. “These striking images will make any one stop and think about what is going on in our city today. All of us need to talk about it and find alternatives to this special kind of violence.”

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is located at 1701 West Muhammad Ali Blvd. To learn more go to www.kcaahc.org. Or you can call 502-583-4100.

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