Harrison Museum of African American Culture

Just a few months ago, Ryan Bell was attending an art showcase for the first time. Now, the founder of Black Father Family is curating his own exhibit, designed to connect Black families, and Black fathers in particular, with the arts.

“Through Our Eyes: An Art Showcase Depicting Positive Images of Black Fatherhood” will open Sunday at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture. The exhibit will be available to view through mid-January, Bell said.

A virtual event at 2 p.m. Sunday will kick off the showcase, including a conversation between Bell and longtime arts educator and minister Fletcher Nichols about Black fathers, Black families and the arts.

The project is a partnership between Black Father Family, the Urban Arts Project and Harrison Museum, Bell said.

This is the latest event hosted by Black Father Family, an organization Bell created to empower Black dads and counter negative stereotypes. The group’s Black father’s festival over the summer was a resounding success, Bell said. This exhibit will be another way to engage the community, he said.

“The community appreciates the opportunity to learn and be educated,” Bell said in a recent interview. “I think Black fathers appreciate the opportunity to have new experiences.”

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