Formed in 1979. The BLK- (short for black) Art Group was formed by Children of carribean migrants many from the Windrush Generation of 1948. The association inspired the black arts movement by raising awareness through their work on the concerns of the black community at the time regarding racial prejudice and the lack of inclusion of black art(ists) in the art world.
The movement emerged as a form of response to the social and political climate Of Britain at the time, which was charred by racism, inequality, and the exclusion of Black artists from mainstream art institutions. It sought to create a new visual language that reflected the experiences of Black people in the UK.
BLK ART Group And The Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
In 1981,the first exhibition which showcased the works from the group was hosted at Wolverhampton's Art Gallery. It was titled Black Art An' Done. The exhibition featured the works of Five members from the group - Keith Piper, Donald Rodney, Dominic Dawes, Eddie Chambers and Andrew Hazel.
Drawing by Keith Piper : Credit: Wolverhamptonart.org.uk
Since the first exhibition in 1981, Wolverhampton Art Gallery has continued to support Black British Contemporary artists by purchasing a selection of works especially those associated with the Black Arts Movement of the 80s.
Did you Know ' After the exhibition at the Gallery, the first National Black Art Convention took place at the Polytechnic in Wolverhampton a year later.
Decendants Of The WindRush Generation
The term "Windrush Generation" refers to immigrants from the Caribbean who arrived in the UK between 1948 and the early 1970s. Named after the ship HMT Empire Windrush, which brought one of the first large groups of West Indian immigrants to the UK in 1948, this generation played a crucial role in rebuilding post-war Britain.
In order to rebuild post-war Britain, serious Labor was needed and in response to this call an influx of Migrants from Carribean Countries such as Jamaica, Trinindad & Tobago, and Barbados migrated to England in their thousands settling in urban areas including Birmingham, London, and Manchester.
The Windrush Generation significantly influenced and impacted British culture. From food, fashion, music and more.