Patricia Andrews-Keenan (right), editor of the Chicago edition of the Harlem Fine Arts Magazine, and emcee Deborah Grable welcome guests to this evening of Harlem Fine Arts Show, cohosted with the National Association of Black Journalists, Chicago Chapter. [Photo/Brenda Butler]

By Brandon Pope

(Chicago, IL) – Fine art with brush strokes of history and the rich colors of a people smiling through struggle. It was a theme that echoed through a very special night for NABJ’s Chicago Chapter. Members had a rare opportunity for VIP access to the Harlem Fine Arts Show, a traveling exposition showcasing art of the African diaspora on Friday, Nov. 17.

The expo promised a “sophisticated evening of visual delight.” And it lived up to its billing. Guests who attended the event at Malcolm X College were greeted with live jazz and soul music, with an open bar to enjoy as they saw the work of several artists. Eye popping paintings, stunning statues, and magnificent masks made up the traveling collection.

The Harlem Fine Arts Show has made it their mission to make their event educational and a showcase of the community they touch down in. The Chicago expo was no exception. Local authors were on hand with cultural and historical literature, hosting discussions with those in attendance. The night also included panels and forums spotlighting issues of importance to Chicago’s black community and the global sphere.

The Harlem Fine Arts Show is the largest traveling African diasporic art show in the country. The expo is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, the great black artistic movement of the 1920’s. “The New Negro Movement,” as it was often called at the time, prided itself on bringing people together to celebrate and support the work of black artists, while also giving black artists a platform to make a living from their passion projects. The NABJ Chicago Chapter is proud and honored to be attached to that noble legacy.