Starless Midnight

About

In the impromptu acceptance speech Dr Martin Luther King gave for his honorary degree from Newcastle University he spoke of three urgent problems throughout the world: ‘the problem of racism, the problem of poverty and the problem of war.’ Despite the advancements of civil rights since this speech, his words still ring true today and are set against a backdrop of political populism, post-truth and so-called ‘fake news’.

This major group exhibition, presented within BALTIC’s Level 3 gallery, will bring together leading international artists whose work, in very different ways, each sheds light upon this contemporary condition within a framework of the important legacies of Dr. King. Some new work will also be commissioned especially for the exhibition.

Co-curated by leading artist Edgar Arceneaux, whose installation Until, Until Until…2015 will simultaneously be presented on Level 2, the exhibition will including painting, drawing, video, sculpture and installation. Participating artists include Barby Asante, Louis Cameron, Season Butler, Karon Davis, Charles Gaines, Micol Hebron, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Ashley Holmes and Cauleen Smith.

Part of Freedom City 2017 | Freedom City 2017 is a city-wide programme celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King being awarded an honorary degree by Newcastle University. Dr Martin Luther King was one of the world’s greatest civil rights leaders, using the power of words and acts of non-violent protest to achieve seemingly impossible goals. His campaigns against racial inequality, poverty and war are renowned and his accomplishments studied worldwide.