In conjunction with the thought-provoking exhibition Searching for the Heart of Black Identity, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, located at 715 West Main Street, will host “An Evening with Affrilachian Poets” on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 6:00pm. The event is free for KMAC members and $5 per person for non-members. RSVP to Karen Welch at karenwelch@kentuckyarts.org or call her at 502.589.0102 ext. 207 or visit the website at www. KentuckyArts.org.

The evening will include poetry readings and stories by poet, Louisville native and NAACP Image Award nominee Mitchell L.H. Douglas and multidisciplinary artist Frank X. Walker, both co-founders of the Kentucky-based literary group “the Affrilachian* Poets.” Additional guest poets include Ricardo Nazario Colon, Makalani Bandeli and Jude McPherson.

The Museum’s Street Gallery will take on a coffeehouse atmosphere when Affrilachian poets, friends and supporters set the tone for an inspirational gathering of vision and voice. Refreshments will be provided by Heine Brothers’ Coffee and music will be provided by local jazz musician Ron Jones. Ron is an alto saxophonist and the leader of the Ron Jones Quartet, which tours throughout the Midwest performing at Universities, jazz clubs and jazz festivals.

“An Evening with Affrilachian Poets” is presented by E.ON.US, with support from Brown-Forman and Heine Brothers’ Coffee.

For more information, please call 502.589.0102 ext. 207 or log on to www. KentuckyArts.org.

*Affrilachian is a word created by Frank X. Walker. It is a combination of the words African-American and Appalachian.

About Searching for the Heart of Black Identity

From Hip-Hop music to contemporary literature, movies to cable television, the identity of Black America is often characterized by caricature and exaggeration. Searching for the Heart of Black Identity showcases the work of an amazing group of African-American artists from across America whose work explores this cultural conundrum. This provocative exhibition includes works in film, photography, textiles, sculpture, paintings and poetry. Each participating artist embarks on their own quest to engage the world through the prism of his or her own personal family, social history and experience. The resulting work is a snapshot of what it means to be African American in contemporary society. Participating artists include: Amalia Amaki, Sanford Biggers, Milton Bowens, Michael Paul Britto, Sheila Pree Bright, Rogger Cummings, Detekh, Nikki Giovani, Nekisha Durrett, Christopher Harrison, Rodney Jackson, Lauren Kelley, Christina Marsh, Bradley McCallum & Jacqueline Tarry, Caiphus Moore, Fahamu Pecou, Jefferson Pinder, Bayeté Ross Smith, Duane Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Frank X Walker, Kehinde Wiley and Deborah Willis. It is generously sponsored by Louisville Metro Government, the MetLife Foundation, and the W. L. Lyons Brown Foundation.

About the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft

The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, located at 715 West Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981. Its mission is to promote and support art and craft excellence in Kentucky. The Museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts and the Kentucky Arts Council, a state arts agency that supports the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft through the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is $5 for adults, free for KMAC members, students and children under 12. For more information, please call 502.589.0102 or log on to www. KentuckyArts.org.