What is Hip Hop Culture?
Some of us know. Some of us need to know.
The Schroeder Hall Gallery will open with a presentation that gives an answer to this question in a powerful, immersive experience you won’t want to miss! The Stevenson Center, under the direction of Dr. Frank Beck, reached out to Breaking Chains and Advancing Increase (BCAI), a Bloomington-based cultural arts and humanities organization for youth specializing in dance, art, and the martial arts, to collaborate on a gallery exhibit. BCAI was eager to participate and quickly gained a vision for the project.
Angelique Racki, executive director of BCAI, met with Beck and her own team of leaders to come up with a project that would provide voices to ears and eyes that want to hear, see, learn, and respond. Young artists have been working on the project all summer, creating art and practicing dance, in an effort to express themselves and educate others on the fundamentals of Hip Hop culture.
“BCAI is the necessary vehicle for destroying destructive cycles in this world such as violence, sexual abuse, victimization, racism, poverty, etc.” Racki said. “BCAI is not a building; it is a family and a legacy of unconditional love and resilience training.”
Racki regularly witnesses the power of the program and is reminded why she continues to serve when, as she says, “A student goes from fear to resilience; from self-loathing and sabotage to working on these ‘new’ superpowers they find within themselves. The looks on their faces, the fierce courage increasing and the family dynamics improving—all of this is why.
“’Why’ is when a parent comes to me in tears because their child is making friends, fearlessly freestyling in a cypher, or exuding confidence in other ways, all for the first time.”
“A student goes from fear to resilience; from self-loathing and sabotage to working on these ‘new’ superpowers they find within themselves. The looks on their faces, the fierce courage increasing and the family dynamics improving—all of this is why.”
Angelique Racki
Racki said she will be soliciting for second-semester pieces throughout the fall semester from those who connect and have something to say and offered more reasons why she believes this current exhibit is important.
“What Is Hip Hop Culture? educates and informs on this ancient, powerful culture while inspiring further unapologetic expression from those it speaks to,” she said. “This continues to build community and a strong village that many of us have needed since childhood. An exhibit like this fortifies Bloomington/Normal, making it a safer place to live, learn, and love.”
Beck is excited to welcome art by local youth to the walls of Schroeder Hall.
“Bringing local art, created by those who often remain unheard, to an academic space is invigorating and powerful,” Beck said. “For this academic year, the walls of the Schroeder Hall Gallery are colorful and welcoming to all. There’s a chance for a local young person to see something they created on display at Illinois State University. I hope it becomes as strong of a memory for them as it is for me. I hope we can all feel a sense of accomplishment while increasing the diversity of voices we are prepared to hear and listen to.”
The unveiling of this project includes a Hip Hop culture collaborative production complete with Breakin, Step, choreography, and freestyle as well as a graffiti demonstration.
“An exhibit like this fortifies Bloomington/Normal, making it a safer place to live, learn, and love.”
Angelique Racki
The event takes place on Thursday, September 22, 2022, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Schroeder Hall Gallery on the second floor lounge of Schroeder Hall. Parking is available at the Bone Student Center. Light refreshments will be served.
This project is sponsored by the Stevenson Center, Wonsook Kim School of Art, and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Special thanks to all the artists and directors of BCAI, Sam Oesterreich of Oesfreelancing Graphic Design, and production partner, Sigma Gamma Rho.
