ArtBreak: Jazz in Focus, The Sound of History

Take a midday break and immerse yourself in the rhythm, resilience, and brilliance of jazz with this 30-minute ArtBreak Tour of . Featuring iconic black-and-white photos, this exhibition showcases legendary jazz musicians at the peak of their creativity, both on stage and behind the scenes.

During this guided tour led by a docent, visitors will explore how jazz developed as a powerful form of Black expression, storytelling, and cultural resistance. Through vivid images of artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie, we’ll explore the connections among music, photography, and Black history, highlighting how jazz influenced American culture during periods of significant social change.

Perfect for the lunch hour, ArtBreak invites guests to explore the visual language of jazz, the photographers who captured these moments, and the lasting legacy of Black creativity celebrated during Black History Month.

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Host or Publisher Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture