Black History Month Showcase

Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia, the upscale lifestyle hotel nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, is celebrating Black History Month by showcasing a mix of artwork by local Black artists at its first ever Black History Month Showcase, launching with a Meet the Makers opening reception on Thursday, January 4 from 6 pm to 8 pm and running through the end of February, with a Hear the Makers discussion panel slated for Wednesday, February 7 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Both events are free to attend and open to the public.

Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia’s brand ethos and design inspiration is strongly influenced by its connection to the city and celebrating Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods, traditions, and the makers. The Black History Month Showcase is designed to highlight a mix of the city’s talented Black artists, whose work has been thoughtfully curated by local art curator Ginger Rudolph, whose extensive curatorial portfolio includes Fishtown electrical boxes, South Street murals, installations at SuperFine! DC Art Fair, collections for Paradigm Gallery, Fitler Club, and much more.

“This show is a beautiful extension of the relationships that have fostered my constant desire to have more representation of artists of color in our city,” said Rudolph. “I’m excited for the public to meet these artists and have a chance to connect with their work.”

The multi-media exhibit will encompass a range of media including textiles, paintings, photography, illustrations, and sculpture. Locals and hotel guests can expect to see a diverse collection of works from the following Philadelphia-based artists:

• Caff Adeus, a self-taught painter, mixed-media artist, and photographer currently focused on creating paintings from an autobiographical point of view that defies norms, stereotypes, and monolithic rhetoric by using a blend of cultural references and iconography.
• Jillian Rock, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist focusing on the exploration of place and placemaking – specifically the intersection at which the past, present, and future play on the narratives of Blackness and memory. Rock’s art teaching practice is centered in creating curricula around social justice, identity, and creating an experience that deepens community and encourages expression individually and most importantly collectively.
• Devon Harrison, an animator specializing in glass and chocolate sculpture trained at Delaware College of Art and Design, as well as University of the Arts. Harrison hopes to help his community find their voices through crafts and avoid being shoved into “checkbox” careers.

• Steven CW Taylor, also known as “The Time Thief,” is an award-winning visual artist and photographer.  Taylor’s transformative art captures the essence of his extensive travels and cultural experiences, earning him prestigious placements as a 2023 Mural Arts Black Artist Fellow as well as the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) Visual Journalist of the Year.
• Kendra Dandy, an illustrator and social media sensation whose designs are licensed worldwide in categories that include home decor, beauty, apparel, and lifestyle. With a style and voice that is uniquely her own, Dandy has been profiled by Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, InStyle and PopSugar. She is a champion for up-and-coming artists and protecting the copyright of digital creators.

“We’re honored to collaborate with such an immensely talented selection of Black artists in the Philadelphia area on the first Maker Series group show honoring Black History Month,” said Elizabeth Fricke, Director of Sales & Marketing at Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia. “Collaborating with Ginger Rudolph has been an absolute pleasure and we couldn’t be more excited to see this exhibit come together.”

Art enthusiasts along with fans and followers of the artists’ work can mix and mingle with the artists at the Meet the Makers opening reception on Thursday, January 4. From 6 pm to 8 pm, guests can browse the art while enjoying complimentary light bites courtesy of Patchwork Restaurant, and featured pay-as-you-go craft cocktails from the adjacent bar.

On Wednesday, February 7, the Hyatt Centric will host a unique Hear the Makers discussion panel with the exhibited artists in one of its second floor meeting rooms from 6 pm to 8 pm. The event will be emceed by Ginger Rudolph, giving attendees a glimpse into the creative process and inspiration behind the artists’ works, as well as their experiences. Both the opening reception and the discussion panel are open to the public and free to attend.

ABOUT HYATT CENTRIC CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA

Hyatt Centric Center City, the brand’s flagship Philadelphia location, is a 332-room upscale lifestyle hotel located in bustling Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The newly-launched property features an on-site restaurant and bar dubbed Patchwork, grab-and-go Patchwork Market, pet-friendly accommodations, multipurpose fitness center, and several state-of-the-art meeting and special event spaces in addition to luxury amenities. Designed entirely by Brooklyn-based CRÈME, the interior is elevated rusticity and is inspired by Philadelphia’s heritage and cultural background.

ABOUT GINGER RUDOLPH

Ginger is a curator, writer, and consultant for public art projects. She is the Lead Panelist of Design Review for Mural Arts Philadelphia and co-curator of Mural Arts Fellowship for Black Artists. She serves on the board of The Rail Park, a historic railway/linear park seeking to enrich Philadelphians’ health, culture, and ecology. As the founder of HAHA Magazine (High on Art, Heavy on Antics), she has focused on immersing readers in the realm of the global arts through engaging art education. Throughout this time, she expanded its reach to co-founding HAHAxParadigm, Philly-based arts initiative that works with artists, creatives, and brands to create valuable public art experiences.