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Celebrate visionary artist and UIowa MFA alum Elizabeth Catlett's birthday at FilmScene with the premiere and encore screening of Standing Strong: Elizabeth Catlett

April 15th screening to be followed by reception & light refreshments

Both screenings to be followed by a post-show discussion with the filmmaking team and other experts.

Artist and activist Elizabeth Catlett was a pioneer of The Black Arts Movement who lived and worked in Mexico after being the first artist to receive an MFA from the University of Iowa in Studio Arts in 1941, where she studied under Grant Wood. Her connection to human rights led to her imprisonment during the McCarthy era and the declaration of her as an, "undesirable alien," after which she renounced her U.S. citizenship. As a Mexican citizen she exhibited her work worldwide and continued to buoy her efforts in activism fueled by the Black Power and feminist movements of the 70s. Her monumental works of Mahalia Jackson and Ralph Ellison are awe inspiring, but her most iconic works are those of Black women and mothers, which speak to obstacles she battled throughout her life.

Saturday Panelists:

Chris Kramer director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Lauren Lessing director of UI Stanley Museum of Art
Melanie Herzog author of Elizabeth Catlett: An American Artist in Mexico; Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Edgewood College
Kevin Kelley filmmaker, Emmy award winner, and co-founder of New Mile Media Arts

And special guests:
Phillip Jones author of Nothing Beats Failure but a Try, former UI VP of Student Services and Dean of Students (worked tirelessly recruiting minority students to UI)
Jo Jones former business manager at the UI Museum of Art

Sunday Panelists:

Anita Jung UI Art Department, professor - printmaking
Marie Wilkes producer, co-founder of New Mile Media Arts, educator, artist

+ Melanie Herzog and Kevin Kelley