Exhibit explores African-American history through street art

“Barricado,” an exhibit of original artwork by SUNY Adirondack student Ricardo Blair, opens Jan. 25 and runs through Feb. 29 in Warren Hall on the SUNY Adirondack Queensbury campus as part of the college’s Black History Month celebration.

An opening reception for the show will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in Warren Hall.

“Barricado” explores the rarely told stories of African-American history through the lens of street art. The word “barricado” refers to an armed central wall constructed on 18th and 19th century slave trade ships to confine enslaved Africans.

Blair, who is part of the college’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), is a Fine Arts major from Brooklyn.

“Art is a story for me, and it has always been a tool for me to get out the message of Black pride and Black liberation,” Blair said. “I want to shine a light on things that people from my community don’t normally see.”

The public is invited to the opening, which will include light refreshments. The program is sponsored by the college’s Office of Student Engagement and Diversity.