The Saint Louis Art Museum is not known for its block parties. But for their exhibit on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the museum honored the genre the way it began. In 1973, siblings Cindy and Clive Campbell threw a Back-to-School Jam in the Bronx that has come to mark the start of the genre.
Clive, also known as DJ Kool Herc, extended the musical breaks of the records to create a new dance opportunity. He spoke over the beat, similar to the Jamaican “toasting” style. That style would spread throughout the country and become the genre’s foundation.
Fifty years later, cultural institutions across the country are celebrating the anniversary. In February, PBS released a documentary series on the cultural and political impact of the genre called Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World. The Saint Louis Art Museum exhibit has deep ties to local artists, including Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola, Aaron Fowler, Yvonne Osei, and Adrian Octavius Walker.
Andréa Purnell is the Audience Development Manager for the museum, and, for the purposes of this exhibit, her role includes curator as well.
“The breadth and depth of how this art form has evolved over the last 50 years is on full display as this exhibition is really showing us how hip-hop has influenced contemporary art,” Purnell said.
The exhibition, titled “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century,” is a partnership with the Baltimore Museum of Art, said Purnell. Creatives from both communities collaborated with the museums as part of the curatorial team.
"This opportunity allowed us to showcase the profound impact of this art form on a global scale, with a focus on artists whose work primarily spans the last 23 years,” Purnell said.
Embellishments as Protection
Among the sculptures on display stands a depiction of a giant pair of Nike Air Force 1 basketball shoes. St. Louis artist Aaron Fowler, using recycled car parts and various materials, crafted this mixed-media sculpture. Air Force 1s gained prominence in the hip-hop world and the national fashion scene following the release of a hit single titled "Air Force Ones" in 2002 by Nelly and the St. Lunatics.
The exhibit divides into sections that reflect common themes in hip-hop culture, including "Ascension." One of the notable works within this section is a sculpture of a head made of crystals layered over concrete, titled "Ego," created by St. Louis artist Damon Davis.
His work began as a reflection on grief and masculinity after he lost his mother three years ago.
“I was trying to think of what’s the hardest stuff in the world, and it is the streets when I think about it.”
After casting his face in concrete, he adorned the piece with crystals. The embellishment represents how hip-hop artists can use jewelry and other statement pieces as a “protective layer” against class discrimination, Davis said.
Two Great Days
Two photographs bookend the exhibit. It opens with a 1998 photo titled “A Great Day in Hip-Hop.” The picture captures over 170 members of New York's hip-hop community gathered on the steps of a Harlem brownstone to celebrate the cultural movement's remarkable progress.
Upon exiting the exhibit, visitors encounter a 2022 interpretation called "A Great Day in St. Louis," captured by photographer Adrian Octavius Walker. It showcases a gathering of local hip-hop creatives against the backdrop of Art Hill.
Born in 1985, hip-hop has influenced Davis his entire life. He said he hopes the exhibit can help people not familiar with the genre understand the gravity it has in terms of shaping our culture.
“It has definitely shaped the way I see the world and who I am as a person.”
More information on the exhibit, including ticket prices and reduced-price tickets, can be found on the museum's website. It will remain open through January 1, 2024. Watch Ruth Ezell’s reporting on the exhibit for Living St. Louis below or on YouTube.