The Harvey B. Gantt Center is hosting a public opening to celebrate the exhibition Black Behind Bars: The Untold Story of Black Biker Culture. This exhibition showcases the profound work of photographer Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr..
Attendees will have the opportunity to appreciate an evening filled with art and culture, featuring appearances by Jacobs and curators Dr. Keith Cradle and Ricky Singh. Guests can explore the exhibition at their leisure while enjoying delicious treats!
This exhibit offers a powerful visual journey into Black biker culture, shedding light on its deep influence on identity and community well-being. Black Behind Bars presents the open road as a place of healing and liberation, emphasizing the mental health benefits of riding and how the sound of a motorcycle engine can serve as a meditative experience.
Image Credits: Alvin Jacobs, Road Glide, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.
Alvin C. Jacobs, Jr., a photographer and image activist originally from Rockford, Illinois, is currently based in Charlotte. He is celebrated for his impactful black-and-white documentary photography. Jacobs developed a strong bond with the motorcycle community from a young age, influenced by his upbringing near the oldest family-owned Harley-Davidson dealership and his father’s motorcycle clubhouse, established in 1977.
His career includes capturing pivotal moments in various social justice movements across America, and his unique style is characterized by stark contrasts in his black-and-white photography. Jacobs also played a role in the acclaimed exhibit K(NO)W Justice, K(NO)W Peace, and in 2018 was named the artist-in-residence at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, where he created the award-winning show Welcome to Brookhill, telling the story of Charlotte's historic Brookhill Village. This project earned him accolades, being recognized as one of Charlotte Magazine's "Charlotteans of the Year" and Creative Loafing's "Best Photographer of 2018.”
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