Kicking off with a free opening reception & artist talk at 5 pm on Saturday, May 4, the formal parlors of historic First Unitarian Church will host the first-ever exhibition of all 40 portraits from "Living While Black" by Dr. Ajuan Mance, a professor at Mills College/Northeastern University and a Brown University alum. The exhibit will run through June 30.

Begun as Mance's personal response to the groundswell of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, and with a foreword by BLM cofounder Alicia Garza, "Living While Black" is a series of "defiantly joyful" illustrations of Black people. The colorful series, published by Chronicle Books in 2022, is based on incidents of surveillance, harassment, and violence aimed at Black folks engaged in the activities of everyday life. It celebrates the courage and resilience of the Black community.

On Saturday, May 4, hear Dr. Mance talk about her work, see the historic exhibit, and join her for refreshments afterwards. Dr. Mance will also give separate presentations to young children and teens on May 5. For more info and to RSVP, fill out the linked form or visit oru website.

• Dates: May 4, 2024
• Location: First Unitarian Church (ca. 1818)
• Address: 1 Benevolent Street, Providence, 02906
• Phone: (401) 421-7970
• Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Price: FREE