Featured Artists

Jim Alexander • Suprim Allah • Jonathan Banks • Dr. Yahaya Bello • Gerald Byrd • Dr. Zerric Clinton • Kevin Cole • Ralph “rEN” Dillard • Najee Dorsey • Dr. Clint Fluker • Quamaine Giles • John Glover • Sam Guilford • Sean Haynes • Brian Hebert • Aaron Henderson • Tafawa Arthur Hicks • David Hodge • Reginald Laurent • Dr. Arturo Lindsay • Tony Loadholt • Sean Mulkey • Rukuumba Nedd • Arshaad Norwood • S. Darius Parker • Richard Perrin • Derrick Phillips • Cecil Reed Jr. • Hopeton Sinclair • Tony Smart • Lovett Thompson • Ric Washington • Darrien West • Irvin Wheeler • Dante Yarbrough • Kenneth Zakee

This exhibition delves into the complexities of Black masculinity, challenging stereotypes and providing a nuanced perspective. Through various mediums, the participating artists engage with themes of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage.

We believe that “Hold The Line” is not just an art exhibition but a powerful statement about the strength, creativity, and resilience of Black men. 

The phrase “Hold the Line” alludes to a military tactic, in which a line of troops was supposed to hold strong to prevent an enemy breakthrough. An all-male assembly of some of Atlanta’s most talented black male artists will draw and hold said “line” using a wide array of visual styles, techniques, and mediums.

A Statement from the Curators

Brian Hebert and rEN Dillard

The phrase “Hold the Line” alludes to a military tactic, in which a line of troops was supposed to hold strong to prevent an enemy breakthrough. An all-male assembly of some of Atlanta’s most talented black male artists will draw and hold said line using a wide array of visual styles, techniques, and mediums.

Black men… men in general, need to have a healthy or balanced sense of masculinity. Men who are more connected with their emotions will experience increased life satisfaction, self-esteem, and decreased rates of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The Hold the Line Exhibition aims to create a healthy dialog around this heavily debated subject.

Exhibit Prospectus:

Toxic masculinity refers to the notion that some people’s idea of “manliness” perpetuates domination, homophobia, and aggression. The idea that men need to act tough and avoid showing all emotions can be harmful to a man’s mental health and can have serious consequences for society, which is how it became known as “toxic masculinity.”

Toxic masculinity can be defined as “the need to aggressively compete and dominate others. It encompasses the most problematic proclivities in men as a sub-species. The socialization of boys in patriarchal societies often normalizes violence, such as in the saying “boys will be boys” about bullying and aggression while simultaneously championing negative traits such as insensitivity, over-competitiveness, and being unwilling to admit weakness.

Black toxic masculinity is a unique dynamic that has roots in white supremacy and internalized racism. It is much more nuanced. Some say it is a direct symptom of the humiliation and terror that black men have endured throughout America’s history. There are many definitions of “toxic masculinity” that appear in research as well as pop culture. 

According to the Law of Diminishing Returns, the value we get from a consistent investment of energy begins to decrease at a certain point. Can trying so hard to eliminate the negative or “toxic” traits of masculinity be taken too far? Is there a danger in gutting the worse aspects of masculinity, we also deconstruct the traits responsible for energizing the engine of a stable society? Is there a real risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water? There is a growing ground swell of people who are beginning to question whether the negative aspects of such an aggressive collective campaign will ultimately outweigh the positives. At what point do even the positive characteristics of masculinity like protectiveness, leadership, and just being a simple problem solver become labeled as toxic?

Events

Opening Reception

Saturday, September, 7th, 2024 5-8 pm

Artist Talk

Saturday September, 28th, 2024, 11am-2pm

SPONSORS:

• ArtsXchange

• Fulton County Arts & Culture

• Georgia Council for the Arts, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts

• Fidelity Charitable

• Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta

For more information the event, please contact the Gallery Coordinator at AXCgallery2024@artsxchange.org