Culture Hour: UICA Tour, Here + Now and US IS THEM

In this special edition of our monthly happy hour meet-up we're celebrating Black History Month with a guided tour of the UICA's current exhibitions: US IS THEM and Here + Now. Afterward, join us at the Pyramid Scheme for drinks and conversation.

This event is open to the public but is limited to 20 attendees. To reserve your $4 group rate ticket please RSVP on Eventbrite. Payment can be made at UICA upon check-in. Tour will begin promptly at 6:30 PM. 

This event is part of the Culture Edition of our monthly meet-up series aimed to bring our members and guests together for enjoyable, curious, and refreshing conversation to build our community here in West Michigan.


US IS THEM: Art from the Pizzuti Collection

US IS THEM is a powerful exhibition of works by 42 international artists who confront issues of politics, religion, and racism. The exhibition presents more than 50 individual contemporary artworks across a diverse range of media including painting, sculpture, photography, and video.

The exhibition is organized to reflect timely and potent issues of social justice and current affairs across the world. Artists are in the unique position to create things of beauty that inspire reflection, elevate our consciousness, and fuel a sense of responsibility. The artists in US IS THEM continue that tradition by creating enlightening and thoughtful works that challenge and rearrange stale notions of identity and obsolete notions of difference.

As the title suggests, this exhibition focuses on what connects rather than what separates us. We live in a global society. What happens abroad impacts us at home. What happens at home reverberates across the world. While we experience dramatic social, cultural, economic, and environmental changes, people across continents share in a continuing fight for social justice, solidarity, and tolerance. This exhibition presents works that respond to and raise awareness about our common human condition.

Here + Now

Here + Now, a series of solo exhibitions, performances and community events curated by UICA Exhibitions Curator, Heather Duffy extends the opportunity presented by US IS THEM to emerging and mid-career African American visual artists, spoken word artists, curators, and performance artists. Here + Now includes newly created solo shows and a guest-curated group exhibition, as well as community events and educational programs.

When & Where
Tue, Feb 28, 2017 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM EST
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts
2 Fulton Street West
Grand Rapids, MI 49503