Workshops
Join Drs. Tameka Ellington and Joseph Underwood as they discuss their research and collaboration that led to the development of both the TEXTURES exhibition that will be on view at the KSU Museum in September 2021 and the 200-page publication by Hirmer Press. They will be joined by Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka who contributed to the catalogue and is a hairstylist, therapist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia.
The College of Arts & Sciences is hosting an art, poetry and spoken-word contest to celebrate Black History Month! From February 1 – 28, students are encouraged to submit art, poetry, or spoken word that demonstrates and/or celebrates the history, legacy, or achievements of American Black History.
To enter the contest, please submit your art, poetry, or spoken word to Kris Braxton at (kbraxton@kent.edu). All participating students will be entered to win a book scholarship! Rules and guidelines to participate in the contest are as follows:
- You must be an Arts & Sciences undergraduate or graduate student.
- Submitted work must be university appropriate – entries that includes or depict obscene profanity, inappropriate gestures/signs, disrespectful behavior/thoughts, alcohol use, or illegal substances will be automatically disqualified.
- All submitted work must be your own – any plagiarized work will not be accepted.
- Winners will be judged and chosen based on the quality of the work. 1st place wins a $250 book scholarship and 2nd place wins a $100 book scholarship.
- Submissions can be entered between Monday, February 1 at 8:00 am until Sunday, February 28 at 11:59 pm.
- By entering in the contest, you grant Kent State the right to the submitted work to use for future marketing purposes.
All questions and/or concerns regarding contest entries can be directed to Kris Braxton at (kbraxton@kent.edu).
Join Drs. Tameka Ellington and Joseph Underwood as they discuss their research and collaboration that led to the development of both the TEXTURES exhibition that will be on view at the KSU Museum in September 2021 and the 200-page publication by Hirmer Press. They will be joined by Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka who contributed to the catalogue and is a hairstylist, therapist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia.
The Arctic's Singing Whale
Kathleen M. Stafford, PhD, School of Oceanography, University of Washington
Dr. Kate Stafford is a Principal Oceanographer at the University of Washington in Seattle. Her current research focuses on the acoustic environment of the Arctic and how declining sea ice and increasing industrial use affect marine mammals, the subject of her recent TED talk. She studies the songs that cetaceans use to communicate and how these change over time. Stafford's research has been featured in Wild Blue: a Natural History of the World's Largest Animal by Dan Bortolotti, the New York Times "Scientist at Work" blog, and The Planet magazine.
The NEOMED Anatomy and Neurobiology Seminar Series meets on Thursdays.
For link or other information, please call 330-325-6293.
The mission of the Brain Health Research Institute is to foster and support collaborative research leading to innovative discoveries about the brain that ultimately improve the health of our communities and beyond.
Explore the broad Jewish diaspora in this discussion of the Jewish community of Kaifeng, China. Rabbi Dr. Moshe Yehuda Bernstein will lead a facinating conversation about this little known community and how identity and practices of Jewish heritage have survived in Kaifeng for over 700 years.
Join Kent State faculty members for an in-depth analysis and conversation about the Black American Experience.
Featured guest speakers:
- Mwatabu Okantah, Associate Professor, Department of Pan-African Studies
- Kamesha Spates, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
-
Eugene Shelton, Professor, Media and Journalism
This is one of a series of town hall conversations that focuses on identity, understanding and change, exploring the diversity of the American experience. You must register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Sq0JaopTRea_yo44RTKF_w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This series is co-sponsored by the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the College of Arts and Sciences, and a host of other partners.
For more information please contact the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at diversity@kent.edu.
A Symposium for TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair
Kent State University Museum
Murphy Auditorium
Kent, Ohio
April 14-15, 2022
Join the Livestream!
We are honored to welcome you to this symposium, convened in conjunction with the exhibition TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair. The exhibition runs from September 10, 2021 - August 14, 2022, and synthesizes research in history, fashion, art, and visual culture to reassess the “hair story” of peoples of African descent. This symposium surrounds these histories and convenes thinkers and creators from a variety of backgrounds to discuss, engage, and celebrate ideas pertaining to Black history, hair, beauty, and culture.
The keynote speakers for this symposium are Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, clinical psychologist and hairstylist, PsychoHairapy LLC, and Dr. Crystal Porter, hair scientist and president of Mane Insights, Inc.
This symposium is open to the public and will also be livestreamed online for those unable to attend in person. An overview of this two-day event is below and you can also download the full Symposium Program (PDF).
TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair is made possible with the generous sponsorship of:
Additional support from National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Humanities Council, the Ohio Arts Council, Callahan Foundation, KSU Global Understanding Research Initiative, the KSU Provost’s Office, KSU Dean’s Office of the College of the Arts, Leslie Royce Resnik, the KSU School of Fashion, KSU Pan-African Studies, KSU Research and Sponsored Programs, Dr. Geneva Damron, Colorist and Brand Ambassador Greg Gilmore, and Kent Area (OH) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated.
Symposium Speakers
Foluso Akinbode, Ph.D. candidate & instructor, Texas Woman’s University
Alix Bizet, social designer
Mike Daniels, director, Kent State University Student Multicultural Center
Bloomberg & Ebony, in collaboration with TEXTURES
Dr. Tameka Ellington, co-curator of TEXTURES
Dr. Osuanyi Quaicoo Essel, senior lecturer, University of Education, Winneba
Dr. Lynnette M. Gilbert, assistant professor of art education, Arkansas Tech University
Dr. Amoaba Gooden, vice president, Kent State University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Whitney Harris, assistant professor of virtual digital media, University of the District of Columbia
Ambar Johnson, founder of Parallel Patterns
Kent Area Chapter of the Links student photographers
Camaron Loritts, assistant director of the Center for Research, Engagement, and Collaboration for African American Life
Dr. Annette Lynch, professor of textiles and apparel, University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, clinical psychologist and hairstylist, PsychoHairapy LLC
Sia Nyorkor, news anchor & reporter, WOIO-TV
Dr. Crystal Porter, hair scientist and president of Mane Insights. Inc.
Dr. Kendra L. Preer, arts facet chair, Kent Area Chapter of the Links, Inc.
Dr. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, lecturer, Case Western Reserve University
Maryse Ronel (a.k.a. Masa Zodros), artist featured in TEXTURES
Dr. Taura Taylor, assistant professor of sociology, Morehouse College
Dr. Joseph L. Underwood, assistant professor of art history, Kent State University
Ladosha Wright, salon owner and author
Symposium Schedule
| Time | Speaker(s) | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, April 14, 2022 | ||
| 9:00 a.m. |
Symposium Organizers: Dr. Tameka Ellington and Dr. Joseph L. Underwood |
Meet & Greet |
| 10:00 a.m. | Dr. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox | Fashioning the Black Flapper: The Politics of Beauty and Respectability in the 1920s |
| 10:30 a.m. | Dr. Annette Lynch | An Analysis of the Semiotics and Meaning Making of Black Hair and Identity in Jacqueline Woodson’s Verse Narrative Autobiography of ‘brown girl dreaming' |
| 11:00 a.m. | Maryse RONEL (a.k.a. Masa Zodros) | Representation des noirs en Europe avant l’esclavage (The Representation of Blacks in Europe before Slavery) |
| 11:30 a.m. | Dr. Joseph L. Underwood | A Photographic Record of Blackness and Black Hair |
| 12:00 p.m. | Adjourn for Lunch | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Dr. Osuanyi Quaicoo Essel | The Rise of Rasta Hair |
| 2:00 p.m. | Dr. Taura Taylor | You Don’t Need A Mirror When Your Sister Does Your Hair |
| 2:30 p.m. | Whitney Harris | Hair Texture on TV News: Why Representation Matters |
| 3:00 p.m. | Sia Nyorkor | Screening of The Next 400: Digging into the tangled roots of Black hair culture |
| 4:00 p.m. | Adjourn for Break/Gallery Visit | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka with an introduction by Mike Daniels | Keynote Lecture: How to be an Anti-Texturist |
| 7:00 p.m. | Symposium Organizers: Dr. Tameka Ellington and Dr. Joseph L. Underwood | Closing remarks and reflections |
| Friday, April 15, 2022 | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | Symposium Organizers: Dr. Tameka Ellington and Dr. Joseph L. Underwood | Meet & Greet |
| 10:00 a.m. | Dr. Lynnette M. Gilbert | Crown and Glory |
| 10:30 a.m. | Camaron Loritts | Is My Hair Too Radical For You? |
| 11:00 a.m. | Alix Bizet | Afro Hair Futurity |
| 11:30 a.m. | Dr. Tameka Ellington | Self-esteem, Quality of Life, and Natural Hair |
| 12:00 p.m. | Adjourn for Lunch | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Foluso Akinbode | Our Hair is Community |
| 2:00 p.m. | Ladosha Wright | Behind the Salon Chair: The Pressure and Influence on Black Hair and its Appearance |
| 2:30 p.m. | Ambar Johnson | Cornrows: Connecting Cities, Culture, and Community |
| 3:00 p.m. | Bloomberg & Ebony, in collaboration with TEXTURES | Screening of Made: Exploding the Old Narratives Around Black Hair |
| 3:30 p.m. | Dr. Kendra L. Preer and KAC Links student photographers | Illuminate: Through the Eyes of the 21st Century African American Child |
| 4:00 p.m. | Adjourn for Break/Gallery Visit | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dr. Crystal Porter with an introduction by Dr. Amoaba Gooden | Keynote Lecture: Hairy Business: Getting to the Root of Hair Health |
| 7:00 p.m. | Symposium Organizers: Dr. Tameka Ellington and Dr. Joseph L. Underwood | Closing remarks and reflections |
Symposium Livestream
Thursday, April 14: Morning
Thursday, April 14: Afternoon
Friday, April 15: Morning
Friday, April 15: Afternoon
Banner image credit: Lorna Simpson, Square Deal, 1990, 8 dye diffusion color Polaroid prints, 1 engraved plastic plaque (Edition 1 of 3), Photos: 23.6 × 19.7 in. (60 × 50 cm), Plaque: 8 × 8 in. (20.3 × 20.3 cm) Private Collection. Photo: © Artist, courtesy of the Artist and Hauser & Wirth.
Join the Kent State Black Alumni Chapter in celebrating Dr. Timothy Moore's life and impact on the Kent State community. This virtual event will include a historical perspective, personal tributes, music from the Kent State Jazz Ensemble and an opportunity to embrace the fellowship among Kent State students, alumni, faculty and staff who were positively impacted by Dr. Moore's exceptional legacy.
“His fervor for teaching and advising Kent State students for more than 40 years was meritorious. In addition, Moore blazed paths as a diversity trailblazer at Kent State. We are forever grateful for his service, and his legacy will never be forgotten.” - Kent State President, Todd Diacon
Please RSVP by Feb 24.
