MIDDLETOWN, CONN.- Black Pulp!, an exhibition that examines evolving perspectives of Black identity in American culture and history from 1912 to 2016 through rare historical printed media shown in dialogue with contemporary works of art, is on view in the Main Gallery at Wesleyan University’s Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, located at 283 Washington Terrace on the Wesleyan campus in Middletown, Connecticut, from Tuesday, September 19 through Sunday, December 10, 2017. New extended gallery hours are Tuesday from Noon to 7pm, and Wednesday through Sunday from Noon to 5pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

"Black Pulp!” highlights works by artists, graphic designers, writers, and publishers in formats ranging from little known comic books and covers for historic books and magazines, to etchings, digital prints, drawings, and media-based works by some of today’s leading artists. “Black Pulp!" is co-curated William Villalongo and Mark Thomas Gibson. The exhibition tour is organized by International Print Center New York (IPCNY).

The exhibition showcases the unique power of pulp and printed matter to contest dominant cultural narratives. Co-curator William Villalongo states “The pulp attitude is to take the tragic and painful points of history, from Jim Crow to World War II, and challenge them through biting humor, satire, and wit.” Co-curator Mark Thomas Gibson continues, “'Black Pulp!' highlights individuals who have redefined our entire world, while reshaping our concept of Black identity.”

“International Print Center New York is proud to bring this powerful exhibition to Wesleyan University to explore the myriad, creative roles that visual culture and art, especially printed art, has played historically—and continues to play today—to transform African-American narratives in America,” says Judy Hecker, Director of IPCNY.