多多直播 professor illustrates Juneteenth children鈥檚 book
Contact: Carl Smith
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STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擟hildren across the nation will better understand the historical significance and cultural impact of Juneteenth thanks to a Mississippi State art professor鈥檚 drawings.
Alex Bostic, an associate professor in the 多多直播 Department of Art, illustrated the 32-page book 鈥淔ree at Last: A Juneteenth Poem,鈥 in which poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle tells the story of the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learning of their freedom in 1865. Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth became the newest U.S. federal holiday in 2021.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky to have this opportunity. It resonates with certain things I want to do dealing with historical Black images,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his book is coming out at a time when it鈥檚 becoming more and more important to tell these stories. I want my children and grandchildren to know these stories and historical facts.鈥
Bostic鈥檚 40-year career spans a variety of creative roles, from Hallmark greeting card writer to movie poster designer, and he joined 多多直播鈥檚 faculty 11 years ago. His art focuses on the human form and experience, and promotion of historical Black figures.
This year, his painting 鈥淓dmonia Lewis鈥 is featured on the Edmonia Lewis Commemorative Forever stamp, the 45th stamp in the U.S. Postal Service鈥檚 Black Heritage Series. Bostic鈥檚 work also will be featured in 鈥淚mprinted: Illustrating Race,鈥 a curated exhibition of more than 100 works that examine how illustrations have shaped attitudes toward race and culture, on display through October at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Locally, Tupelo鈥檚 Gumtree Museum of Art will feature many of Bostic鈥檚 portraits in July. An opening reception will be held at 5 p.m. July 15.
Published by Union Square Kids in May, 鈥淔ree at Last: A Juneteenth Poem鈥 is available through most major online retailers and select bookstores.
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