The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College Announces New Exhibition
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College will present Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow, an exhibition honoring the 50-year legacy of Black Dimensions in Art Inc. (BDA), the Capital Region’s longest-running Black arts collective. The exhibition will be on view from May 31 through November 2, 2025.
Bringing together archival materials—such as publications, posters, photographs, and ephemera—with artwork by BDA members and artists from the Tang collection, the exhibition highlights those who have participated in previous BDA exhibitions or who engage with broader themes of Black liberation from the late 20th century onward. The exhibition title, Up to Us, is inspired by a Harlem Week slogan from the 1980s: “Much more to do … a better Harlem is up to us.” The phrase captures the spirit of self-determination central to BDA’s mission and connects the group to a broader national movement of grassroots Black arts and cultural organizations.
A key feature of the exhibition is a new video incorporating excerpts from oral histories with current and former BDA members, recorded through Skidmore’s MDOCS Co-Creation Initiative (2021–2025). Interviewees include D. Colin, Miki Conn (a founding member), Francelise Dawkins, Trenton Graham, Linda Jackson-Chalmers (a founding member, Skidmore Class of 1973, and former Skidmore trustee), Gregory Freelon (a founding member), Jacqueline Lake-Sample, Mitzi Lawrence, Thurmon Myers, Brenda Twiggs, and Stephen J. Tyson.
Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow is organized by Rebecca McNamara, The Frances Young Tang ’61 Associate Curator, in collaboration with BDA members Marcus Anderson, D. Colin, Miki Conn, Daesha Devón Harris, Jacqueline Lake-Sample, and Stephen J. Tyson. The exhibition is supported by Angela Beallor, Documentarian in Community Co-Creation with the John B. Moore Documentary Collaborative (MDOCS) at Skidmore College. Funding was provided by the Friends of the Tang and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Public Programs
The exhibition is free and open to the public. The Tang Teaching Museum is located on the Skidmore College campus at 815 N. Broadway in Saratoga Springs, New York, and is open Tuesday–Sunday, noon–5 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, call 518-580-8080 or visit tang.skidmore.edu.
Companion Exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art
The 50th anniversary celebration of Black Dimensions in Art continues at the Albany Institute of History & Art with For Liberation and For Life: The Legacy of Black Dimensions in Art, on view from August 23 through December 31, 2025. This presentation marks a return to the Institute, where BDA’s first major exhibition, Black Artists in Historical Perspective I, was shown after its debut at the Schenectady Museum in 1976. The exhibition will feature a range of media, styles, and perspectives from historic, contemporary, and emerging artists, honoring BDA’s legacy while envisioning its future. For more information, visit the Albany Institute’s website.
About Black Dimensions in Art Inc.
Founded in Schenectady, New York, in 1975, Black Dimensions in Art, Inc. (BDA) is a volunteer-run collective of artists and activists committed to increasing visibility for artists of the African Diaspora and encouraging young people of African descent to engage with the arts. Born out of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, BDA aims to dismantle systemic barriers in the art world and highlight the contributions of African Diasporic artists. Learn more at blackdimensionsinart.org.
About Skidmore College
Skidmore College, established in 1903, is a private liberal arts college located in Saratoga Springs, New York, with approximately 2,700 students. The college is known for its commitment to creativity and excellence, offering more than 40 degree programs and strong opportunities in business, psychology, and the arts. Skidmore has received national recognition for innovation, value, and sustainability.
About the John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative (MDOCS)
The John B. Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative integrates documentary practice into Skidmore’s curriculum and fosters public engagement. MDOCS supports a wide range of nonfiction storytelling—from traditional media to immersive and experimental forms—providing platforms for students, faculty, artists, and communities to collaborate on impactful projects.
About the Tang Teaching Museum
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery is a national leader in interdisciplinary and community-engaged museum practice. With exhibitions that blend art with ideas across disciplines and a strong commitment to faculty and student collaboration, the Tang serves as a model for academic museums. Its distinctive building, designed by Antoine Predock, symbolizes the convergence of art and intellectual inquiry. Learn more at tang.skidmore.edu.
Art Image Credits: BDA Founder at an Art Event in the 1970s. Black Dimensions Art Archive.
ART | library deco 
Share Your Feedback with ART | library deco!