Local poet, artist to mark Black History Month at libraries
"Swinging After 80" #4 by Robert J. Lloyd
Image courtesy of Robert J Lloyd.
To celebrate Black History Month, Stephen Pitters and Robert Lloyd will combine creative forces to share Black history-based stories, poetry and a visual art presentation throughout February at libraries that are part of the Community Library Network.
The presentations will be based on Lloyd’s show "Homage to the Past, Hope and Inspiration for the Future.”
The series of paintings depicts Black female musicians in their 80s, and still swinging, in varying styles and mixed mediums. The series can be viewed at 4comculture.com by searching Lloyd.
Lloyd taught photography at Eastern Washington University until his retirement and founded two galleries and a newspaper, the Spokane African American Voice, he said.
Lloyd combines his skills in photography, digital imaging and acrylics to create figure studies, reflecting themes from his extensive travels to Japan, China, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa.
Pitters earned a teaching certificate at Gonzaga University to teach stress and anger management, couples communication, parenting and marketing, Pictures of Poets said in his bio on its website, picturesofpoets.com.
Pitters is a poet and radio host on KYRS and producer of Poetry Rising on the Northside at the Barnes and Noble in the Northtown Mall in Spokane.
Pitters has written six manuscripts spanning the decades of his life, the last being “The Eye of the Spirit.”
The two will meet at local libraries through February to discuss Black history locally on the following dates and locations:
Hayden Library | 5-6 p.m. Feb. 6
Pinehurst Library | 1-2 p.m. Feb. 7
Rathdrum Library | 5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 7
Athol Library | 4–5 p.m. Feb. 9
Post Falls | 6-7 p.m. Feb. 13