Spattered Columns, an exhibition space operated by the non-profit Art Connects New York (ACNY), is pleased to announce the opening of “Made You Look: Hidden Narratives Unveiled” on May 9, 2012. In homage of the Hatch-Billops Collection, this group exhibition curated by rising NYC-based curator Krista Saunders features site-specific installation by artists’ whose practice involves archiving the underrepresented and overlooked aspects of contemporary culture. Similarly driven by a compulsion to document, collect, and share themes largely neglected by prevailing discourses, these prolific artists both honor and perpetuate the legacy of the Hatch-Billops Collection and its committed creators.

Housed in the same SoHo building as Spattered Columns, the Hatch-Billops Collection is a remarkable archive of African American art, culture, and oral histories. Founded by Camille Billops and James Hatch in 1975, more than 30 years later Hatch-Billops continues to collect interviews, scripts, artwork and documentation by visual and performing artists of color. While renowned artists such as Faith Ringgold, Dizzy Gillespie and playwright George C. Wolfe have been featured, the Hatch-Billops Collection has also been instrumental in fostering the awareness of little-known pioneers such as Willis Richardson, the first African-American to mount a show on Broadway. Participating artists in “Made You Look: Hidden Narratives Unveiled” include Damali Abrams, Brendan Carroll, James Fitzgerald, Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, Karen Schoellkopf, Tattfoo Tan, and Sam Vernon. This exhibition is in commemoration of the Hatch-Billops Collection’s immeasurable cultural contributions and enduring support of artists of color upon the printing of their final edition of the “Artists and Influences” journal.

The opening reception for “Made You Look: Hidden Narratives Unveiled” will take place from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at Spattered Columns, 491 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10012. The exhibition will run until May 31st. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 12-6pm. An accompanying tour of the Hatch-Billops Collection will take place from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, May 30th. RSVP REQUIRED at [email protected]; $5 Suggested Donation.

This program is supported, in part, by public Funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council. Additional funding is made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Beverages provided by Bomb Lager.