Schuster Center exhibit honors important local African American figures

DAYTON — Every year Dayton Live partners with local African American artists for an exhibit located inside the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton to honor Black History Month.

Now until March 31 the art exhibit “Dayton Skyscrapers” will be featured inside the center, curated by Willis Davis.

The exhibit features oil and acrylic paintings, sculptures and images of 12 African Americans who impacted the Dayton community, such as Jessie Hathcock the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Dayton.

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News Center 7′s Dontre Drexelius spoke with one of the artists who contributed to “Dayton Skyscrapers.”

Gregg DeGroat did a watercolor portrait of Dr. Gary Leroy.

DeGroat said he, and other artists, put their heart and soul into the exhibit every year.

DeGroat said the name of the exhibit symbolizes how these important members of the community figurately stand taller than us

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You can see DeGroat’s artwork along with others such as Dwayne Daniel, Morris Howard and Frances Turner at the Shuster Exhibit.

“Dayton Skyscrapers” is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m and Saturdays from 12-4 p.m.

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