Art Exhibit 'Chuck D and the Near Def Experience' Opens at Adelphi, Talk Scheduled for February 22
Garden City, NY (02/10/2022) — Artwork by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rapper, activist, and artist Carlton Douglas Ridenhour - better known as Chuck D, the leader of the hip-hop band Public Enemy - is on display at Adelphi University's Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Art Gallery through March 5. This is the first solo exhibition of Chuck D's artwork to date.
On Tuesday, February 22, Chuck D will discuss his show, "Most of My Heroes Don't Appear on No Stamps," at a registration-required event at Adelphi beginning at 4 p.m., followed by a gallery reception.
The exhibition, comprised of 31 portraits, is a celebration of Chuck D's musical influences that showcases an eclectic swath of American musical history including rap, R&B, reggae, rock, pop and folk.
A native of Roosevelt, New York, Chuck D graduated from Adelphi in 1984, earning his BFA. During his college days, Adelphi radio station WBAU was becoming a hub for the early expansion of the hip-hop movement, and Chuck D worked there, writing music and deejaying a program that featured the artists who would later go on to form Public Enemy. Since the 1980s, the hip-hop group has earned fame and accolades including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Chuck D is also a best-selling author and a media commentator. He has served as a national spokesperson for Rock the Vote, the National Urban League, and the National Alliance of African American Athletes. He has also appeared in public service announcements for HBO's campaign for national peace and for the Partnership at Drugfree.org (formerly the Partnership for a Drug-Free America). Through his work, he aims to encourage young people to remember the value of education and share their learning with their families and communities.
In his book "Chuck D Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History," he writes about various musical figures who have influenced his work -- including a reggae great portrayed in this Adelphi show. "I usually describe 1984-1986 as my 'punk rock orthodoxy phase' where I refused to listen to anything else, though I did discover and love Bob Marley," Chuck D shared. "I was open to Marley and loved his messages against oppression."
In 2014, he started a global art ad agency called mADurgency dedicated to servicing the entertainment industry and hip hop culture. The virtual collective showcases graphic artists, illustrators and painters from around the world.
The exhibition is free and open to all. The artist talk and gallery reception are also free but require advanced registration. Learn more on Adelphi's events site.
The Adele and Herbert J. Klapper Art Gallery is located on the main level of the Ruth S. Harley University Center.
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Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four-Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness.
Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university. It serves more than 7,500 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York -- just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities -- and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, as well as online.
More than 118,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, engaged citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world.
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Media Attachments
On Tuesday, February 22, Chuck D will discuss his show, “Most of My Heroes Don’t Appear on No Stamps,” at a registration-required event at Adelphi beginning at 4 p.m., followed by a gallery reception.
Portrait of Stevie Wonder by Chuck D.