Hyde Park Art Center, the renowned non-profit hub for contemporary art located on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, proudly presents a free public Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration MLK DAY 2025: Echoes of Freedom on Monday, January 20, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 5020 South Cornell Avenue. Eclectic programming for all ages blends live music, thought-provoking film, art making, and creative writing workshops, to highlight art as a vessel for collective memory, liberation, and joy, while reflecting on Dr. King’s profound impact on social justice and cultural movements. Registration is recommended at HydeParkArt.org.

Live Music and Sonic Performances

1 – 4 p.m.

CSO Civic Quartet will perform a setlist featuring works by Black women composers, showcasing the often-overlooked contributions of these trailblazers to classical music. ONO, Chicago’s groundbreaking gospel-industrial noise ensemble, will bring its unique blend of genres, challenging traditional musical boundaries while amplifying messages of resilience and liberation.Norman Long, Hyde Park Art Center artist-in-residence, will present an immersive sonic performance.

Film Screenings in partnership with the Consulat Général de France à Chicago

11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Attendees discover the riveting story of Edward Jones, one of Chicago’s historical icons, through two screenings of the award-winning documentary King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones. Directed by Harriet Marin Jones, this film delves into the life of the legendary Policy King, exploring his rise to prominence and the challenges he faced as a pioneer of the modern lottery system.

Art Making for All Ages

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Visitors can participate in hands-on art making led by the Hyde Park Art Center’s teaching artists, including screenprinting, Adinkra textile design (West African), and the creation of a community mural “Building the Dream: An Interactive MLK Community Reflection Wall” depicting a living timeline that celebrates Dr. King’s vision for justice, equality, and unity.

Creative Writing Workshop

1 – 3 p.m.

In advance of Court Theatre’s upcoming production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the theater company will host an all-ages creative writing workshop titled “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black.” This special session draws inspiration from the powerful words of Hansberry herself, as well as the songs and writings of the Black Liberation Movement, spanning from the past to thepresent. Participants will explore themes of identity, empowerment, and resilience through writing exercises that reflect both historical and contemporary struggles and triumphs.

“On-the Spot” Zine Making Pop-Up with Lucky Jefferson

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

This engaging event invites guests to participate in a zine-making workshop where completed pages will be compiled into a digital zine, archiving the day’s collective creativity. The dynamic and creative pop-up will be led by Lucky Jefferson, an innovative literary arts platform. Participants can craft their own zines to showcase their unique artistic expressions, engage in a zine swap, or pay it forward by leaving behind a poem, artwork, or completed zine for others.

About Hyde Park Art Center

Hyde Park Art Center, at 5020 South Cornell Avenue on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, is a hub for contemporary arts in Chicago, serving as a gathering, production, and exhibition space for artists and the broader community to cultivate ideas, impact social change, and connect with new networks. Since its inception in 1939, Hyde Park Art Center has grown from a small collective of artists to establishing a strong legacy of risk-taking and experimentation, emerging as a unique Chicago arts institution with social impact. Today, the Art Center offers a diverse suite of programs for artists and art lovers of all backgrounds, ages, and stages in their careers including: contemporary art exhibitions in six galleries; an open-access community-based school with 2,500 annual enrollments; weekly arts education to over 1,000 elementary school students in public schools; weekly and summer teen programs for 250 teen artists; professional-advancement programs for artists; a local and international artist residency; and public programs that connect residents with Chicago art and artists. The Art Center’s Oakman Clinton School + Studio is the nation’s first fully contribute-what-you-can visual art school for all ages. The Art Center functions as an amplifier for creative voices of today and tomorrow, providing the space to cultivate new work and connections.

For more information, please visit www.hydeparkart.org.