Page 194 - index

Spring Expo poster, 1980s. Fall Expo poster, 1980s.
As destiny would have it, the Liacouras Center was American–centered event in an African-American
extraordinarily suitable. For example, the Expo foor community––an area where we dominate in
plan maximizes the Center’s available foor space and population and as consumers? Why not?
encourages customer trafc to move circularly. In this Ad used to promote the
format the artists are easily located and repeat visits to Expo in 1989. At this
time we started using
booths are better facilitated. Aside from traversing the “Afro-American” and
“African-American”
space and purchasing when they want to, customers can in the title.
also rest in the stands and watch others explore.
Te Expo has grown from occupying a mere
Our artists were nervous when we frst chose the
1000 square feet of exhibit space to occupying over
Liacouras Center. Tey believed North Philadelphia
45,000 square feet. Attendance has grown to over
might be the wrong location, especially since
40,000 patrons. Today, PIAE is the nation’s largest
news reports often suggest that this Philadelphia
African-American art expo. The event presents some
neighborhood has few positive attributes. We listened to
of the most prominent African-American artists
comments such as “I heard October Gallery is having the
and showcases paintings, sculptures, jewelry, wood
Expo in a gym.” And some artists asked, “Will we be safe
carvings, dolls, glass, metal, wearable art and much
in that neighborhood? We have heard bad stories.” Of
more. Poetry, music, dance, seminars, storytelling,
course, moving the event to the Liacouras Center turned
African drumming and workshops enhance the main
out to be one of the best decisions for Expo that we have
event.
ever made.
There was no road map for what we wanted to do.
As mentioned in “Refections” (page 19), the
No franchise, no precedent. So we learned like children
BlackStream Renaissance shows that African-
learn. We learned to walk by falling down, getting
Americans are supporting and developing Black
up and falling down over and over again, until we
art mainly by themselves. Te Liacouras Center
could walk.
on Temple’s campus is in the heart of an African-
American community. Why not host an African- Many people believe that if they have a job or a
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The Expo has grown from occupying a mere 1000 square feet of exhibit
space in the early years to occupying over 45,000 square feet in 2005;
from an attendance of 900 patrons to one of over 40,000 patrons.
Site of the frst Expo, in Dunfrey Hotel; 1,000 square feet of Site of current Expo, Liacouras Center; 45,000 square feet
exhibit space. of exhibit space.
profession there is no time or opportunity for a business Te Expo works because it remains focused on its
of their own. Just think about that! Avon, Mary Kay, vision. We understand that if OG is to have a successful
Tupperware and home art shows prove that businesses Expo every year, we must always be mindful of our value
large or small have a chance to survive and perhaps even proposition. Our value proposition is bringing to the
flourish as long as there is a vision. Expo the largest number possible of the most informed
attendees possible. We say that PIAE is attendance-
Remember the cat’s admonition to Alice in the classic
centered. Tis is what gives value to our event. Tis
children’s story, Alice In Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll,
simply means that almost everything we do, or don’t do,
Alice said to the cat: “Which road do I take? is dictated by the question: Does this strategy improve
The cat replied: “Where do you want to go?” or hinder attendance? With this ultimate objective in
Alice said: “I don’t know!”
mind, we move forward to execute it.
And the cat replied: “Then it doesn’t matter which
road you take!” Our business mentor,
Donald Redcross, Sr.
We learned an important lesson about our vision of
connecting as many people as possible with art. We
learned that our work had to support other people
and our culture. Here is how we shaped the plan that
enabled our business to become a meaningful entity:
We created a vision, established an operational model
NBC 10’s Sheila Allen-Stephens (left), Evelyn
to execute the vision and included real people (our Redcross (center) and Wade Redcross directing
the band at one of our frst Expos.
customers) in the vision and model.
Donald Redcross, Jr.,
Culture lives! Art is just one of its forms. Our dream Mercer Redcross,
WDAS’ Tamlin Henry
of bringing culture, art and people together became and Junious Rhone, Sr.
at an early Expo.
a reality because OG and the community share the
same dream.
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