The “Black to the Future: African People in Outer Space: Past, Present and Future” exhibit highlighted art inspired by Afrofuturism, a concept blending African and African American experiences into sci-fi styles.

The show, curated by Frank X Walker, was on display at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center from Sept. 12 to Nov. 1. It showcased art inspired by the Dogon people, an African ethnic group known for their early understanding of astrology, which is now foundational to modern science. 

These astronomical explorations were meant to invite viewers to “envision possibilities for brighter worlds” through the lens of the Dogon innovation, according to the sign in front of the exhibit.

“It honors African people’s artistic brilliance and history and asserts people of color’s participation in a shared future, formed by our freedom to imagine new worlds in our expanding universe,” the sign said. 

The art varied in medium and technique, including paintings, sculptures and installations. 

The show featured work from 16 regional artists, according to LexArts, including Aukram Burton, Sheila Fox, Gee Horton and Ella Anjali Kirlew.

Bobby Scroggins, a professor of sculpture and ceramics at the University of Kentucky, contributed to the show. The exhibit, Scroggins said, displaying works from artists of color or African descent, was geared toward less “traditional” subject matter focused on outer space.

“My pieces are more of, I call it ‘mediaramics,’ which is a hybrid technique that I developed in the use of non-traditional techniques that involves the use of 20th-century materials, 21st century materials,” Scroggins said. “As well as unusual ways of treating more traditional materials.”

Scroggins said he likes his work to bear his signature without showing his name. 

Finding innovation and unusual ways to create, whether it be through material or style, is how Scroggins said he represents the “messages that are embedded in some of these pieces.”

“Very often when people think about African American art, we look for imagery that is more visible, more representational,” Scroggins said. “I try to get away from that and deal with more abstraction, so that it stands out.”

Scroggins’ displayed works contain metal, fiberglass, clay, wood, paint and embedded messages, such as his wife’s name in “Boo Flag” and symbols of the Comet Hale-Bopp, in “Comet.”

Visual art being publicly displayed isn’t just about selling it, Scroggins said, but a matter of education. 

“It’s really important for people like us to be visual, to be out there, being seen doing this type of work, not only for the public itself, or not only for a buying public,” Scroggins said. “But to educate people from all different walks of life about the type of work that we do and the ideas that we’re trying to convey.”

The show was designed to encourage younger artists and sow seeds for those who may lack a connection or direction in their work, Scroggins said. 

“Seeing the variety of work can inspire people, especially, I think, most of us really think about how we inspire younger artists to get involved in the creative process,” Scroggins said. “So, the best way for them to do that is to see other people, you know, that are doing it.”

Young people often lack the kind of encouragement typically associated with artistic involvement and are frequently discouraged from pursuing the arts for various reasons, Scroggins said. 

“It’s (the art) showing examples of what can be,” Scroggins said. “You know, there’s always a particular theme, but then, beyond that, there are a lot of people that don’t even realize that we do the kind of things we do, and seeing these examples of creativity, to me, that’s the most important part of this whole thing.”