" Johnny Dillard Lytle," by Greg DeGroat

Charcoal Illustration 27"x 34"

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The Dayton Skyscrapers art project is not a celebration of tall buildings nor is it the modest Dayton skyline. Dayton Skyscrapers is a metaphor for those local African Americans who stand tall in our minds and heart for what they have achieved in their field and their contributions to the quality of life of Dayton and the Miami Valley region.

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The Dayton Skyscrapers project is designed to:

• Identify and celebrate local African Americans who have excelled in their field.

• Celebrate local African American visual artists.

• Provide positive role models for urban youth.

• Enhance the general community’s appreciation of African American contributions to the Dayton Miami Valley region.

 

The greatest national resource of any community is the creative and fertile minds of its youth. Too often the career goals of urban youth are self-limited to the areas of NFL, NBA, and hip-hop. The Dayton Skyscrapers art project provides another group of positive and relevant African American role models for our urban youth. They are high achieving African Americans who experienced similar educational, social, and economic hardships as many of today’s youth, and yet they excelled. This exhibit is also a visual reminder of the many artistic and creative talents that can be found across the community. Many thanks are due our collaborators and partners. The Victoria Theatre Association, The Dayton Power and Light Foundation, Ziks Family Pharmacy, Dayton Public Schools and Dayton

Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.