The Park Ave Community Center is proud to host a three-day exhibition of the 20 Men Project, a powerful photographic series that celebrates the diversity, humanity, and strength of local Black men as seen through the lens of Photographer Sandrien de Bruijn-Mesman. The exhibit will be on display from Thursday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, Feb. 8.

What began as a series of 20 portraits has since grown to 35 photographs, a mix of 30x40 and 12x18 canvases. Photographer Sandrien de Bruijn-Mesman was inspired to create this project in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and the ongoing struggle to change the negative portrayals of Black and Brown men in the media, often depicted as criminals and thugs.

"My goal with this project was to show the world the true faces of Black men - honest, hardworking individuals going about their daily lives," said Sandrien. "Too often, the media paints a one-dimensional picture that fails to capture the rich diversity and humanity of the Black male experience. I hope this exhibit will challenge those harmful stereotypes and celebrate the strength and dignity of these men."

The exhibit opens on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., the PAC Center will host a facilitated community discussion featuring Sandrien and several of the 35 men who posed for the portraits. This special event will provide a platform for open and honest dialogue about the project's themes and their resonance within the local community. The exhibit and discussion are free and open to the public but please RSVP below if you plan to attend the discussion.

The exhibit will remain available for viewing in the Great Hall on Fri., Feb. 7 from noon-9 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 8 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.