Top 2 Bottom: A Journey Through the Elements of Hip Hop Culture - An exhibit on display at Tompkins County Public Library, March 29 to June 14, 2013

Joe Conzo

TCPL presents Top 2 Bottom: A Journey Through the Elements of Hip-Hop Culture. Curated by Jason Otero of Art & Anthropology, this exhibit features the acclaimed work of Hip-Hop photographers Joe Conzo and Ernie Paniccioli - made possible by Cornell University Library's Rare and Manuscript Collections; a new body of work by Ithacan Jay Stooks; a showcase of early Hip-Hop memorabilia, including house party flyers, boom-boxes, mix-tapes, fashion and graffiti; materials from the collection of Cap Matches Color; and artwork created by Ithaca's youth at a special graffiti workshop. This unique exhibit will be on display throughout the Library from March 29 through June 14, 2013.

The opening reception, which is free and open to the public, will take place during Downtown Ithaca Gallery Night,  Friday, April 5 from 5 - 8 PM. 

Ernie Paniccioli

At 6:30 PM the unique opportunity is offered to attend a panel discussion about the exhibit featuring Conzo and Paniccioli and moderated by Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell, assistant professor, Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity at Ithaca College. The discussion will take place in the Library's BorgWarner Community Room.  Special guests will include Hip-Hop Founder Afrika Bambaataa, and pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz, JDL, Crazy Legs, Popmaster Fabel, Charlie Ahearn, Buddy Esquire, and Mare139.

Part of  Unbound from the Underground - an Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture, this exhibit has been made possible by the generous support of Art & Anthropology, Cornell University Library Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cap Matches Color, Sellco, Highway Hi Fi, and with grant support from Tompkins County Tourism Program, New York Council for the Humanities, and the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County. 

For more information about TCPL's events at this weekend's celebrations go to tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop/