There are noteworthy singers, and then there’s Billie Holiday. As Frank Sinatra once said in 1958, “(Holiday) is unquestionably the most important influence on American popular singing in the last 20 years.” A multi-Grammy-Award winner and inductee of the National Rhythm & Blues and Grammy halls of fame, Holiday’s contralto voice is one of the most recognizable of the 20th century.
While you can still buy her albums and listen to her on YouTube today, there’s no better way to get to know the artist than at Irving Arts Center. Visit through Nov. 17 to see Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic, a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at Holiday’s life. Read on to see why you should check out the exhibit for yourself.
Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, Don’t Explain, Blue Moon, and Solitude. These songs are among Holiday’s most famous, and over the decades they’ve been covered by the likes of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone. Holiday is a jazz legend, yet few have seen the side of her beyond what was shown in public.
Enter Jerry Dantzic, a photojournalist who was given unprecedented access to Holiday during a week-long run of performances at Newark nightclub Sugar Hill in April of 1957. Dantzic’s discreet and respectful approach helped him build a rapport with Holiday, allowing him unprecedented access to the artist. This resulted in images that reveal the singer’s elegance, warmth, passion, and star power, standing as a counter to the tragic narrative that frames Holiday’s career.
The Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic is a showcase of 56 photographs from this week in Newark, each with its own story to tell.
Photo Credit: All photographs © 2018 Jerry Dantzic/ Jerry Dantzic Archives. All rights reserved.
When was the last time you were able to say you were one of the first people to do something? Experience the Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill exhibit at Irving Arts Center and you can do just that. After all, it’s the first art museum in the country to exhibit Dantzic’s collection of photographs, giving you the chance to be among the first to see them. Whether you’re a fan of Holiday’s music or a jazz enthusiast, find yourself at Irving Arts Center this fall for this one-of-a-kind exhibition.
Photo Credit: All photographs © 2018 Jerry Dantzic/ Jerry Dantzic Archives. All rights reserved.
While the Billie Holiday exhibit is already a great reason to visit Irving Arts Center, there’s more to see here. A Smithsonian Affiliate, the arts center houses multiple galleries with captivating exhibits of their own. This fall, admire large-scale landscapes by Los Angeles photographer Sparky Campanella in the Carpenter Lobby, themes and images of India in the Focus Gallery, and the works of illustrator and children’s book author Melissa Sweet in the Dupree Lobby Gallery.
Make sure to step outside and explore the two-acre sculpture garden full of tranquil fountains and whimsical creations. If you’re in the mood to catch a cultural performance or a family-friendly show, get your tickets for any of the upcoming performances at Irving Arts Center’s two theaters.
Enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind look at an American music icon’s life at Irving Arts Center’s Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic. Learn more about the exhibit and plan your visit here.
Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in cooperation with the Jerry Dantzic Archives.
About the Author: James Waterson is the head writer and content specialist for Tour Texas. When he isn’t writing about the many great places in the state of Texas, he’s planning his next epic adventure in the Lone Star State.
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