The Municipal Housing Authority of Yonkers (MHACY) and Philipse Manor Hall (PMH) have partnered with Yonkers Arts to curate an exhibition for this September honoring the late Earl Simmons, also known as DMX. The exhibition title “Look Thru My Eyes: a DMX Story” will be a part of the grand re-opening of Philipse Manor Hall (PMH) and will be the first time the friends of PMH have offered a popular history topic to their audience.
“Look Thru My Eyes: a DMX Story” is an introspective look at the life of the artist DMX and the man Earl Simmons.It explores his triumphs and his struggles in Yonkers, from childhood to the glory days, and the tragic end. The exhibition is a time capsule that spans multiple mediums showcasing the complexities of Simmons, through the eyes of friends, family and those who lived it with him.
The exhibition will be co-curated by Ray Wilcox of Yonkers Arts with curation and creative support from Raissa Fitzgerald and Wilson Kimball of MHACY. PMH will be the first to feature a collection of never-before-seen images of the Yonkers icon, the places he frequented and the millions of people his voice touched.
Wilcox, said “”¦We all experienced ”˜X”™s voice and impact in different ways. I”™m just trying to spark conversation pieces that connect us all based on the visual references presented.”
DMX grew up in public housing in Yonkers against the backdrop of the crack and AIDS epidemics. Urban centers like Yonkers and public housing like MHACY in the 1980s were crumbling with few opportunities for bright, young, black men. Wilson Kimball, CEO of MHACY said, “DMX rose from those ashes. Throughout his tragically short career he was a poet, a truth teller, an artist, a musician, an actor, a writer, a father, a husband and a son.”
Yonkers Arts was founded in 2007 by a collection of community leaders who perceived the need for an all-encompassing arts organization for a city the size of Yonkers. The founding board was composed of community leaders from across Yonkers. Its mkission is to develop a strong, effective and cooperative network of artists, cultural organizations and members of the community to promote and encourage the arts.
