By Stephanie Woods
The American Museum of Natural History is truly a museum for the People and is currently headed by a man of Color.
On May 9, 2024, the Museum opened the exhibition titled: Ice Cold-An Exhibit of Hip Hop Jewelry is headed by Sean M. Decatur.
Mr. Decatur is the current president of the museum and is the only and first man of color to hold such a prestigious position.
In December of 2023, the former biochemist and biophysical president of Kenyon College was appointed the position of president of the museum, and with his role, he promised to ensure that all people felt welcomed and connected with its exhibits and illustrations.
According to Decatur “People, science and art go hand and hand and these are the elements that connect us”. Mr. Decatur has a personal connection with diversity and inclusion-as chairman of the Inclusive Learning Group Advisory Committee at Howard Huges Medical Institute, he is well versed and extremely familiar with the challenges that people of color face, and he is a champion on ethics issues and is a powerful advocate for equality.
As a representation of equality, Decatur is a strong leader for such a display of cultural cohesiveness, and he also sits on several other committees and continues to lead other organizations such as the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) where he is the director.
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Showcasing Hip Hop Jewelry at the American Museum of Natural History was co-curated by Lauri Halderman, Senior Vice President for Exhibition and according to Lauri, it was the perfect time to bring culture to the museum. The idea of bringing all cultures together as we continue to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th. anniversary as a worldwide sensation, it was needed.
And according to Lauri, she was extremely proud to be a part of a culture that she has spent most of her life enjoying. Vikki Tobak the special guest curator stated, “Bringing the Ice-Cold exhibit to the American Museum of Natural History is a testament to the cultural significance of this art form and culture,”.
The exhibit will be on display from May 9, 2024-January 5, 2025, and showcases many hip hop pioneers such as Jay Z’s Limited Edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore platinum watch; Roxanne Shante; Slick Rick’s diamond crown and diamond eye patch; The Notorious B.I.G; Biz Markie; Kay Slay; Jam Master Jay’s Adidas necklace and some newer icons such as Harlem’s ‘Asap Rocky’ and Nicki Minaj ‘Barbie’ pendant.
Guest speaker Loita Shante Gooden aka ‘Roxanne Shante’ and one of the original Queens of Hip Hop discussed the reasoning behind the styling and profiling of ‘diamonds’ and ‘gold’ during the early stages of the culture and noted the evolution of money-making for the culture.
According to Roxanne, the more ice you wore the more money you were making displaying your jewelry was a display of strength, noting you had bodyguards, and you were not afraid of getting ‘vicked’-robbed. So wearing gold and then came the diamonds– the more you wore, the more ‘juice’ you had.
The opening event was followed by a ‘star-studded’ red carpet which continued to welcome hip hop royals as Slick Rick; Pete Rock; hip hop fashion Icon April Walker; Sal Abbatiello; Roxanne Shante’; ASAP Fern; Freddie Gibbs; Stretch Armstrong and music mixed by Rodolfo Frankin, better known as “DJ Clark Kent” New York’s finest DJs and hip-hop record producer.
The Ice cases were structured to include a collection of hip hop’s finest and the creative Advisory Board was carefully thought out to include the voices of the culture and according to Ice Cold the board included Slick Rick (Senior Advisor) Lenny Santiago aka LENNY S., Rock Nation executive cultural curator, Coach K Lee, founder and COO of Quality Control Music and Karm Gill creative director and filmmaker of the 2021 documentary series titled “Ice Cold”; photographer Mandy Aragones co-founder; Victory Patch Foundation’ Timothe Anne Burnside, a museum specialist in Curatorial Affairs, National Museum of African American History and Culture; Tanis Ford author and professor in the History Department at the Graduate Center at The City University of New York; Alex Moss, Jewelry designer and founder-Alex Moss New York; Pete Rock-curator ‘The Hip Hop Museum and member of C.L. Smooth’.
Stephanie Woods-McKinney
Stephanie Woods-McKinney is a Bronx native who graduated Magna Cum Laude from The College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts. She is a vocal community activist who sits on Community Board #10 in the Bronx; is a Co-chair of the Youth & Education Committee and holds a deep love for Hip Hop culture and community activism. Stephanie writes throughout NYC, and Harlem, she has also received countless awards and letters of recognition for her hip-hop photojournalism and a ‘Citation of Merit’ from Eric Adams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-w-2637a229/
Photo credit: 1-3) HWM (modified). By Stephanie Woods-McKinney.
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