Citiparks' annual observance of Black History Month arrived with a dramatic flair yesterday as Kuntu Repertory Theatre took center stage.

The lobby of the City-County Building, Downtown, has been transformed into a shrine to Kuntu, the oldest and largest continuing African-American performing arts organization in Pittsburgh.

The exhibit officially opened last night with a reception and musical performance by the cast of Kuntu's "Journey of the Spirits," which closes this weekend at Kuntu's theater on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

The exhibit features photos from Kuntu's 33-year history and costumes, set pieces and posters from eight plays that had Pittsburgh themes -- including "Among the Best: The Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays."

The exhibit will run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Feb. 29.

Founded in the fall of 1974 by Pitt professor Vernell A. Lillie, Kuntu was meant to perform just once, a stage reading the ensuing spring. But more than three decades later, the company is thriving, producing and performing four shows a year that tend to focus on African-American themes but draw a diverse audience.

Amanda Morel, program coordinator for Citiparks, said Kuntu was chosen because the Black History Month celebration never had highlighted a theater group, and the company's rich history made it an obvious choice. Kuntu opened its archives, allowing Citiparks to pick from stores of memorabilia for the exhibit.

"[Young people] get into it because there's things to look at, not just photographs," Ms. Morel said.

A Grays baseball jersey, a piano and a full drum set were among the items on display yesterday.

"I'm humbled by this," Dr. Lillie said, pausing to look around at the completed exhibit. "But even more so, I had no idea what Amanda and the others would do with it. And their configurations are just wonderful."

Ms. Morel said she was excited to spread Kuntu to a wider audience.

"It has a big impact," she said, noting the thousands of people that travel through that lobby.

"I think it's good to highlight these kinds of things and get the word out on these kinds of treasures we have in the city."