September Issue 1999
Looking Forward, Looking Black at Weatherspoon Art Gallery
Looking Forward, Looking Black, an exhibition that looks
at how African Americans have been portrayed in 20th century American
art, will be on view through Oct. 31 at the Weatherspoon Art Gallery,
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC.
The artists' work in Looking Forward, Looking Black
reflects the representation of the black body over the course
of the century. The Weatherspoon is the only southeast venue for
this nationally traveling exhibition.
Curator Jo Anna Isaak, of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, called
the exhibition "an investigation of self and society at a
crucial moment of self-reflection." The works, she said,
"collectively... examine what it feels like to be in that
body as well as how that body "appears", and look forward
to a different picture of the diasporic black peoples being formed
in the coming millennium."
The exhibition, which features the work of 16 African American
and white artists, contains paintings that deal with serious issues
and raise questions about race, representation and cultural identity.
Looking Foward, Looking Black is part of Who R We,
a year-long series of programs at UNCG that will examine themes
of race relations, tolerance, racial stereotyping and cultural
differences today.
The artists in the exhibition use various means to reexamine images
and metaphors of the black body. The earliest works in the exhibition,
by Maria Howard Weeden, date from the end of the 19th century.
Her sensitive watercolor paintings of ex-slaves represent people
who lived throughout the community but were never acknowledged
in the prevailing social conditions. Through her work, Weeden
has attempted to make "seen" these often anonymous and
seemingly forgotten people.
Artists Beverly McIver and Renee Cox tap into the power of humor,
with its historical significance and emotional value, as a subtle
and pervasive antidote powerful enough to dislodge rigidly entrenched
stereotypes.
Looking Foward, Looking Black also addresses the images
and icons of popular culture as they confront and question notions
of cultural identity and experience. Carrie Mae Weems, Kara Walker
and Robert Colescott attempt to undo racial stereotyping by pushing
it past an accepted level, an approach that has met with considerable
controversy. Bill Traylor, born into slavery, drew images from
deep memories and familiar objects and events of everyday life.
Emma Amos's work bears witness to the past, framing memory and
divining history in paintings that echo the narrative tradition
of tapestries. Glenn Ligon uses text in his work, appropriating
the words of others to develop tension between the impersonal
and the auto-biographical. Alison Saar, Lyle Ashton Harris and
Lesley Dill all deal with representations of the black body, often
engaging the physical form in a metaphorical debate challenging
prevailing notions of beauty and gender.
Several educational programs have been developed around Looking
Foward, Looking Black. A series of documentaries and feature
films addressing issues of race will be one of the highlights.
This series, co-sponsored with the Department of Broadcasting/Cinema
& Theater and the College of Arts and Sciences Program Committee
at UNCG, will include discussion by members of the academic, religious
and artistic community. Information on all programs, along with
the film schedule, is available by calling the Weatherspoon at
336/334-5770.
On Wed., Oct. 13, at 5:30pm, communications consultant and educator
Denise Franklin will present a lecture, titled "Our Lives
Through Their Lens," which will address racial stereotyping
in the media.
The exhibition will also be accompanied by Greensboro Responds,
a program which invites members of the community to preview the
exhibition, select a work that interests them and write a response
to the work. Their responses will be placed on labels, to be installed
next to the selected artworks. A Reading and Resource Room within
the gallery will contain materials that will allow visitors to
explore in depth the issues and artists addressed in the exhibition.
A special arts program for teen students ages 13-18 will explore
the theme of race and representation. This program is sponsored
by the Weatherspoon Art Gallery and the Caldcleugh Multicultural
Arts Center and will take place at both locations. It will be
held in two sessions and is free. To register or to receive more
information concerning the program, call Pam Hill, Weatherspoon
curator of education.
Continuing at the Weatherspoon is the exhibition Preparators
Picks, through Sept. 12 in the Falk Gallery. Other exhibitions
include Collection Highlights, Henri Matisse: Prints and Bronzes
from the
Cone Collection, Escape from the Vault and the Sculpture Courtyard.
For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings
or call the gallery at 336/334-5770.
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29431
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