Gallery Talk at NMWA

George and I went to the National Museum of Women in the Arts where we heard an excellent gallery talk by Chief Curator Kathryn Wat. She discussed selections from the exhibit: "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s."

A description of the exhibit from the museum's website (http://www.nmwa.org/exhibitions/american-people-black-light) follows:

"Revealed through 49 rarely exhibited paintings, Faith Ringgold developed expressive figures and adapted African designs to reflect on momentous events that shaped America in the 1960s. These bold images represent Ringgold’s response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements."

On the website you will find pictures of her "Self-Portrait," "The Flag is Bleeding," and "Big Black."  

American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s on view June 21–November 10, 2013.

Faith Ringgold (b. 1930) is well known for originating the African American story quilt revival in the late 1970s. In the previous decade, she created bold, provocative paintings in direct response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements. Ringgold’s unprecedented exploration of race and gender in America is examined in this comprehensive survey of 49 rarely-exhibited paintings.
In 1963, Ringgold began work on a series of 20 paintings entitled American People. Rendered in a style that synthesizes post-cubist Picasso, pop art, and traditional African sculpture, these paintings present subjects who are black and white, male and female, and rich and poor. Grouped closely together, the figures reflect the tension arising from interracial contact that Ringgold observed and felt directly.
The exhibition also includes Ringgold’s Black Light paintings made between 1967 and 1969. A number of these canvases feature mask-like faces that reflect Ringgold’s interest in African art and design. Painted in nuanced shades of black, the works are expressive of Ringgold’s engagement with the broader “black is beautiful” movement. In other works from this series, Ringgold painted words inside geometric fields of color. These bold compositions refer to events that shaped the late 1960s, including race riots and the manned Apollo missions to the moon.
- See more at: http://www.nmwa.org/exhibitions/american-people-black-light#sthash.bHwG47MR.dpuf

  

George at entrance to exhibit

                            Christine with Obama

This week, Chief Curator Kathryn Wat discusses selections from American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s. Participants will examine Ringgold’s work, reflect upon its themes, and hear a curator’s perspective.

Revealed through 49 rarely exhibited paintings, Faith Ringgold developed expressive figures and adapted African designs to reflect on momentous events that shaped America in the 1960s. These bold images represent Ringgold’s response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements.

- See more at: http://nmwa.org/events/sep-04-gallery-talk-faith-ringgold#sthash.vjcqnJEV.dpuf

This week, Chief Curator Kathryn Wat discusses selections from American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s. Participants will examine Ringgold’s work, reflect upon its themes, and hear a curator’s perspective.

Revealed through 49 rarely exhibited paintings, Faith Ringgold developed expressive figures and adapted African designs to reflect on momentous events that shaped America in the 1960s. These bold images represent Ringgold’s response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements.

- See more at: http://nmwa.org/events/sep-04-gallery-talk-faith-ringgold#sthash.vjcqnJEV.dpuf