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."
"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