During Black History Month, curators at one of the largest institutions dedicated to documenting African-American history and culture could probably sit back and relax, confident that they could draw crowds solely on the strength of their permanent collection.
But instead, Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which already has a lively schedule, is ramping up to present a staggering array of public programs and some new exhibits so visitors can examine African-American history through different lenses.
Advertisement
One new exhibit, "Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, Social and Political in African American Art," opens on Friday. Photographer and art historian Deborah Willis, who guest curated the exhibit, chose works from the 1960s through the 1990s for their layered meaning. "I wanted to focus on how African-American artists define and explore the concepts of beauty and abstraction when depicting moments from the extraordinary to the mundane," Willis said.
In media ranging from batik to photography, the pieces cross all sorts of boundaries; their subjects stetch from Atlanta shacks to jazz legends. The exhibit not only celebrates the artists but also provides a historical understanding of African-American art and its evolution, said Patrina Chatman, a curator at the Wright.
During the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, artists were often asked to provide realistic representations of African-American life in their paintings, Chatman said. Yet, Romare Bearden broke away from that tradition and started using mixed media, she said, citing some of his pieces from the 1960s included in the show.
"History and art -- it's a great marriage," Chatman said. "Because we are a history museum, it's wonderful when we have art that reflects history, life and culture."
Advertisement
One of the best examples of this is a series of 21 photogravures by Lorna Simpson. Each of the small, richly textured images portrays one or two hands, cropped from much larger portraits. Every image in her "Details" series is paired with a word or phrase -- such as "separated," "soulful," or "applauded" -- that gives the viewer a new context for the picture.
The exhibit includes more than 90 works by 36 artists, including iconic images as well as new classics by artists like Gordon Parks, Dawoud Bey, James Van Der Zee and Carrie Mae Weems and Lawrence Finney,
The Wright's other big exhibit is "Moving to His Own Beat -- Fela: The Man, the Movement, the Music," which opened Jan. 13. The exhibition relies on archival footage and objects to tell the story of legendary Nigerian political activist and musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The show is coordinated with the Detroit Music Hall, which is bringing the Broadway show "Fela!" to its stage on Feb. 14.
But what Detroiters might find most fascinating is a small traveling exhibit, which opened Wednesday, in a tucked-away classroom on the lower level of the Wright. Organized by the Michigan Humanities Council, "We Don't Want Them: A History of Detroit's Housing Segregation" deals with important moments in the city's civil rights history, with a special focus on the struggles over housing segregation. It traces the race riots of 1943 and the development of African-American neighborhoods of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.
"It's African-American of course, because of its focus," Chatman said, "but really, it's American history."
Advertisement
The Charles H. Wright Museum, located at 315 East Warren Ave. in Detroit, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. After February, the museum will be closed on Mondays. For a full list of the museum's Black History Month programming, see its website.
See images from "Mixing Metaphors" below.
Iconic Work From African American Artists
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.