By Marie Pfeifer
Art in the Atrium kicked off its 20th anniversary last week with Celebrating Our Legacy, an exhibition featuring 30 top African-American artists that will run through March 18 at the Morris Museum in Morris Township.
Created two decades ago by Charles and Viki Craig, Art in the Atrium is curated this year by Tarin Fuller, director of Iandor Gallery in Newark.
Rosalind Nzinga Nichol showcases her gorgeous over-sized fabric snowflakes, which serve as the centerpiece of the show.
“Some of the snowflakes were made from linen dresses and other favorite fabrics from my life. You cut up all the fabric, boil it, mix it up good and put some additives in and allow it to dry,” Nichol explained.
Photos by Bill Lescohier, Marie Pfeifer and Kevin Coughlin. Please click icon below for captions.
The show also honors Norman Wilfred Lewis, who passed away in 1979, and Russell Aldo Murray, who died in 2007.
Lewis, born in Harlem, was a skilled painter, sculptor, tailor, pianist, dancer, puppeteer, and educator with a passion for calligraphy, drafting and needlepoint. He enjoyed a long and prolific career that included exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum.
Murray was remembered fondly for his many foibles but he also knew how to get people to work together. “This was an invaluable gift,” Fuller said.
Fuller gave a talk on the art of setting up a gallery, either at home, as a business or in a museum. I have to admit it did look easy when I was viewing her finished work. Everything flowed so beautifully. But I doubt that it is easy to include so many media in one large room. I’ll take her at her word that it is complicated.
A series of African-American art lectures is planned as part of the celebration. The series is free, except as noted, with museum admission. Registration in advance is required.
Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1—2 pm, Craft Traditions: A survey of African origins of African-American art and craft traditions.
Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 pm, $7. Morris Museum Associate Curator Angela Sergonis leads a tour of featured exhibitions, including Celebrating Our Legacy.
Friday, Feb. 17, at 1 pm, Senior Friday Tour. Free with museum admission, a museum educator leads a tour and discussion of the Celebrating Our Legacy exhibition. Morris Museum Associate Curator Angela Sergonis leads a tour of featured exhibitions, including Celebrating Our Legacy.
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1—2 pm, Fine Arts & Artists: From Early African-American Masters to the Harlem Renaissance and Mid-20th Century Artists. Thursday, March 8, from 6:30—7:30 pm.
Thursday, March 8, from 6:30—7:30 pm, Panel Discussion: Collecting African American Art.
The Morris Museum is at 6 Normandy Heights Road. Call 973-971-3700 for more details.
These works are beautiful! We especially like the airy and floating feeling of the four men singing.