Review in
ART DAILY - June 25, 2013
Review in
THE WASHINGTON POST
Museums Section - June 13, 2013.
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Exhibition of First Comprehensive Survey of Faith Ringgold’s Politically Charged Paintings of the 1960s
Apr 11 2013
Exhibition
represents an unprecedented artistic exploration of the intersections
of race, gender and class made in direct response to social upheaval of
the times.
WASHINGTON—Best known as the
originator of the African American story quilt revival that began in the
1970s, Faith Ringgold’s pointed political paintings of the 1960s are
the focus of
American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s,
an exhibition on view at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
(NMWA) June 21–November 10, 2013. The exhibition explores the emotional
and at times contentious issues that were at the forefront of her
experience of racial inequality in the United States during the 1960s.
Ringgold created bold, provocative paintings in direct response to the
Civil Rights and feminist movements. With only a few exceptions, these
once influential paintings disappeared from view, omitted from critical
art-historical discourse for more than 40 years. The exhibition includes
45 works from the landmark series
American People (1963–67) and
Black Light (1967–71), along with related murals and political posters.
“In
this important anniversary year for the Civil Right movement, NMWA is
proud to show these little known but important early paintings by Faith
Ringgold. This engaging and challenging exhibition reflects the depth of
Ringgold’s work and the compelling issues she addresses,” said NMWA
Director Susan Fisher Sterling. “Art and activism in the 1960s broadened
opportunities within the art world for women artists, a goal that we
continue to strive for at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.”
