The Legend of John Brown by the African American artist Jacob Lawrence will be on view at VMFA February 4 – June 10, 2012. This special installation highlights an important addition of American art to the museum’s permanent collection.
Lawrence’s John Brown series was among the historical epics he produced in the 1930s and 1940s focusing on heroic 19th-century figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass as well as the Great Migration of the early 20th-century. As Lawrence explained: “The inspiration to paint the Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and John Brown series was motivated by historical events as told to us by the adults of our community . . . the black community. The relating of these events, for many of us, was not only very informative but also most exciting to us, the men and women of these stories were strong, daring and heroic; and therefore we could and did relate to these by means of poetry, song and paint.” It is for these powerful narratives that Lawrence continues to be most celebrated today.
Consisting of 22 silk-screen prints, the portfolio is based on Lawrence’s same-size gouache paintings from 1941 (owned by the Detroit Institute of Arts) that explore the life of the controversial abolitionist. In 1977, when the paintings had become too fragile for public display and access, the Detroit museum commissioned Lawrence to reproduce them as limited-edition screen-prints. Each painting was originally displayed with the artist’s accompanying text, which builds on the powerful visual narrative.
In addition to the Lawrence installation, visitors are invited to join VMFA’s Karen Getty in 30-minute tours of three works by African-American artists in VMFA’s permanent collection. These free tours, part of the museum’s 3 in 30 program, will be offered on February 7, 11-11:30 a.m. and February 9, 6:30-7:00 p.m.
About the exhibition
• TITLE: Jacob Lawrence: The Legend of John Brown
• DATES: February 4 – June 10, 2012
• LOCATION: Works on Paper Focus Gallery
• VMFA CURATOR: Sylvia Yount, Chief Curator and Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Curator of American Art
• NUMBER OF OBJECTS: 22
• ADMISSION: Free
About the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
With a collection of art that spans the globe and more than 5,000 years, plus a wide array of special exhibitions, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is recognized as one of the top comprehensive art museums in the United States. The museum’s permanent collection encompasses more than 23,000 works of art, including the largest public collection of Fabergé outside Russia and one of the nation’s finest collections of American Art, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. VMFA is home to acclaimed collections of English Silver and Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, British Sporting and Modern & Contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan and African art. In May 2010, VMFA opened its doors to the public after a transformative expansion, the largest in its 75-year history. Programs include educational activities and studio classes for all ages, plus fun after-hours events. VMFA’s Statewide Partnership program includes traveling exhibitions, artist and teacher workshops, and lectures across the Commonwealth. VMFA is open 365 days a year and general admission is always free. For additional information, telephone 804-340-1400 or visit www.vmfa.museum.