Though more than 40 years have passed since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement remains one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
This spring, the Bronx Museum of the Arts will reflect on the struggle for racial equality in America with two important exhibitions: Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968 and After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy. On view from March 28 through August 11, 2010, the two exhibits explore the impact of this important moment in American history and the lasting influence it continues to have on both a national and local level.
The Bronx Museum’s presentation is the final stop on the exhibitions’ national tour, and the Museum has organized a number of public programs to underscore the relationship between the exhibitions and issues that continue to be important to the Bronx community, including an exhibition tour with Reverend Wendell Foster, who marched in Washington with Dr. King. Featuring works by former Bronx Museum Artists in the Marketplace artists Deborah Grant, Leslie Hewitt, and Nadine Robinson, After 1968 explore the past, while celebrating a vibrant, modern community. New York natives are also featured in Road to Freedom, which includes works by Bob Adelman, Dan Weiner, Donald Blumberg, Danny Lyon and Leonard Freed.
Road to Freedom presents 130 photographs, detailing some of the most iconic and provocative images of the Civil Rights Movement, including the desegregation of Little Rock and the Birmingham hosings. After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy, features newly commissioned and recently completed works of art by artists born in or after 1968, including New York natives Leslie Hewitt and Hank Willis Thomas. Presenting a mixture of paintings, sculpture, photography, video, sound and light installations, After 1968 is an expression of how each artist’s understanding of race and identity has been influenced by the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement. Emphasizing the way the movement’s legacy continues to inform the way people live today, it tells the story of the next generation, and the way local communities such as the Bronx have been defined by the freedoms gained in the Civil Rights Movement.
About The Bronx Museum Of The Arts:
Founded in 1971, The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a contemporary art museum that connects diverse audiences to the urban experience through its permanent collection, special exhibitions, and education programs. Reflecting the borough’s dynamic communities, the Museum is the crossroad where artists, local residents, national and international visitors meet. The museum’s home on the Grand Concourse is a distinctive contemporary landmark designed by the internationally-renowned firm Arquitectonica.
To get to the Museum, visitors can take the B or D train to the 167 Street / Grand Concourse Station stop and walk south along the Grand Concourse two blocks. Please note: D trains do not stop during rush hour peak times (from 6:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Manhattan-bound trains, and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Bronx-bound trains). Visitors can also reach the Museum via the 4 train to 161 Street / Yankee Stadium. At the exit, walk east three blocks to Grand Concourse and north four blocks along Grand Concourse.
For more information please visit the museum’s website here.
