Exhibitions reveal 400 years of African American history through quilts, artworks

JUNE 17, 2015 (AUSTIN, TX)  —  To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, the Bullock Texas State History Museum will celebrate the opening on June 19, 2015, of two exhibitions that share the longstanding tradition of African American storytelling through artistic expression: "And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations" and "Reflections: African American Life from the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection."

This year marks the sesquicentennial of General Gordon Granger's decree given in Galveston, Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a signal to African American men, women, and children that they were finally free from enslavement. In 1980, Texas became the first state to mark emancipation day as an official state holiday.

This year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the holiday that will be read at the Bullock Museum on the opening day of two exhibitions featuring works by African American artists that underscore the power of history and memory passed down through generations as expressed in paintings, works on paper and fiber arts.

"We are proud to have these exhibitions on view at the Bullock Museum this summer," Director Dr. Victoria Ramirez said.  "They share the story of Texas while reflecting a national narrative and offer visitors a chance to see art that’s beautiful and meaningful."

"And Still We Rise: Race, Culture and Visual Conversations" is organized by the Women of Color Quilters Network in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It will be on view at the Bullock Museum from June 19 through Aug. 30, 2015.

This exhibition features 69 beautifully handcrafted quilts created by an international group of artists from the Women of Color Quilters Network. The quilts narrate the history of the African American experience, capturing the stories of freedom’s heroes, ranging from Frederick Douglass to Thurgood Marshall to the first African American President. Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, guest curator and member of the Women of Color Quilters Network, created the exhibition to showcase a diverse range of fiber art techniques mixed with our rich American history.

“The exhibition gives voices to personal, authentic and unique histories of African American men and women­­­­­­ – from relating painful stories of enslaved ancestors, to highlighting contemporary political leaders and drawing attention to social challenges our nation continues to face today,” Mazloomi said.

"Reflections: African American Life from the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection" is organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC in collaboration with the office of Myrna Colley-Lee. It will be on view at the Bullock Museum from June 19 through Aug. 23, 2015.

"Reflections" is comprised of 55 paintings, photographs, textile pieces and works on paper from the collection of Myrna Colley-Lee, pioneer costume designer, professional artist and arts advocate. It features an array of work, such as rural landscapes captured by Maude Schulyer Clay, Gerald DeLoach, Randy Hayes and Tom Rankin; urban landscape paintings by Ernest Crichlow and Rod Ivey; studio portraits by celebrated photographer James Van Der Zee; photography of Roland Freeman, Milly Moorhead and Eudora Welty; works by collage masters Romare Bearden and James Denmark, and a rare painting by famed artist Charles White. Other artists include: Elizabeth Catlett, Gwen Knight, Betye Saar, John Scott and Hale Woodruff.

“The artists featured in both exhibitions have created works of art that are beautiful and that poignantly express life, culture, and mark events in history," Ramirez said. 

The exhibitions are part of the Bullock Museum's "100 Days of Stories," a full summer lineup of exhibitions, films and events that encourage visitors to celebrate the many stories of Texas and to tell their own. For more information, visit TheStoryofTexas.com.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.