At the Heart of the Matter - New Exhibit at MAM Embodies Fabric of Diverse American culture
From heart to hand: African American Quilts honor landmark civil rights gains
Montclair is chock full of art. From their many galleries to the local art studios, photography studios, Montclair State University galleries and uber-popular spots like the Art Garage, where not only can kids learn to draw but also learn the finer points of Anime, this a town that offers a robust arts scene.
Every year, there is a fun art walk, where people visit local shops and galleries,to peruse art by local artists, and enjoy a glass of wine or snack - free.
Then, there is the shining star of the local arts scene:The Montclair Art Museum.
I don’t know about you, but I like to get lost in the art - not in the museum.
That is one reason whyThe Montclair Art Museum (MAM) is a true find: this is an award winning, notable community based institution with an international reputation, a renowned collection of American and Native American art and much much more - a beloved place you can enjoy without getting overwhelmed by endless rooms.
Though this spot includes more than 12,000 objects, from paintings to prints to all kinds of original works and sculpture, MAM is welcoming to all ages, charming on all levels and astounding in all it does within its walls.
You can spend a morning focusing on just the American and Native American art, a true history lesson highlighting 300 years of history. Or, you can enjoy the works of American artists from the 18th center to the present, and there is always an exciting exhibition ongoing at all times.This is also a museum with a flair for cutting edge education: children and adults adore the Mam’s Yard School of Art, because it offers comprehensive courses for children, teens, adults, seniors and even professional artists.
An upcoming exhibit, drawn from the very fabric of Montclair and American history, is the perfect example of how this local museum transcends the norm and embraces the power and impact of meaningful art for the community.
Civil rights in America was a war, in many ways, first fought by hand. A new exhibition at MAM brings an astounding collection of African-American quilts to the community. “Heart to Hand: African American Quilts from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts” will be at MAM September 21, 2014– January 4, 201
No matter where you live, this is an exhibit you should visit. With a summer of tears, deaths, and a public awareness of a racial divide still powerfully alive in the U.S., it is timely to study the work of 30 African- American artists, who patiently created quilts telling stories of that embody the struggles of civil rights here in our country.
The timing of this exhibition corresponds with the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and MAM will offer programs accompanying the show that will reflect on the many civil rights landmarks that occurred around that period.
These artists, who hail from West Alabama, have designed moving, colorful quilts that embody the very history of their Southern home, where the art of quilts is deeply rooted.
“The quilts on view have an amazing graphic power and also offer an important visual narrative reflecting African-American social history,” said the Museum’s director, Lora Urbanelli. “We’re proud to be able to present this exhibition as the final show of our Centennial year.”
The show also marks the continuation of MAM’s Centennial celebrations, which began officially on January 15, 2014, 100 years to the day from its founding.
These quilts are part of the permanent collection of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Montgomery, Alabama. Most were created between the mid-1950s through the end of the 20th century, and represent the major themes in traditional quilt making. The exhibition includes examples of pieced quilts and appliqué, as well as the improvisational techniques and use of unconventional materials that are common practice for contemporary quilt makers.
All Museum programs are made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Carol and Terry Wall/The Vance Wall Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Museum members.
