This weekend I had the opportunity to visit the Milwaukee Art Museum for the 30 Americans exhibit currently on display. 30 Americans is the exploration of contemporary artwork made by African Americans. The pieces follow the theme of commentary on the Black American experience in all its nuanced forms.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, “Bird on Money”
Going through this exhibit, I was confronted by wave after wave of emotion that I’m afraid I cannot fully articulate. The show was masterfully curated and each piece held its own both as individual artwork and as complimentary and supportive to the exhibit as a whole. Some pieces confronted America’s racial history, others the cultural legacy of Africa. Many provoked an analysis of today’s understanding and interpretation of race and identity from the emphasized affiliation between blacks and athletics to the contemporary associations of cotton. It many ways the show was a test of the viewer’s cultural literacy.
Iona Rozeal Brown, “Sacrifice #2”
I loved this show. I wish I had had more time with each artwork. Don’t ask me to choose a favorite. If you are anywhere near Milwaukee, you have to go see this exhibit.
Squatting Artist 