June 1, 2014 — Boise Art Museum announces Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and Power from the collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation at BAM June 7 – August 17, 2014
Emerging in New York in the mid-1990s, Kara Walker has become one of the most successful and controversial artists working today. Exploring the painful history of American race relations through elegant and unnerving silhouettes, Walker’s work challenges us to access buried emotions about our nation’s past. In her hands, the medium of silhouette becomes a tool for examining the traumatic psychological legacy of slavery. The exhibition brings together Walker’s work in a variety of mediums, from large-scale printmaking to metal sculpture, shadow puppetry, and film. “Kara Walker is one of the most important artists in our collection. Her art needs to be seen and the themes need to be examined. No artist today does a better job of forcing the viewers to deal with stereotypes, gender, and race,” says Jordan Schnitzer.
The exhibition was organized by Jessi DiTillio, Assistant curator of Contemporary Art at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, and made possible by Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation.
Programs related to Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and Power
July 2, 2014: Toddler Wednesday – Children ages 2-3 with an adult are invited to make silhouettes of paper.
July 3, 2014: Art Answers – Talk to an historian and learn more about the artwork.
July 3, 2014: Studio Art Exploration – Art lovers of all ages are invited to explore Kara Walker’s process by cutting and assembling paper.
July 16, 2014: Especially for Seniors – Senior citizens are invited for a tour at 2:00 p.m.
July 20, 2014: Sunday Demonstration – Talk to an expert about printmaking and learn more about the processes used by Kara Walker.
July 26, 2014: Family Art Saturday – Children accompanied by adults are invited to create scenes with paper silhouettes to learn more about the exhibition.
July 31, 2014: Art Break – Enjoy a 30-minute talk presented by BAM Docents.
For more information, visit www.boiseartmuseum.org.