Southern Connections: Bearden in Atlanta
Saturday, December 14, 2013 - Sunday, March 09, 2014
Romare Bearden's art career includes noteworthy Atlanta ties. Southern Connections: Romare Bearden in Atlanta documents these associations, drawing upon the rich holdings in Emory's Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library enhanced by loans from Hammonds House Museum, Clark Atlanta University, Wesley and Missy Cochran, and Brenda and Larry Thompson. The exhibition brings together original works of art by Bearden himself, a series of original silver gelatin prints by Carl van Vechten and others of Bearden and his circle, and related printed materials. Many of these have never been shown in public.
Bearden's ties to Georgia include W. E. B. Du Bois, Atlanta University Professor (1879–1910, 1934–1944), who was a family friend from the time Bearden was a young boy and was among the intellectuals whose ideas informed and shaped those of the artist. Bearden's friendship with Hale Aspacio Woodruff began when he visited Spelman College in 1941. In 1963 they co-founded Spiral, a New York-based group that explored how artists might find a meaningful place within the social activism of the time. They remained mutual sounding boards for creative and philosophical ideas until Woodruff's death in 1980. Bearden met sculptor Nancy Elizabeth Prophet and poet Owen Dodson during that same trip to Spelman College. He had several solo exhibitions at Spelman College beginning in 1967, and was artist-in-residence in 1968. He was associated with exhibitions and acquisitions from the Atlanta University Annual Art Exhibition and Competition (1942–1970). Atlanta's Neighborhood Art Center named its gallery after him, and Bearden donated monoprints in 1978 to financially support that artist coalition. His association with Dr. Otis T. Hammonds, an early collector of Bearden's work, and his longtime friendship with the late Richard A. Long were profoundly important in sustaining his relationship to the Atlanta community.
Home to the collection of Camille Billops and James V. Hatch, Rose Library is rich in holdings related to African American art and history.
Bearden's ties to Georgia include W. E. B. Du Bois, Atlanta University Professor (1879–1910, 1934–1944), who was a family friend from the time Bearden was a young boy and was among the intellectuals whose ideas informed and shaped those of the artist. Bearden's friendship with Hale Aspacio Woodruff began when he visited Spelman College in 1941. In 1963 they co-founded Spiral, a New York-based group that explored how artists might find a meaningful place within the social activism of the time. They remained mutual sounding boards for creative and philosophical ideas until Woodruff's death in 1980. Bearden met sculptor Nancy Elizabeth Prophet and poet Owen Dodson during that same trip to Spelman College. He had several solo exhibitions at Spelman College beginning in 1967, and was artist-in-residence in 1968. He was associated with exhibitions and acquisitions from the Atlanta University Annual Art Exhibition and Competition (1942–1970). Atlanta's Neighborhood Art Center named its gallery after him, and Bearden donated monoprints in 1978 to financially support that artist coalition. His association with Dr. Otis T. Hammonds, an early collector of Bearden's work, and his longtime friendship with the late Richard A. Long were profoundly important in sustaining his relationship to the Atlanta community.
Home to the collection of Camille Billops and James V. Hatch, Rose Library is rich in holdings related to African American art and history.
