13 October 2012 -13 January 2013
Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey
In 1977, Romare Bearden (1911–1988), one of the most powerful and original artists of the 20th century, created a cycle of collages and watercolours based on Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. Rich in symbolism and allegorical content, Bearden’s “Odysseus Series” created an artistic bridge between classical mythology and African American culture. The works conveyed a sense of timelessness and the universality of the human condition, but their brilliance was displayed for only two months in New York City before being scattered to private collections and public art museums.
This new exhibition organized by the Smithsonian features nearly 50 Bearden works, including all but three of the original collages from the “Odysseus Series”, watercolors and line drawings relating to his interest in classical themes.
“Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey” continues on a seven-city national tour through 2014.
(from the gallery’s press materials)
INFORMATION
Reynolda House
2250 Reynolda Road
Winston Salem, North Carolina 27106
USA
(336) 758-5150
Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 4:30PM
Sunday: 1:30-4:30PM
Image:
Home to Ithaca
by Romare Bearden
15″ x 24″
collage
1977
Image courtesy of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum