Quincy’s Gadsden Arts has landed an American artistic master for a traveling exhibit opening in February.
Jacob Lawrence is a widely celebrated artist from the 20th century who has captivated viewers worldwide since his work was first acquired by major museums in 1940. Lawrence created artworks that share important chapters in human history through his colorful, emotionally evocative style.
The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum will be exhibiting three famous series of prints by Lawrence from Feb. 17-May 4, 2024, with a public Opening Reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, and an informative talk at 5:30 p.m.
Early start in art
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, (Sept. 7, 1917-June 9, 2000 ), Jacob Lawrence faced early challenges.
His mother worked as a domestic employee, and his father worked as a railroad cook and coal miner. He was only 7 years old when his parents separated, and his mother, unable to care for three children, placed them in foster care. Lawrence reunited with his mother in Harlem in 1930, at the age of 13.
Lawrence did not enjoy school, so to keep him out of trouble, his mother enrolled him in after-school art classes. Despite dropping out of high school at age 16, Lawrence received art training through government sponsored workshops in Harlem.
He furthered his education at the American Artists School in New York, and later taught art. Lawrence pioneered the use of series of paintings to tell stories, and in 1940, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., purchased a 60-painting series by Lawrence.
He was at that time only 23 years old, and his place of honor in the realm of art history was established.
About the series
This exhibition presents three well known series of prints by Lawrence.
The Genesis series illustrates the King James version of the book of Genesis. Lawrence was heavily influenced by religion in his childhood, attending Sunday school and listening to the passionate sermons relating to the Creation by the ministers in his church. The series is a product of these sermons from Lawrence’s perspective.
The Hiroshima series was born when Lawrence was asked by the Limited Editions Club of New York to illustrate a book of his choosing. Lawrence chose the book “Hiroshima” by John Hersey, and depicted a series of events that were taking place as the bomb was dropped. He used settings like a marketplace, a playground, and a park to show the stark contrast between everyday life and the impact of a weapon of mass destruction.
The Toussaint L’Ouverture series shares the history of Haiti’s fight for independence from the tyranny of Napoleon Bonaparte and his army. Toussaint L’Ouverture was a leader in the Haitian revolution, rising from slave to commander of the revolutionary army.
L’Ouverture helped draft Haiti’s first democratic constitution, and then was imprisoned and killed the following year. Lawrence highlighted L’Ouverture’s contribution to Haiti’s independence, which they achieved in 1804.
Traveling exhibit
To this day, Jacob Lawrence’s work stands the test of time. It remains culturally relevant and visually powerful. The works on loan to Gadsden Arts are from the collections of Dr. and Mrs. Leon Banks and Alitash Kebede. “Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints” is organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions.
Major Exhibitions like Jacob Lawrence are made possible by the Impact Fund and Watson Arts Fund, and Gadsden Art sponsors, FSU College of Medicine and Black Fig. Additional support for the exhibition and related programs is provided by The Florida Council on Arts and Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Quincy, Gadsden County Tourist Development Council, and National Hookup of Black Women-Gadsden.
If you go
What: Opening reception of Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints
When 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, with refreshments and an educational talk at 5:30 p.m. Exhibit continues through May 4
Where: Gadsden Arts, 13 N. Madison St., Quincy; 20 miles from Tallahassee
Hours: Visitor hours are Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The ArtZone Family Studio is open every Saturday. Exhibition admission is free formuseum members, children aged 17 and under, families visiting the ArtZone, and children’s groups, and $5 for adult non-members. For Field Trip reservations for a children’s or adult group, call 850-627-5023. Visit gadsdenarts.org.
