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Doylestown exhibition highlights diversity in art

Form 6ABC.com (https://6abc.com/post/michener-art-museum-exhibition-highlights-diversity/17232012/)

This week is your last chance to catch a glimpse of a remarkable exhibition in Doylestown.

It reflects on artists and stories that, for the longest time, were not featured in art museums. Even though this exhibition is temporary, the impact could be "lasting."

"We are a museum that collects and exhibits art from the Delaware Valley region," said Michener Art Museum Assistant Curator Abi Lua.

There was something missing, though, from Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. It's something that's missing from many art museums: diversity.

"Historically, we've focused on Pennsylvania impressionism, which largely consists of artists who are white and male," said Lua.

Those diverse voices are no longer missing thanks to an exhibition that the museum has been hosting for five months. It's called "Yesterday's Dreams Are Real: Collecting Black Art and the Legacy of Lewis Tanner More."

We've had exhibition with this amount of work. But really with all artists of color, this is the first time that I've seen. The exhibition, which opened in February, showcases more than 90 works Black artists with local ties.

"We have upwards of around 40 artists," said Lua, "they are mainly in the Philadelphia region."

The artists' works don't just depict scenes. They portray life, including images of Black cowboys in Philadelphia. The exhibition is to honor the late Lewis Tanner Moore. The great-nephew of a 19th century painter, he challenged institutions like Michener Art Museum prioritize diversity in their collections and exhibitions.

In five years, the museum has added 65 works by artists of color, some from Moore's private collection.

This exhibition features photography, paintings, sculptures, mixed media and even music.

"It displays the ways in which artists have been influenced by music, particularly jazz," said Lua.

The exhibition puts deserving artists in spaces that are often difficult for them to access, to reflect art that tells everyone's story.

"That they see themselves in the art," said Lua, "It's very special and I think it's long overdue."

The exhibition runs through this Sunday, but even after the exhibition is over, the Michener Museum of Art says they'll continue their mission to keep a diverse art collection.