ddawkins3434 Art, Thing

Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit

Location: Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215

Donna and Larry James, Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit, Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Donna and Larry James, Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

In 2018, Donna and Larry James were responsible for leading the movement for the citywide Harlem Renaissance Celebration and bringing the, I, Too Sing America: the Harlem Renaissance exhibit to the Columbus Museum of Art.

Here are a few of the pieces that I was drawn to from this collection:

Queen by Artist Woodrow Ash (1948), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit. Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Queen by Artist Woodrow Ash (1948), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

I was drawn to this piece due to the texture of the corn rolls (hair style). I thought work was made from wood, but it actually is a sculpture made of clay. The sculpture reminds me of someone I attended middle school with.

Portrait of William Hawkins by Artist Roman Johnson (1917 – 2005), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit, Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Portrait of William Hawkins by Artist Roman Johnson (1917 – 2005), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

This work of art was created in the year of the artist’s death. William Hawkins didn’t start painting regularly until he retired in his eighties. I was drawn to this piece due to the artist’s use of colors and the facial expression of the subject. This artist documented what was going on in downtown Columbus during his life.

Sidebar: It is never too late to follow our dreams, talents, purpose, etc.

Daniel and the Lion’s Den, By Fredrick D Jones Jr. (1913 – 1996), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit, Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Daniel and the Lion’s Den, By Fredrick D Jones Jr. (1913 – 1996), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

The description by the work of art says Jones is best known for his fantasy pictures of musicians.

Sidebar: If you know me well, you know I couldn’t pass by a work with the title “Daniel and the Lions Den” without stopping and taking a picture.

Down the Path, by Gerald Griffin (1952), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit, Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Down the Path, by Gerald Griffin (1952), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

The emotion on the subject’s face tells it all. If you look closely on the left, there is an outline of a person still on the tree after being lynched.

Mask of Fear by Griffin (1952), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit, Columbus Museum of Art, #columbusmuseum, #artnakescbus
Mask of Fear by Griffin (1952), Forward Together Promised Gifts from the Collection of Donna and Larry James Art exhibit.

This piece speaks to how some people view corporate America. The question is, “who is afraid of whom?”

My Take Well worth the price of admission (whatever regular admission is)! I went on Sunday (admission is free and parking is free at the State Auto lot (across Washington Ave.) This article would have been too long to comment on all that I enjoyed at a detailed level. This collection spoke to many areas and issues of life. Experiencing the collection could be a great place to start a familiar or difficult conversation.