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Ashe to Amen
A heavenly exhibit spotlights biblical works
For centuries, the Bible has had an extraordinary impact on the African- American community and influence on Black cultural identity. During the 19th century and well into the 20th century, when it was largely forbidden for Blacks to read in certain parts of the country, the narratives found in the Bible provided Blacks - those who learned to read and those who came to know the book through oral tradition - with inspiration, hope and resilience, and a context in which they could express themselves and face the harsh realities put upon them. As far back as many can remember, the Good Book, as well as the church, played a significant role in Black life. Now, on view at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York, comes "Ashe to Amen: African Americans and the Biblical Imagery," a welcoming and impressive art show that presents remarkable works by African-American artists based upon their interpretations of the revered scriptures of the Bible, its stories, and traditions in contemporary and historic art.
The intent of the exhibition/research project is to look at the intersection of African belief systems and Christian beliefs through the intellectual and artistic genius of artists of African descent in the United States, as well as bring to light the Bible's inspiration on the Black visual aesthetic. "Scholars have given significant attention to the religious and spiritual history and culture of the African-American in all disciplines except for the visual arts. As a child, I was fascinated with how humans practiced their religious and spiritual beliefs. This project is an outgrowth of that early curiosity," says Leslie King-Hammond, Ph.D, curator of the exhibition and founding director at the Center for Race and...