“SOMEBODY STOLE MY BROKEN HEART”: This painting by Faith Ringgold is among the works on display in “Echoes in Our Bones: The Empowering Legacy of Black Women Artists in American Art and Culture,” on view at the Arts Council of Princeton through October 3.
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) now presents “Echoes in Our Bones: The Empowering Legacy of Black Women Artists in American Art and Culture,” curated by Judith K. Brodsky and Rhinold L. Ponder, as part of the celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary. On view through October 3, this exhibition brings together intergenerational artists to explore enduring themes of identity and history.
The artists represented — Faith Ringgold and Bisa Butler, Elizabeth Catlett and Kara Walker, Selma Burke and Alison Saar, Mary Lovelace O’Neal and Julie Mehretu, Betye Saar and Tschabalala Self, Carrie Mae Weems and LaToya Ruby Frazier, Laura Wheeler Waring and Jordan Casteel, and Howardena Pindell and Shinique Smith — engage in conversations that transcend generations. Their works reveal how Black women artists have expanded the possibilities of artistic expression while offering insight into their understanding of American life. When paired, these artists bring to light a continuum of creativity that has at times been marginalized within traditional narratives and the canon of American art. Their work demonstrates that history is not static, but continually shaped and reshaped by those who challenge its omissions, recover its stories, and imagine new possibilities for the future. “Echoes in Our Bones” seeks not only to honor these artists’ individual achievements, but to reveal the enduring threads that connect their practices across time.
“Our look at ‘Echoes in Our Bones’ reminds us that Black women’s work is nation building in every sense, whether that nation is the U.S. Black community, the African diaspora, or America since its inception. By recognizing Black women artists as cultural historians, healers, educators, and institution builders, the exhibition expands the meaning of artistic activism,” said Ponder. “Their work demonstrates that activism is not limited to protest imagery, speaking against injustice or political confrontation; it also includes the creation of culture, the preservation of cultural memory, the dismantling of dominant histories, the care of wounded communities, and the construction of institutions capable of sustaining future generations.”
The exhibition is part of “Re-visioning America,” a Princeton community-based collaborative initiative inspired by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is presented in partnership with Art Against Racism, the Historical Society of Princeton, Morven Museum & Garden, the Princeton Garden Theatre, Princeton Public Library, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton University Humanities Initiative, and the William Trent House Museum. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, “Echoes in Our Bones” reflects the collaborative spirit that defines Princeton’s artistic and cultural landscape.
The public is invited to an opening reception for “Echoes in Our Bones” from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9. Additionally, two related panel discussions will take place, and a gallery crawl, all of which are open to the public and free to attend. The first panel is on Thursday, September 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Princeton University Art Museum’s Grand Hall; and the second is on Thursday, October 1, starting at 5 p.m. at the ACP’s Taplin Gallery. The “Re-visioning America” gallery crawl will be on Thursday, September 24 from 5:30-7:30pm.
Also on view at ACP:
The “Charles Evans Scholars Exhibition: will be on display September 10 through October 3 in the Siegal Gallery. This annual exhibition celebrates the artistic achievements of exceptional Princeton High School students and highlights the next generation of creative talent. Made possible by the Charles Evans Foundation, the scholarship program was established in 2011 through a partnership with the Arts Council of Princeton to support young artists. Many scholarship recipients go on to pursue creative paths in college and beyond. The exhibition features work by Faye Jiang, Nikolai Morozov, Brunell Rosales-Carrillo, Prisha Shekatkar, and Anthony Zubialevich, with additional artists to be announced.
An opening reception for the “Charles Evans Scholars Exhibition” will be held on Thursday, September 10, from 5 to 6 p.m.
“Rooted in Bloom” by Prajakta Joshi is on view through October 3 in the Lower Level Gallery. Born in Mumbai, raised in Dubai, and shaped by years working in the design worlds of India and New York and New Jersey, Joshi draws inspiration from the elemental forces of the natural world. Rooted in yoga and Ayurveda, Joshi’s artistic practice considers the interconnected forces of Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Space.
Her work explores transformation, movement, and impermanence, capturing fleeting shifts of light, air, and energy. The resulting paintings invite viewers to reflect on the quiet forces that sustain us and the conditions that allow us to grow and bloom.
An opening reception for “Rooted in Bloom” is on Wednesday, September 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. Beginning Friday, September 25, the exhibition will also feature a collaboration with The Garden Club of Princeton.
The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncil
ofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.