COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus Museum of Art (CMA), in partnership with the Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council), is proud to announce the appointment of three national jurors to the selection jury for the inaugural Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Residency. Faith Ringgold, artist, painter, writer, sculptor and performance artist, best known for her narrative quilts; Curlee Raven Holton, director and artist in residence, Department of Art, University of Maryland David C. Driskell Center; and Kellie Jones, professor in Art History and Archaeology and the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University have been named as jurors to serve on the seven-person jury for determining the recipient of the 2020 Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Residency.
Launched December 3, 2019, the Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Residency is open to all African American professional visual artists residing in the United States. It includes the opportunity to stay in artist Aminah Robinson’s restored Shepard community home in Columbus, Ohio while devoting dedicated time to creating art within the artist’s home studio. The inaugural 90-day residency will span from August 17, 2020 through November 15, 2020. It also includes a $2,500 award, a stipend up to $5,500. The resident artist will participate in community outreach activities (facilitated by Arts Council) and will have the opportunity for a public presentation and/or exhibition. To apply, visit https://gcac.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp by March 9, 2020.
Known for art inspired by the African concept of Sankofa, understanding the past in order to go forward, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson lived and worked in Columbus, Ohio until her death in 2015. Aminah created sculpture, large complex work she called RagGonNons, rag paintings, paintings on cloth, drawings, and books about her family and community, African American history, her travels, and the stories she was told by her elders. Her goal was to create art that fills the gaps of African and African American history and encourage others to research and document the history of their families and communities for the next generation.
In 2002, CMA organized Symphonic Poem, the first retrospective exhibition of her work, which traveled throughout the United States. In 2004, Robinson participated in a residency in Santiago, Chile where she was the first woman artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. Also in 2004, Aminah was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, given to individuals with extraordinary originality and dedication to creative pursuits. Her commission for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is on permanent view at the Center in Cincinnati. In 2008, the Museum launched Aminah’s World, an online resource where visitors can learn about Aminah and her work and create their own online art. Her last exhibition at CMA was Songs for a New Millennium, 1812 – 2012: Works by Aminah Robinson Celebrating 200Columbus. Her work has also been presented at Akron Art Museum, Oakland Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Studio Museum in Harlem, Toledo Museum of Art and museums and galleries around the world.
In addition to Ringgold, Holton and Jones, the seven-person selection jury also includes representatives from the Shepard neighborhood where Robinson lived, CMA, and the Arts Council.
In conjunction with the Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Residency, the Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Fellowship provides an unrestricted grant to an African American professional visual artist residing in Franklin County. The 2020 Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Fellowship and Residency programs are supported by Loann Crane. For complete guidelines for both programs go to: https://www.gcac.org/grants-services/individual-artist-fellowships/
About the Greater Columbus Arts Council: Supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
About the Columbus Museum of Art: CMA, located at 480 East Broad Street, creates great experiences with great art for everyone. The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Nationwide Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and the Richard G. and Mary Jo Seyler; Richard H. and Ann Shafer Fund II; Fund for Columbus; and Paul-Henri Bourguignon and Erika Bourguignon Fund for Visual Arts funds of The Columbus Foundation provide ongoing support. CMA, Schokko Café and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. General admission is $18 for adults; $9 for seniors (60+), students (18+) and children 4 and older; free for members and children 3 and younger; $5 on Thursday evenings (5-9 p.m.). A separate admission fee for special exhibitions may apply. General admission is free for all on Sundays. CMA charges a flat rate of $5 for parking in the Museum’s East Gay lot. CMA members park for free. For additional information, call 614.221.6801, visit www.columbusmuseum.org, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @columbusmuseum.
Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, located at 632 North Park Street, is open Thursday & Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission for Driving Forces: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Ann and Ron Pizzuti, on view through March 8, 2020, is $8 for adults, seniors and students 18+. Parking is available at meters, lots and garages throughout the Short North. For additional information, call 614.221.6801, visit www.pizzuti.columbusmuseum.org/, or find us on Facebook and Instagram @pizzuticollection.
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