The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Arthur Neef Law Library are hosting a traveling art exhibit titled “Jacob Lawrence and the Legend of John Brown.” The exhibit, designed to display 22 silkscreen prints with image and text that depict the story of abolitionist John Brown, is open to the public through mid-January 2010.
A militant abolitionist, a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, and the organizer of a self-protection league for free Blacks and fugitive slaves, Brown is most known for leading 21 men on a raid of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the intent of arming slaves.
“We are honored to join the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights in hosting this extraordinary exhibit,” said Virginia Thomas, director of the Arthur Neef Law Library. “Its powerful images convey the spirit of the early abolitionist movement. I doubt that anyone could view this exhibit and not be moved by it.”
Among the best known 20th century African-American painters, Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) concentrated on depicting the history and struggles of African-American history and life throughout his artistic career.
The art exhibit is located on the second floor of the Wayne State University Law School, located at 471 West Palmer Street in Detroit’s cultural district. The public can view the exhibit during the operating hours of the Law Library. For daily viewing hours, please visit www.lib.wayne.edu/law or call (313) 577-3925
The Wayne State University Law School has served the Detroit metropolitan area since its inception as Detroit City Law School in 1927. The Law School features modern lecture and court facilities, multimedia classrooms, a 250-seat auditorium and the Arthur Neef Law Library, which houses one of the nation’s 40-largest legal collections. For more information, please visit www.law.wayne.edu.
