The Jefferson Davis statue, erected in 1907 on Monument Avenue and pulled down by protesters on June 10, 2020, is shown as part of a temporary exhibit at The Valentine. The former Confederate leader appears splattered with pink paint, with a blackened face and a dent on the back of the head from the 2020 protest.
The Black History Museum & Cultural Centerof Virginia is sending several Confederate monument artifacts from Richmond to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles for a new exhibition exploring race, art and public memory.
Co-presented by MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary and The Brick nonprofit, the exhibit opening Oct. 23 at the Geffen Contemporary will feature artifacts from 15 decommissioned Confederate monuments and pair them with contemporary artworks to examine how public symbols and historical narratives evolve over time.
Artifacts from Richmond include the Vindicatrix sculpture and granite base from the Jefferson Davis Monument, the Matthew Fontaine Maury sculpture and globe from the Maury Monument, and granite slabs from other Confederate bases.
The pieces will be displayed alongside works by artists such as Hank Willis Thomas, Bethany Collins and Nona Faustine. The exhibition will include significant loans from BHMVA and other institutions and municipalities across the country, including Baltimore; Boston; Montgomery, Alabama; Pittsburgh; and New Orleans.
“BHMVA’s participation in monuments reflects our dedication to truth-telling and historical accountability,” said Shakia Gullette Warren, executive director of the Black History Museum. “Our stewardship of these monuments is grounded in a commitment to ensure that objects once intended to glorify those who led the fight to enslave African Americans are repurposed in ways that foster critical reflection, healing and deeper public understanding of America’s past, present and future.”
Co-curated by MOCA senior curator Bennett Simpson, The Brick director Hamza Walker and artist Kara Walker, the exhibition brings together Confederate artifacts from across the United States for a national conversation about history and memory.
In 2022, the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia transferred ownership of 15 Confederate statues to the museum. Since then, the institution has led a community-driven process to determine the future of each monument.
The museum is collaborating with Monument Lab, a Philadelphia-based public art and history studio, on a long-term stewardship plan that will guide interpretation, display and public engagement. That plan is expected early next year.
Credit: richmondfreepress
