Glenn Ligon--Conceptual Artist-at the Whitney Museum

Glenn Ligon works in multiple media, including painting, neon, video, photography, and digital media. Mr. Ligon's work is informed by his experiences as an African American and as a Gay man living in the United States. The Whitney Museum here in New York City will be presenting a mid-career retrospective of his work; starting March 10th, 2011. With his work in the permanent collections of the Tate Modern in London, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington,DC and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Mr. Ligon continues to push the envelope of racism and its context within the realm of this country. Mr. Ligon uses the text of famous authors to convey the social climate of the times. The title of his retrospective is, "Negro Sunshine" taken from a Gertrude Stein novella titled,"Melanctha", which describes a mixed race woman. One of Mr. Ligon's work resides in the private quarters of the White House,"Black Like Me #2" on loan from the Hirshorn to the Obamas. Do see this wonderful work at the Whitney in New York.

Sidenote: Approaching the Whitney Museum in bright neon signage is "negro sunshine" in lower case lettering. The exhibit is a journalistic overview of a mid career retrospective of Mr. Ligon----I found the exhibit to have it's good points and also it's "What's the fuck's going on here?" for example, the Robert Maplethorpe photographers of nude black men, and I forget the name of this famous book, but, this is something i've seen time and time again---this work was exhibited in a room alone and a museum docent sprouting rehearsed dialogue to her patrons on Mr. Maplethorpe and how Mr. Ligon collected quotes from famous and not so famous individuals to corespond with the nude black photos. Hmmm...not much of a stretch. I thought the most remarkable quartet of art--was in the next to last room...somewhat hidden...words were printed on black paper to denote that the viewer should create whatever scenario to complete the picture. This was by far the most incredible work presented by the artist.

Jacob Lawrence at the Museum of Modern Art

Jacob Lawrence was presented in the entryway of a gallery at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. I don't know if this startled me or just completely threw off my game. Inasmuch, I didn't expect to see the famed, "Migration Series" put into a small space and the curators and/or staff at MOMA assumed this presentation would be an afterthought of some kind. One of this countries best artists and best African American artist is just presented in such a disparging light. The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC showed this series in it's entirety and the layout was incredible. MOMA just stacked the paintings on top of one another with no rhyme or reason. How could this be? Did MOMA just acquire these paintings and said,"Let's just put them anywhere without press, media or engagement from the public." Shame on you!!!

Mr. Lawrence is a well respected artist of great stature and prominent standing in the community. Let's show MOMA that we care about our people and our artists. Write, call or visit and let the staff know this is wrong on so many levels!