The Memorial Art Gallery is an arts organization that acquires, cares for, and exhibits art. Through art, we tell stories that reflect, challenge, and celebrate life and cultures. As such, we are inexorably linked to the events that surround us.
We don’t want to imagine what our world would be like if a despicable act of violence and racism deprived us of the contributions of artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Nick Cave, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, FUA Krew, Chitra Ganesh, Ja’Tovia Gary, Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Mickalene Thomas, Rigoberto Torres, or Kehinde Wiley, to name only a few examples of artists of color represented at MAG.
Our hearts are with our community here in Rochester and with people across this country who are suffering. The Memorial Art Gallery cannot and will not idly observe acts of racism and violence committed against members of our community and our country, nor can we abide by violence and lawlessness.
We stand in solidarity, and as steadfast partners, with anyone committed to breaking the systems that create and maintain racism, oppression, bigotry, and inequity. We invite you to visit MAG-online or in-person-and to take the opportunity to view yourself and the world we live in through another person’s eyes. To understand the richness and breadth of creativity of people of color and to share this knowledge is to take a small but meaningful step toward social justice.
#BlackLivesMatter