MET MUSEUM BLOCKED FOR BLACK HISTORY

Romare Bearden (American, 1911–1988)

The Block, 1971

Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, pencil, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and pen and ink on Masonite

48 x 216 in.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shore, 1978 (1978.61.1-6)
© Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Romare Bearden’s vibrant, 18 foot-long mural-size tableau The Block (1971) and related sketches and photographs from The Metropolitan Museum’s permanent collection opened on January 15, 2010. This small, jewel-like installation celebrates one block in New York’ s Harlem, reflecting on its energy, color, architecture, and human gestures, elements that informed Bearden’s art throughout his life. Best known for his cut-paper collages, The Block is one of Bearden’s more ambitious works that elevated this genre to a major art form. The exhibition coincides with the Metropolitan’s celebration of Black History Month in February. Related programs and gallery talks are listed on the Museum’s website http://www.metmuseum.org/

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This article is written by Tamara Moscowitz a freelance writer whose work on architects and design projects have appeared in Florida Design and Florida Designers Review (FDR). She was a contributor to creativeabode.com and presently writes for Woman Around Town.com on home furnishings and design. Born in Berlin, Germany, Ms. Moscowitz was raised and educated in New York City where she currently resides.