Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum Exhibition Features Artwork from Self-taught Latino Artist

 Culture   Mon, October 17, 2016 09:12 PM

 WHAT:            Media open house for the exhibition “The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination”  

 

WHEN:          Wednesday, Oct. 19
11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum                         1901 Fort Pl. SE                                                                                                

WHO:            Lori Yarrish, acting director, Anacostia Community Museum                  

                        Nada (NAH-DA) Alaradi (AH-LA-RA-DI), guest curator          

Washington, DC - The Anacostia Community Museum will open “The Backyard of Derek Webster’s Imagination” Oct. 17. A media open house Oct. 19 will feature a brief presentation, gallery tour and Q&A about the exhibition.

Born in Honduras and raised in British Honduras (now Belize), self-taught artist Derek Webster (1934–2009) began making art in his mid-40s after settling into his home on Chicago’s South Side in 1978.

The exhibition features a selection of the colorful sculptures Webster made to decorate his garden, created with found materials and reflecting memory, tradition and influences from his native Central America, Africa and the United States.  

The Webster exhibition will complement the upcoming exhibition “Gateways/Portales” opening Dec. 5 in the main gallery and will showcase work from the museum’s Regina A. Perry Folk Art Collection. The Webster exhibition will also include 40 pieces created by children and youth from three community-based organizations who were asked to create artworks based on Webster’s work.

Media RSVP at (202) 633-4876 or bairdburrism@si.edu.

CONTACT:
Marcia Baird Burris
Phone: 202 633 4876; 202 320 1735
Email: bairdburrism@si.edu
 
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