One of the first art exhibitions impacted by former President Donald Trump’s executive order banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives has successfully relocated to a new venue in Virginia. The exhibition, titled Before the Americas, opened on September 13, 2023, at the Gillespie Gallery, part of the George Mason University School of Art. Originally scheduled to debut at the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C., the show features the work of 39 artists from 17 countries, including notable figures like Amy Sherald, Elizabeth Catlett, and Renee Stout.
The exhibition explores themes of ancestral memory, migration, and the interconnectivity of African American, Afro-Latino, and Caribbean communities through various artistic mediums, including sculpture and printmaking. Curator Cheryl Edwards expressed her feelings of “relieved and redeemed” upon the exhibition’s opening, likening the moment to the sentiments captured in Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.
Background on the Exhibition’s Termination
Before the Americas was initially set to open on March 21, 2023, after a four-year planning period. In February, Edwards received a call notifying her that the exhibition had been terminated by the Trump administration, which identified it as a “DEI program” and withdrew previously secured funding. This move was part of a broader initiative by Trump, who signed an executive order on his first day in office aimed at curtailing DEI efforts designed to promote opportunities for marginalized groups.
The cancellation of Before the Americas was one of the earliest examples of the administration’s impact on the arts, with a subsequent exhibition focused on LGBTQ+ artists also losing funding. Under Trump’s leadership, programming at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts also suffered, with numerous performances being cut.
Community Support and Resilience
Following the funding withdrawal, Edwards faced the challenge of securing alternative financing to proceed with the exhibition. She estimated that approximately 50 to 60 donors contributed to the effort to keep the show alive. “It really brought us closer together as an art community,” she said, emphasizing the crucial role of art and culture in society and its ability to transcend political barriers.
When news of the exhibition’s termination surfaced, Donald Russell, director of Mason Exhibitions, quickly offered the Gillespie Gallery as a new venue. Russell, who had previously collaborated with Edwards, expressed his readiness to support the exhibition’s relocation. “I was absolutely prepared to take it on,” he stated.
The artworks on display showcase vibrant colors and dynamic lines, representing the rich history of African-descendant artists. Among the highlighted pieces are a striking 1996 silkscreen print by Lois Mailou Jones depicting African dancers and Elizabeth Catlett’s evocative profile of a young girl titled Niña (1957). Edwards remarked, “The history of African-descendant artists does not begin with slavery; that’s the whole point of this show.”
Before the Americas will remain at the Gillespie Gallery until November 15, 2023, after which it will travel to the University of Maryland Global Campus in February 2024, where it will be on display until May. Future locations are yet to be announced.
Edwards highlighted the pressing challenges facing the cultural sector and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. “Because things are being erased, I think as an artist, and as a cultural worker, it is our duty to create right now and document this moment in history,” she said.
Reflecting on the exhibition’s significance, she framed it as an embodiment of “radical beauty,” emphasizing the necessity of inclusive art and culture in society. “There’s no way that I can say personally I would want to live in a place without art and without culture that includes everyone that is multicultural,” Edwards concluded.
