"Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, Social and Political in African American Art" Coming to The African American Museum in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) and Bank of America present a vibrant collection of contemporary African American art with their exhibition Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, Social and Political in African American Art. Opening September 21, and closing December 31, the exhibition is composed of more than 90 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media works by 36 artists.

The works in Mixing Metaphors were selected by photographer and art historian Deborah Willis.

"I selected works for this exhibition that captured my imagination," said Willis. "I wanted to focus on how African-American artists define and explore the concepts of beauty and abstraction when depicting moments from the extraordinary to the mundane."

Mixing Metaphors is organized into three thematic sections designed to foster critical thinking, provide social context and engage discussion: Reflections and Likeness, Constructing Place and Rituals of Existence. The term "Mixing Metaphors" is used to encourage the viewer to think of ways in which art and storytelling illustrate experiences. Some of the artists in this exhibition base their work on stories about family life, while others reflect on ideas about music and love. Others use the formal aspects of line, color and shape in their explorations. Willis challenges the viewer to investigate the role that art plays in society and how art affects our interpretation of what we see through this dynamic exhibition.

"Mixing Metaphors is an exhibit with immense cultural relevance," said AAMP CEO and President Romona Riscoe Benson. "We are grateful to Bank of America for sharing the collection with us."

"Bank of America is committed to strengthening the communities we serve through partnering with important cultural anchors such as AAMP," said Thomas C. Woodward, Pennsylvania state president and Philadelphia market president, Bank of America. "By joining together with AAMP to bring this exhibit to the city of Philadelphia, we are helping the museum celebrate its 35th anniversary of honoring the African-American legacy."

The exhibit is accompanied by educational and cultural programming from the opening reception through the closing in December. Events include a film screening of Separate, But Equal with a discussion with filmmaker Shawn Wilson, art-making workshops with local artists, a curator's talk with Willis, artists' talk with local artist Allen Edmunds, whose work is featured in the exhibit, and a musical poetry slam. Please check AAMP homepage for programming dates and times.

The artwork is provided by Bank of America's Art in our Communities® program. Through the program, Bank of America has transformed its collection into a unique community resource from which museums and nonprofit galleries may borrow complete exhibitions. By providing these exhibitions and the support required to host them, this program helps enrich communities culturally and economically and generate vital revenue for museums.  By the end of 2011, Bank of America will have loaned more than 50 exhibitions to museums worldwide.

AAMP, located at 701 Arch Street, is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 Noon – 5:00 PM (closed Mondays). For more information about Mixing Metaphors and other events and exhibitions at AAMP, please call (215) 574-0380 or visit www.aampmuseum.org.

Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans.  Throughout its evolution, the Museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.

Bank of America and the Arts

As one of the world's largest financial institutions and a major supporter of arts and culture, Bank of America has a vested interest and plays a meaningful role in the international dialogue on cultural understanding. As a global company, Bank of America demonstrates its commitment to the arts by supporting such efforts as after-school arts programs, grants to help expand libraries, programs to conserve artistic heritage as well as a campaign to encourage museum attendance.  Bank of America offers customers free access to more than 150 of the nation's finest cultural institutions through its acclaimed Museums on Us® program, while Art in our Communities® shares exhibits from the company's corporate collection with communities across the globe through local museum partners. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation also provides philanthropic support to museums, theaters and other arts-related nonprofits to expand their services and offerings to schools and communities.  Bank of America partners with more than six thousand arts institutions worldwide.

SOURCE The African American Museum in Philadelphia