Witness: Themes of Social Justice Exhibit Opens September 15

SALEM, Ore. — The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is pleased to present “Witness: Themes of Social Justice in Contemporary Printmaking and Photography from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” opening September 15 and continuing through December 20 in the Melvin Henderson-Rubio Gallery and the Maribeth Collins Lobby.

Drawn from one of the legendary contemporary print collections in the United States, “Witness” explores issues of race, identity, and social justice in contemporary printmaking and photography. The exhibition has been organized by Portland, Oregon art historian and scholar Elizabeth Bilyeu and explores four thematic sections: Stories and Histories, Pressures of Pop Culture, Challenging Expectations of Place, and Unconventional Portraits. The exhibition features 82 prints by 40 nationally and internationally recognized artists, including Enrique Chagoya, Lalla Essaydi, Mildred Howard, Hung Liu, Nicola Lopez, Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooka), Roger Shimomura, Kara Walker, and Marie Watt (Seneca), among others.

“The theme represented in this exhibition, social justice, is the most important discussion all of us in the country need to have with each other,” said Jordan D. Schnitzer. “We continue to proudly support the Hallie Ford Museum and our numerous collaborations together.”

In conjunction with the exhibition LeRonn Brooks, an assistant professor of African and African American Studies at Lehman College of the City University of New York, will deliver an illustrated lecture on the theme of social justice in modern and contemporary art on September 29 at 5 p.m., and internationally recognized artists Hung Liu and Alison Saar will discuss their art and careers on November 1 and November 15 at 7:30 p.m., respectively. Admission to this series of lectures is complementary and they will be held in the Paulus Lecture Hall at the Willamette University College of Law located at 245 Winter St. SE, Salem, Oregon. 

Complimentary docent guided gallery talks will be held every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and will begin September 18 and continue through December 18. 

The exhibition is accompanied by a full-color, hardcover book with an essay by Elizabeth Anne Bilyeu and an introduction by LeRonn Brooks, available for sale at the museum starting September 29.

Financial support for the project was provided by funds from Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation and the Hallie Ford Exhibition Fund, and by general operating support grants from the City of Salem’s Transient Occupancy Tax funds and the Oregon Arts Commission.

For more information, visit the exhibition website.