The Freedom Place Collection at Monroe Community College

The Freedom Place Collection

February 2–February 27, commemorating Black History Month.

Reception: Wednesday, February 2, 7–9pm

Gallery Talk at 4pm

@

Mercer Gallery at Monroe Community College 

Rochester, NY

Photos courtesy: Zenith Community Arts Foundation (ZCAF)

Zenith Community Arts Foundation (ZCAF), which manages and tours The Freedom Place Collection of seminal works by African-American artists Romare Bearden, Benny Andrews, Alma Thomas, Richard Yarde and Robert Freeman, announced today that the exhibition will be on view at Mercer Gallery at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, February 2–February 27, commemorating Black History Month. Robert Freeman, one of two living artists featured in the collection, will conduct a Gallery Talk on Wednesday, February 2 at 4pm, followed by a reception from 7–9pm.

In making the announcement, Margery E. Goldberg, a Rochester native and ZCAF’s executive director said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Rochester residents and students to experience these rarely seen works, painted during a time when African-American artists were overlooked in the mostly white art world. The five artists in the collection followed their vision, and paved the way for generations to follow.”

Although linked by the African-America experience and heritage that inspired their work, the Freedom Place Collection artists speak with their own styles in their drawings, collages, lithographs, oils, acrylics and watercolors. Their subjects and messages range from abstract to figurative and rural to urban. Scenes of cotton fields, paintings of jazz musicians and partygoers and geometric forms share the walls in this exhibition.

Showing of Robert Freeman’s “Love Letter” Paintings, One Night OnlyIn conjunction with The Freedom Collection exhibition, the Zenith Community Arts will also showcase paintings from Robert Freeman’s Love Letter series on Thursday, February 3, at a reception at Brio Grill, hosted by Sami Mina, from 6-8pm, at 3400 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford Colony Plaza in Rochester. The paintings are for sale, and represent Freeman’s more recent works.

202-783-8005
www.zcaf.org