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Artist Reception: Larry Morse on ‘Black Men Reading'
Join us on Wednesday, October 29, for our artist conversation with Larry Morse, whose exhibit, Black Men Reading, will be on display in the Sheffer Gallery from October 9 through December 16. There will be a reception from 6 to 7 pm, followed by a conversation between Morse and Miggs Burroughs from 7 to 8 pm.
Artist Statement
The idea for this ongoing series came to me in early 2020, at a time when I regularly used the subway to commute to my place of work. As a lifelong avid reader, I was taken by the images of those few Black men, whom I all too rarely observed reading. The emotions I felt were not in any way influenced by current events in the news at that time, but sprang from feelings that touched me on a very deep level. As I see myself in each of the subjects I choose to paint, I have opted to name this series Black Men Reading.
When we recall that prior to the Civil War, it was against the law to teach a Black person to read — let alone for a Black person to be caught in the act of reading — and that the punishment could be physical harm, being sold away from family, and even death for either offense, we are reminded of the profundity of the subject.
As a direct result of economic, social, and historical realities stemming from this time and continuing into the present day, reading as a way of life has seldom been practiced or as emphasized in Black culture as it has in others. A love of reading requires the role of the early home environment. Instead, the task of teaching the skill and value of reading has been left largely to educators in the school system.
Recognizing that knowledge is power, and that the kind of knowledge that comes from reading books is the most powerful kind of knowledge of all, we realize why now, more than ever, it is so vitally important for Black men and women to establish the habit of reading, and to provide an example for others to follow.
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For more about the Library art exhibits, visit the Art at the Library page.
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The Westport Library is committed to intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Our mission is to provide welcoming spaces for the free exchange of ideas. The Library does not endorse or condemn points of view, including any program content or the views expressed by presenters or participants.
