Dr. Dwandalyne Reece & Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture combines past and present in its exhibitions, encouraging both remembrance and interaction from its visitors. I love museums, especially art museums where the “Please don’t touch signs” are big, bold, and everywhere. The experience of traipsing through a salon-style hallway bedecked in nineteenth-century masterpieces, engaging with the material through my eyes and mind, is exhilarating; I nearly cried from excitement when I got to see some of my favorite pieces at the Louvre this winter. Reverent observation is great, and, when art is produced for an audience of informed critics and appreciators, sometimes that art is best experienced through silent concentration.
But at the NMAAHC, art and cultural objects are alive. They touch all lives. The museum is full of symbols of African American culture that aren’t just meant to be seen, they’re meant to be touched, laughed at, cried over, tasted, tried on, and, in the “Musical Crossroads” exhibition, heard.
Dr. Dwandalyne Reece draws from her personal experiences as a vocalist and active member of the national arts community to inform her incredible exhibition. “Musical Crossroads” celebrates black artists and their invaluable contributions to all genres of music ranging from pop music to opera, funk to country and bluegrass. Not only does she do an impressive job of covering the room in instruments, sheet music, awards, and photographs in traditional museum format, she also features mannequins dressed in original costuming. We see a sweet yellow dress worn by Ella Fitzgerald and a beautiful flowery gown that belonged to Dionne Warwick. Chuck Berry’s cherry red Cadillac greets all guests at the entrance of the exhibition. The objects she choses aren’t relics of the past, they’re the iconic symbols that we recognize as people in the present - they’ll even touch us in the future! Jimmi Hendrix is certainly a permanent fixture in music culture, and his contributions will not soon be forgotten.
Dr. Reece gives visitors to the museum a space to talk and play. In two interactive elements, we can even choose which music we’d like to listen to! Yes, quiet study is important, especially in the museum world, but now more than ever it's important to remember that we need each other. I’m recording from my home that I haven’t left in two weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we can’t be together physically, our communities have become increasingly important as we move further apart, and the value of engaging with those communities, past and present, is emphasized in “Musical Crossroads.” Check out the NMAAHC website for more information about the institution, the exhibition, and Dr. Reece, who is really incredible. Stay safe, stay connected.
* * *
Kate Mueth & The Neo-Political Cowgirls
Kate Mueth pairs activism and art in her creative output, challenging issues of female sexualization, racial bigotry, and the unjust treatment of immigrants in order to uplift and inspire her audience. The Neo Political Cowgirls, a non-profit theater company dedicated to projecting the female voice and establishing points of intersection in our shared human experiences, serves women, men, non-binary and gender-noncomforming people, alike. Ms. Mueth promotes love and a diverse narrative in her performances, showing both the people who attend her shows and the members of her company that we all belong in this world. January Girls, a program focused on providing immigrants with a safe and creative space to explore their journey, furthers the mission of Neo Political Cowgirls. Ms. Mueth effectively pairs talent with passion and ends up with a fantastic organization that benefits all members of her community, proving that social change is achievable through any avenue.
Ms. Mueth speaks about the anxieties of a younger generation of women bearing the burden of social media standards and professional pressures to alter oneself in order to win a role, maintaining that her company was founded on values of honesty and self-love rather than superficial competition. She creates more than beautiful dance, shaping a safe space for women-identifying people and their supporters. Ms. Mueth noticed the needs of her small town and filled them. She is an inspiring force, and I look forward to hearing more about this powerful and compassionate leader and her future projects.
