In the same way the Kelleys put African-American art in front of their own daughters, they have made it their mission to share it on a broader scale. Harriet has served on the San Antonio Museum of Art board for 20 years–– prior to that, she says there were no paintings in the museum by African-American artists. “Right now we have a number of pieces at the McNay Art Museum and there is always a major exhibition that we loan to,” Harriet says, adding that their upcoming loan to the major exhibition on Archibald Motley: Jazz Age Modernist will originate at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University Jan. 30 before embarking on a national tour. “We try to loan paintings to major exhibitions so they can be documented.” There are the more esoteric examples of their contributions to the increased awareness and exposure of African-American art too. Harmon was instrumental in getting the Journal of the American Medical Association to feature African-American artists on its covers. Harriet also serves on the University of Texas’ fine arts advisory committee, helping to develop wish lists for the Blanton Museum of Art. The Kelleys have given major art works to the San Antonio Museum of Art as well––a landscape painting by Edward Mitchell Bannister from 1892 and a still life by Charles Ethan Porter done in 1885––and they have contributed toward the museum’s purchase of a major Jacob Lawrence painting. The Kelleys were actually contemplating where to hang one of the paintings in their home until they realized the best place for it was somewhere with a broader view. “Someone made a suggestion that we should loan it to the museum while we decided where we hang it,” Harmon recalls. “But after we saw it hanging in the museum––such a magnificent painting––we realized it was a painting that belonged in a museum for everyone to enjoy.” Over the years, the Kelleys have realized the bigger picture lying behind their art collection. Harmon says he sees this as a way to give back to the same community that made it possible for he and his wife to be able to collect art. And Harriet says giving back to the community and educating the public about their heritage is part of a greater effort to fight bigotry, racism, ignorance and hatred. “It is important that these school kids who come to the museum can take pride that artists from their race are represented,” says Harriet. “They can help tell the story.”
January/February 2014 | On The Town 69