© ROMARE BEARDEN FOUNDATION/LICENSED BY VAGA, NEW YORK
Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey
“Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey,” will be on view Dec. 14-March 9 at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University. In 1977, Romare Bearden (1911-1988), one of the most powerful and original artists of the 20th century, created a series of collages and watercolors based on Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey.” Bearden’s own Odyssey series created an artistic bridge between classical mythology and African American culture. They were displayed for only two months in New York City before being scattered to private collections and public art museums. This new exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service represents the first full-scale presentation of these works outside of New York City.
Marco Polo’s Epic Adventure Embark on an epic journey at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, where “Marco Polo: Man & Myth” is making its North American debut through Jan. 5. This major exhibition brings the incredible 13th-century travels, experiences and legends of Marco Polo to life, highlighting his 24-year trek from Venice to China along the Silk Road. The son of a family of merchants, Marco Polo set out from Venice in 1271 with his father and uncle on a trade voyage that would push the boundaries of the world as it was then known. Featuring excerpts from his memoir, The Travels of Marco Polo, the exhibit includes rare and extraordinary objects from private collections and museums in Italy that illuminate the cultural practices, artistic traditions, unique landscapes and unusual animals he encountered. More than 80 objects, including coins, ceramics, artwork, maps and navigational tools, take visitors along the vast and ancient network of trade routes.
HOME TO ITHACA, COLLAGE, 1977, COURTESY MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE ART MUSEUM, SOUTH HADLEY, MA. ROMARE BEARDEN: A BLACK ODYSSEY IS ORGANIZED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE IN COOPERATION WITH THE ROMARE BEARDEN FOUNDATION AND ESTATE AND DC MOORE GALLERY; AND SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM THE STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION.
AN 8-FOOT MODEL OF A VENETIAN GALLEY SHIP, SIMILAR TO THE ONE SAILED BY THE POLOS TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA.
“Few people are aware that Marco Polo was only 17 when he left Venice on what might possibly be history’s greatest father-son road trip,” said Dr. Bobbi Hohmann, Fernbank Museum curator and anthropologist. “Like something we might see produced in Hollywood today, the Polos’ trip through Asia included bouts of unidentified illnesses, encounters with bandits and thieves, unusual customs and practices, and some of the most spectacular and harsh landscapes in the world.” SOUTHERN SEASONS MAGAZINE
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