From the Director

This spring the NCMA opens two special exhibitions featuring visionary artists. Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design highlights the career of an Academy Award–winning costume designer who has helped bring characters to life in acclaimed Hollywood films, including Black Panther, Malcolm X, Selma, and Do the Right Thing. Carter’s painstaking research and attention to detail imbue her costumes with historical accuracy and have made her a style leader in the Afrofuturism movement. Read more on pages 2–5

Michael Richards: Are You Down? (pages 6–9) surveys the career of the artist whose Tar Baby vs. St. Sebastian, on view in the Museum galleries since 2003, has been a visitor favorite for two decades. This exhibition celebrates Richards’s powerful and poetic interpretations of the themes of flight and aviation to explore racial inequities in the US.

Indoors and outdoors, visions of spring abound with Art in Bloom, presented by PNC, from March 15 to 19, and a rich array of programs in the Museum Park. This year is especially exciting, as talented floral designers interpret artworks in our reimagined collection gallery spaces. There will be something new to take in around every corner. And be sure to make reservations for tea at NCMA Café, where you can enjoy delicious sandwiches and pastries. Find all the details on page 10. Check out page 22 for a full listing of our upcoming Park offerings. This includes the new NCMA Park App, which makes tour options and content on art, nature, and the campus available right on your own device. For more on the app, see page 14

There is so much to experience this season—intriguing special exhibitions, Art in Bloom, Earth Day programming, a family campout, and Park tours—and we look forward to seeing our members often at the Museum!

With appreciation and my best,

Valerie Hillings