ACADEMIC SPOTLIGHT

Russell Goings Showcases African-American Art Collection at MCS

Russell Goings' remarkable collection of art featuring Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Chester Bloom will be showcased at MCS this year. The collection will provide opportunities for students to engage with original prints, sculpture, and collages. An "advisory committee" of parents and staff will lead efforts to integrate the art work into curricula across grade levels and develop an art club to train student docents. The collection will also bring new attention to the Ben Shahn prints of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi and the collection of African masks and sculptures that are already part of our school environment.

Bearden's studio on Canal Street was the home of the Spiral, artists who gathered during the height of the Civil Rights Movement “to define how art could contribute to the movement and be a part of their times without relinquishing their commitment to aesthetics" (Gelburd and Golden). At the same time as the Spiral was contemplating their role in the movement, the founders of MCS were developing the First Principles and making plans for our school. Our parallel histories make the loan of the collection both timely and meaningful. Stay tuned for more information regarding art shows and events throughout the year.

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