Grand Reception at the Smithsonian for The Scurlock Exhibition

Posted by Susanna at 10:07 AM, Feb 18, 2009 (Comments)

Category: Design & Art

Scurlock photograph of the King Greenleaf Recreation Center, Y.W.C.A. Camp for Girls, 1930 Highland Beach, Md.

A GRAND RECEPTION was held recently at the renovated Smithsonian Museum of American History for the opening of the show "The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington: Picturing the Promise." Hundreds of Washingtonians turned out on an icy winter evening to catch a first viewing of the exhibition that features more about 100 photographs and other items produced by African American photographers Addison Scurlock and his two sons, Robert and George, working from their Washington studio from 1911 to 1994.

THEIR WORK PROUDLY captures the thriving middle-class black culture of the nation's capital during that time, during decades of rigid segregation, and then during the civil rights movement and even the riots that ravaged Washington in 1968. Central to the exhibition are the images of African American families, weddings, graduations, and social events along with portraits of prominent black personalities such as W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington, Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Lena Horne and Duke Ellington. Additionally, since the Scurlocks served as official photographers for Howard University, the premier historically black university in Washington, images from that institution are prominent in the show.

THE EXHIBITION is presented by the National Museum of African American History and Culture in collaboration with the National Museum of American History.

IIT RUNS THROUGH through Nov. 15, 2009, at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, located on Constitution Avenue, N.W. between 12th and 14th streets. Hours are 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. 

Lonnie Bunch, Director of The Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture, welcomes guests to the opening reception for the Scurlock photography exhibition. 

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