Published on January 19, 2018
On Sunday, 12 November 2017, students from Dr. Balcerski's HIS 322: African-American History from 1877 visited the Amistad Center for Arts and Culture in Hartford. The Amistad Center, which is housed in Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Arts, offers a multi-disciplinary collection of fine art, photography, historical artifacts, memorabilia, and rare books that document the African American experience (to learn more, check out http://www.amistadcenter.org/)
During their visit, students learned about the African-American experience, from the colonial era to the present, that formed the "30 for 30: Art, Agency, Legacy." Students examined the legacies of African-American artists and collectors, including the special exhibitions, "From the Collection: Lewis Watts" and "Art from Archive: Work by Lewis Watts and Pablo Delano." A lively discussion ensued on the importance of museum spaces in primary school education.
In addition, Dr. Balcerski and students browsed the Amistad Center Library and Museum Gift Shop and obtained rare items pertaining to African-American history and culture in Connecticut to add to the Eastern Library. All students left with a greater appreciation of the valuable contribution of African Americans to the vibrant world of the arts in the region.
