For Immediate Release
May 20, 2024

CLARK ART INSTITUTE CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH 

Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Wednesday, June 19, the Clark Art Institute celebrates Juneteenth with art-making and music.

From 1 to 3 pm, drop in for a free art-making event inspired by contemporary artist David-Jeremiah’s exhibition I Drive Thee. In these works, the artist reflects on his experience of Black masculinity in America through large-format, semi-abstract sculptural reliefs and explores the symbolism of the Lamborghini sports car and the Spanish bullfight in contemplating questions of race—the first as a symbol of prestige and performance, the second as a spectacle of power and persecution. Make an artwork inspired by David-Jeremiah’s circular reliefs, or tondos, using collage-making techniques, and consider the symbols, colors, shapes, and materials to make an artwork that expresses personal beliefs and feelings. All ages and abilities welcome.

At 6 pm, Yale professor Kaiama L. Glover presents a lecture titled Minette and Eighteenth-Century French Caribbean Music, in which she discusses the theatrical life of the eighteenth-century French Caribbean, focusing on artists of African descent, including the noted violinist Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-George, and the celebrated soprano Minette. Glover’s talk is illustrated by short musical performances by the American-Brazilian soprano Ariana Wehr, singing excerpts from works Minette would have performed accompanied by the harpsichord.

Both events are free. Accessible seats available for lecture; for information, call 413 458 0524. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.

Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of some 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Open 10 am to 9 pm on Wednesdays from June 19 through September 25, with free admission from 5 to 9 pm. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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