Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties

Painting, sculptures and more will be on display.

The Civil Rights Movement in Art - In observance of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Brooklyn Museum is debuting the Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties tour. The exihibit, which starts on March 7 and lasts to July 6, will feature paintings, sculptures, graphics, and photography from the 1960s. Keep reading for a preview of the exhibit. —Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

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The Civil Rights Movement in Art - In observance of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Brooklyn Museum is debuting the Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties tour. The exihibit, which starts on March 7 and lasts to July 6, will feature paintings, sculptures, graphics, and photography from the 1960s. Keep reading for a preview of the exhibit. —Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

Birmingham 1964 - Jack Whitten (American, born 1939). Birmingham 1964. Aluminum foil, newsprint, stocking, and oil on plywood, 16 5/8 x 16 in. (42.2 x 40.6 cm). Collection of the artist.(Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Alexander Gray Associates, New York/Brooklyn Museum; © Jack Whitten)

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Birmingham 1964 - Jack Whitten (American, born 1939). Birmingham 1964. Aluminum foil, newsprint, stocking, and oil on plywood, 16 5/8 x 16 in. (42.2 x 40.6 cm). Collection of the artist.(Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Alexander Gray Associates, New York/Brooklyn Museum; © Jack Whitten)

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Wives of Shango - Jeff Donaldson (American, 1932–2004). Wives of Shango, 1969. Watercolor with mixed media on paper, 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of R. M. Atwater, Anna Wolfrom Dove, Alice Fiebiger, Joseph Fiebiger, Belle Campbell Harriss, and Emma L. Hyde, by exchange; Designated Purchase Fund, Mary Smith Dorward Fund, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, and Carll H. de Silver Fund, 2012.80.13.(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; © Jameela K. Donaldson)

Photo By Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; � Jameela K. Donaldson

Rosa Parks, Dr. and Mrs. Abernathy, Dr. Ralph Bunche, and Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. leading marchers into Montgomery - Moneta Sleet Jr. (American, 1926–1996). Rosa Parks, Dr. and Mrs. Abernathy, Dr. Ralph Bunche, and Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. leading marchers into Montgomery, 1965, printed circa 1970. Gelatin silver print, 13 3/8 x 10 3/4 in. (34 x 27.3 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Johnson Publishing Company/Brooklyn Museum; © Johnson Publishing Company, LLC)

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Rosa Parks, Dr. and Mrs. Abernathy, Dr. Ralph Bunche, and Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. leading marchers into Montgomery - Moneta Sleet Jr. (American, 1926–1996). Rosa Parks, Dr. and Mrs. Abernathy, Dr. Ralph Bunche, and Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. leading marchers into Montgomery, 1965, printed circa 1970. Gelatin silver print, 13 3/8 x 10 3/4 in. (34 x 27.3 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of the Johnson Publishing Company/Brooklyn Museum; © Johnson Publishing Company, LLC)

New Kids in the Neighborhood - Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978). New Kids in the Neighborhood (Negro in the Suburbs), 1967. Oil on canvas, 36 1/2 x 57 1/2 in. (92.7 x 146.1 cm). Story illustration for Look, May 16, 1967.(Photo: Courtesy of the Norman Rockwell Museum Collection/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 the Norman Rockwell Family Entities)

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New Kids in the Neighborhood - Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978). New Kids in the Neighborhood (Negro in the Suburbs), 1967. Oil on canvas, 36 1/2 x 57 1/2 in. (92.7 x 146.1 cm). Story illustration for Look, May 16, 1967.(Photo: Courtesy of the Norman Rockwell Museum Collection/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 the Norman Rockwell Family Entities)

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Untitled - Norman W. Lewis (American, 1909–1979). Untitled (Alabama), 1967. Oil on canvas, 45 1/4 x 73 1/2 in. (114.9 x 186.7 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of Iandor Fine Arts/Brooklyn Museum; © The Estate of Norman W. Lewis)

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Untitled - Norman W. Lewis (American, 1909–1979). Untitled (Alabama), 1967. Oil on canvas, 45 1/4 x 73 1/2 in. (114.9 x 186.7 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of Iandor Fine Arts/Brooklyn Museum; © The Estate of Norman W. Lewis)

Soldiers and Students - Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Soldiers and Students, 1962. Opaque watercolor over graphite on wove paper, 22 7/16 x 30 7/16 in (57 x 77.3 cm). Hanover, New Hampshire, bequest of Jay R. Wolf, Class of 1951.(Photo: Courtesy of Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)

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Soldiers and Students - Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Soldiers and Students, 1962. Opaque watercolor over graphite on wove paper, 22 7/16 x 30 7/16 in (57 x 77.3 cm). Hanover, New Hampshire, bequest of Jay R. Wolf, Class of 1951.(Photo: Courtesy of Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)

It Takes Two to Integrate - Edward Kienholz (American, 1927–1994). It Takes Two to Integrate (Cha Cha Cha), 1961. Painted dolls, dried fish, glass in wooden box, 31 1/4 x 22 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (79.4 x 57.2 x 19.1 cm). Collection of David R. Packard and M. Bernadette Castor, Portola Valley, California. (Photo: Courtesy of L.A. Louver, Venice, California/Brooklyn Museum; © Kienholz)

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It Takes Two to Integrate - Edward Kienholz (American, 1927–1994). It Takes Two to Integrate (Cha Cha Cha), 1961. Painted dolls, dried fish, glass in wooden box, 31 1/4 x 22 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (79.4 x 57.2 x 19.1 cm). Collection of David R. Packard and M. Bernadette Castor, Portola Valley, California. (Photo: Courtesy of L.A. Louver, Venice, California/Brooklyn Museum; © Kienholz)

The Confederacy: Alabama - Robert Indiana (American, born 1928). The Confederacy: Alabama, 1965. Oil on canvas, 70 x 60 in. (177.8 x 152.4 cm). Oxford, Ohio, Gift of Walter and Dawn Clark Netsch.(Photo: Miami University Art Museum/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 Morgan Art Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)

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The Confederacy: Alabama - Robert Indiana (American, born 1928). The Confederacy: Alabama, 1965. Oil on canvas, 70 x 60 in. (177.8 x 152.4 cm). Oxford, Ohio, Gift of Walter and Dawn Clark Netsch.(Photo: Miami University Art Museum/Brooklyn Museum; © 2013 Morgan Art Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)

Lawdy Mama - Barkley L. Hendricks (American, born 1945). Lawdy Mama, 1969. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 53 3/4 x 36 1/4 in. (136.5 x 92.1 cm). The Studio Museum in Harlem, Gift of Stuart Liebman, in memory of Joseph B. Liebman, 83.25.(Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York/Brooklyn Museum; © Barkley L. Hendricks)

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Lawdy Mama - Barkley L. Hendricks (American, born 1945). Lawdy Mama, 1969. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, 53 3/4 x 36 1/4 in. (136.5 x 92.1 cm). The Studio Museum in Harlem, Gift of Stuart Liebman, in memory of Joseph B. Liebman, 83.25.(Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York/Brooklyn Museum; © Barkley L. Hendricks)

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The Door (Admissions Office) - David Hammons (American, born 1943). The Door (Admissions Office), 1969. Wood, acrylic sheet, and pigment construction, 79 x 48 x 15 in. (200.7 x 122 x 38.1 cm). California African American Museum, Los Angeles, Collection of Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum.(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; © David Hammons)

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The Door (Admissions Office) - David Hammons (American, born 1943). The Door (Admissions Office), 1969. Wood, acrylic sheet, and pigment construction, 79 x 48 x 15 in. (200.7 x 122 x 38.1 cm). California African American Museum, Los Angeles, Collection of Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum.(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; © David Hammons)

City Limits - Philip Guston (American, born Canada, 1913–1980). City Limits, 1969. Oil on canvas, 77 x 103 1/4 in. (195.6 x 262.2 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Gift of Musa Guston, 1991/Brooklyn Museum; © The Estate of Philip Guston)

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City Limits - Philip Guston (American, born Canada, 1913–1980). City Limits, 1969. Oil on canvas, 77 x 103 1/4 in. (195.6 x 262.2 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Gift of Musa Guston, 1991/Brooklyn Museum; © The Estate of Philip Guston)

Red April - Sam Gilliam (American, born 1933). Red April, 1970. Acrylic on canvas, 110 x 160 in. (279.4 x 406.4 cm). The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Gift of The Longview Foundation and Museum purchase, 1971.11.(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museuml; © Sam Gilliam)

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Red April - Sam Gilliam (American, born 1933). Red April, 1970. Acrylic on canvas, 110 x 160 in. (279.4 x 406.4 cm). The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Gift of The Longview Foundation and Museum purchase, 1971.11.(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museuml; © Sam Gilliam)

Homage to My Young Black Sisters - Elizabeth Catlett (American, 1915–2012). Homage to My Young Black Sisters, 1968. Cedar, 68 x 12 x 12 in. (172.7 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm). Collection of Reginald and Aliya Browne.(Photo: Erwin Gaspin/Brooklyn Museum; © Catlett Mora Family Trust / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

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Homage to My Young Black Sisters - Elizabeth Catlett (American, 1915–2012). Homage to My Young Black Sisters, 1968. Cedar, 68 x 12 x 12 in. (172.7 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm). Collection of Reginald and Aliya Browne.(Photo: Erwin Gaspin/Brooklyn Museum; © Catlett Mora Family Trust / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

Witness - Benny Andrews (American, 1930–2006). Witness (detail), 1968. Oil on canvas with painted fabric collage, 48 x 48 in. (121.9 x 121.9 cm).(Photo: Matthew Newton, courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY/Brooklyn Museum; © Estate of Benny Andrews/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

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Witness - Benny Andrews (American, 1930–2006). Witness (detail), 1968. Oil on canvas with painted fabric collage, 48 x 48 in. (121.9 x 121.9 cm).(Photo: Matthew Newton, courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY/Brooklyn Museum; © Estate of Benny Andrews/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

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Three Figures - Emma Amos (American, born 1938). Three Figures, 1966. Oil on canvas, 60 x 50 in. (152.4 x 127 cm). Collection of the artist.(Photo: Becket Logan/Brooklyn Museum; © Emma Amos / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

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Three Figures - Emma Amos (American, born 1938). Three Figures, 1966. Oil on canvas, 60 x 50 in. (152.4 x 127 cm). Collection of the artist.(Photo: Becket Logan/Brooklyn Museum; © Emma Amos / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

Urban Wall Suit - Jae Jarrell (American, born 1935). Urban Wall Suit, circa 1969. Dyed and printed silk with paint, 38 x 21 x 10 (96.5 x 53.3 x 25.4 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; © Jae Jarrell)

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Urban Wall Suit - Jae Jarrell (American, born 1935). Urban Wall Suit, circa 1969. Dyed and printed silk with paint, 38 x 21 x 10 (96.5 x 53.3 x 25.4 cm).(Photo: Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum; © Jae Jarrell)