AFA Autumn 2021

Autumn 20 www.afamag.com | w ww.incollect.com 5230 Silo Hill Road, Doylestown, PA (215) 348.2500 /gratzgallery.com Forgotten Woman of American Modernism I S H ONORED TO P RESENT THE L IFE W ORK OF A CCOMPANIED BY A DEFINITIVE MONOGRAPH ON THE ARTIST WITH AN E SSAY BY F RANCIS M. N AUMANN P ETER M ILLER A MERICAN , 1913—1996 C OMING H OME , A S PECIAL C OLLABORATIVE E XHIBITION O CTOBER 1—N OVEMBER 15, 2021 S ANTA F E , N EW M EXICO Winterthur recently acquired the unique and previously unknown “Liberty Monument,” created in 1873 by Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, owners of the Anna Pottery in Anna, Illinois. “This stoneware masterwork dramatically portrays a racially-motivated event that largely has been ignored in mainstream history books,” notes Winterthur Senior Curator of Ceramics and Glass, Leslie Grigsby. “Staff across the institution, members of our Board, and many others recognized that this acquisition would offer an important opportunity for Winterthur to shine a light on a ‘difficult truth’ from America’s past.” Although other themes also are presented, the primary imagery depicts the 1873 massacre of Black citizens of Colfax, Louisiana, who protested voter suppression that occurred during the state’s gubernatorial election the previous year. News of the atrocity spread quickly across America via newspapers and word of mouth and offered differing “facts” regarding the murders. Winterthur is as yet unsure which version of the news reached the Kirkpatricks in Illinois, but their visceral response to the event is clear. “We fully recognize the responsibility we have to depict the multi- layered history that the monument represents,” says Alexandra Deutsch, the John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections. “Having collected with an eye to diversity and inclusion for several decades,” she adds, “this acquisition continues a Winterthur tradition of collecting works that represent the fullest expanse of American history. We expect the interpretation of this complex object to evolve over time and are working to create a multi- vocal interpretation by engaging with community members, scholars, students and other stakeholders.” Following extensive research and specialized cleaning in Winterthur’s Objects Conservation Lab, the Anna Pottery “Liberty Monument” will be placed on exhibition in Winterthur’s galleries in 2022. (Overall and detail): “Liberty Monument” by Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna Pottery, Anna, Illinois, 1873. Stoneware, H: 23, Diameter (base): 9 inches. Winterthur Museum purchase (2021.0017). Winterthur Acquires the Anna Pottery “Liberty Monument” RECENT ACQUISITION