Toledo Museum Opens Retrospective Of "Genius"

The Toledo Museum of Art opens the free exhibition Symphonic Poem: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson on February 23, 2007. Robinson-a Columbus, Ohio, native and MacArthur Foundation "Genius"-relates poetic stories of the people and places in her life using materials that are readily available, including buttons, beads, fabrics, twigs, bark, and a homemade media she calls hogmawg.

By "making do," as her ancestors did, Robinson creates works of art that defy categorization, but are grounded by history, personal experience, and spiritual essence.

The retrospective exhibition Symphonic Poem spans more than 50 years and features more than 100 of Robinson's works of art, including paintings, sculpture, prints, journals, and her extensive RagGonNons-which she researches and creates over years and continuously refines. The RagGonNons are elaborate mixed media works that Robinson describes as Button-Beaded Music Box Pop-Up BoOks [sic], They combine the needle and button work she learned from her mother and the craft of bookmaking she learned from her father.

Regardless of her chosen media, Robinson's works of art mirror the people and places that have influenced her and serve as the perfect vehicle for the eloquent stories she tells-all connected by references to the past, present, and future.

Symphonic Poem: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson is organized by the Columbus Museum of Art and Arts Midwest in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council.

CATALOGUE

The exhibition is accompanied by the fully illustrated 199-page color catalogue, Symphonic Poem: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. The large format, hardbound catalogue is available for $45 at the Museum Store or by calling 419-254-5766. Phone orders will include an additional charge for shipping and handling.

EXHIBITION RELATED PROGRAMS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25: Hands-On Activity: Photo Collage: 1-4 P.M., Libbey Court

Drawing inspiration from Aminah Robinson's work, bring personal photographs, and create a collage celebrating the people, places, and moments that have shaped your life.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9: Presentation: Reading Quilts: 7:30-8:30 P.M., Little Theater

Just as Aminah Robinson utilizes textiles to tell her stories, so too quilters communicate with their patterns. Join quilt expert Nancy Villa Bryk as she explores what quilts reveal about the lives and cultures of their makers and shows you how to "read" a quilt's clues.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18: Workshop: Manuscript Memories: 2-4 P.M., Room 139

Symphonic Poem features several of Aminah Robinson's hand-made books that represent the importance of understanding the past through family stories. Document your life stories and create a unique legacy for future generations of your family.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30: Hands-On Activity: Everyday Objects: 7-9 P.M., Libbey Court

Like Aminah Robinson, you can visually tell a story with any series of objects-buttons, twigs, leaves, and more. Bring materials that are meaningful to you, or use the supplies provided to create a work of art that communicates your story or life experiences.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1: Program: Narrate the Art of Your Life: 2-4 P.M., Canaday Gallery

Aminah Robinson and Jacob Lawrence are two of the many artists whose works of art depict people and neighborhoods that influenced them. Record stories of how family and community have affected who you are, and return to the Museum to hear yours and others' stories in STARTING PLACE-our introductory gallery located off Libbey Court.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13: Performance: Personal Poetry of John Swaile:7:30-8:30 P.M., Canaday Gallery

Join John Swaile, co-founder of the Toledo Memorial Reader's Theater and the Almeda Street Poetry CoOp, on a narrative journey tracing his ancestral history through his original poetry.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15: Meet Aminah: Creating a RagGonNon: 1-4 P.M., Libbey Court

What better way to discover an artist's process that to work with her? Meet Aminah Robinson and take part in this public workshop to create a RagGonNon-a work of art that incorporates found objects to tell a personal story that evolves with every addition.

SATURDAY, APRIL 21: Heirloom Appraisal Day: What's in Your Past?: 10 A.M.-4 P.M., Community Gallery

What heirlooms have shaped your memories? Discover more about the objects that connect your past and present at this special event. Appraisers from DuMouchelle's will enlighten you about your treasured keepsakes. TMA members pay only $10 for the first item and $7 each for two additional items*. Fees for nonmembers are $15 and $10*, respectively. Call 419-254- 5771, ext. 7432, for reservations beginning Friday, April 7.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22: Performance: Symphonic Stories: 2 P.M., Canaday Gallery

Students from Toledo Early College High School program share through poems and stories how Symphonic Poem encouraged them to think about their families and neighborhoods.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27: Performance: Storytelling with Odessa Rowan: 7-8 P.M., Great Gallery

Stories help us learn from the past and convey information and lessons to future generations. Toledo native Odessa Rowan, member of Frogtown Storytellers, delights audiences with tales of neighborhood, community, and family.

SUNDAY, MAY 6: Hands-on Activity: Create Your Neighborhood: 1-4 P.M., Libbey Court

Many of Aminah Robinson's works depict neighborhoods in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Help design a mural of Toledo by adding the people and landmarks from your neighborhood.

FRIDAY, MAY 11: Performance: Poetry in Motion: 7:30-8:30 P.M., TMA galleries

Stroll the galleries with the members of the 402 Broadway Bards and the Poetry Barn as they share personal stories in response to chosen works of art in the TMA collection.

SATURDAY, MAY 19: Performance: Sounds and Sights of Aminah Robinson: 2:30 P.M., Great Gallery

Toledo jazz legends Clifford Murphy and Claude Black join soprano Joan Layne and accompanist Kevin Bylsma to perform musical tales of ancestors, family, and community, while TMA head of Docent education Susan Palmer relates these songs to works of art in Symphonic Poem.

PUBLIC TOURS

Symphonic Poem is free to the public and is on view in TMA's Canaday Gallery. Free public tours of the exhibition are scheduled as follows:

February 23: 6:30 & 8 P.M.

February 24: 2 P.M.

February 25: 2 & 3 P.M.

April 1: 2 & 3 P.M.

April 15: 2 & 3 P.M.

April 22: 2 & 3 P.M.

May 6: 2 & 3 P.M.

May 18: 6:30 & 8 P.M.

May 19: 2 P.M.

May 20: 2 & 3 P.M.

Schedule is subject to change. -- www.toledomuseum.org