What a person collects can reveal a lot about their life story, their values, as well as the culture of their communities.
Retired newscaster Verna Edmonds, wife of a prominent retired pastor in our region, collects angel ornaments.
Karen Love, retired educator who served as chair of St. Stephen Episcopal Schools board of directors, collects children’s books.
Rosemary Browne, president and CEO of Alder Health Services, collects teapots.
Retired U.S.Army Col. James E. Williams and his wife Lois collect Thai Temple rubbings. And retired Episcopal Bishop Nathan Baxter and his wife Ellen collect mementoes from their travels around the world.
Terrie Rouse-Rosario, a member of the board of directors of the Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM), is so intrigued by what people collect, she’s started a collection of her own to document it, compiling vignettes of what local people collect and why.
It’s all part of the SAM’s new “Memories & Inspiration” exhibit that opens in the Lehr Gallery June 8 and runs through August 18.
The exhibit features the collections of Kerry and C. Betty Davis, a couple that developed a passion for African American art and spent 35 years of their lives purchasing as much as they could.
Truth is, Kerry and C. Betty Davis were not billionaires. They both were professional, educated people, but hardly able to spend millions on paintings or sculptures.
He worked as a mailman for many years. She was a former television news producer. They shared a passion for the vivid colors and dramatic themes of African American artists. And they were willing to sacrifice some of the comforts of life to enjoy the art they loved in their home.
For the next few months, people in our region get the chance to enjoy what the Davises cherished, as well.
The exhibit at the Midtown Harrisburg is a fitting tribute to the Juneteenth celebration and includesworks by Romare Bearden, Beverly Buchanan, Elizabeth Catlett, Ernest T. Crichlow, Sam Gilliam, Loïs Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, Alma Thomas, and Charles White.
Revolt on the Amistad, 1989
Silkscreen
46 1/4 x 36 in.
What many find so intriguing about the collection is that the Davises didn’t just seek out artists who had gained fame or notoriety. They did not seek only to grace their walls with the works of well-known and established artists. Their collection pays tribute to lesser-known artists, as well. The Davises were focused on collecting the artistic expressions of the Black image, and the works on display includes diverse styles, subjects, and themes.
“Memories & Inspiration” documents how African American artists have reflected the Black experience over several decades and includes depictions of historic events and everyday life.
It is worth taking the time to visit the SAM for “Memories & Inspiration,” read about what your friends and neighbors collect, and reflect on what your personal collection reveals about your own life and values. You just might make it into Rouse-Rosario’s collection.
Sponsors of the exhibit include UPMC, Anne M. & Philip H. Glatfelter III Foundation, Highmark, and Penn State Health.
Information on times when the museum is open is available on its website at www.SusquehannaArtMuseum.org, and on its social media pages: Facebook & Instagram: Susquehanna Art Museum X: @SusquehannaArt.
Joyce M. Davis is PennLive’s Outreach & Opinion Editor. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @byjoycedavis.
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