Visions of Freedom

     Visions of Freedom is an event hosted by the Afro-American studies department, wherein the open forum type discussion will center around African American visual arts in the 1960’s and 1970’s.This event will be held at Davis Auditorium in the Springfield Museum, Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 1 pm. The collaboration of visual arts and African American dance, theater, and poetry will be discussed as well. Professor’s Nelson Stevens, Richard Yarde, Margo Crawford, and Mario Ontiveros will be administering the discussion.

     One form of visual art that is quite prominent in the African American community is murals. Murals are a form of art which convey messages to all people in various ways. These bodies of art have the power to speak to people in a way other than words. Murals are much different from traditional artwork. They are not enclosed in a confined space where a limited number of people can see them; they are in public and can be seen by anyone who is walking by. These bodies of art have no rules, and are the voice of the people. They are able to voice the opinions of those who believe they have no say in society. A person realized how much they can accomplish by reaching out to people through these murals.

      Nelson Stevens, a former professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who worked in the Afro-American studies department, has helped over thirty murals come to life. His walls of art can be seen throughout the town of Springfield. Stevens’ murals are the voice of the people, and dictate the struggles and triumphs of the African American people.

     Professor Yarde has been working with the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 1990. Yarde’s work has been showcased throughout the country. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art in New York are some places where you will find his work.

     One of Visions Of Freedom’s goals is to find various ways to bring art into the community of Springfield, and all throughout the United States. It will help to find ways to speak to the people of the community and reach out to them. This event will help to create ideas to pursue this dream and make it a reality.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Springfield Museums at (413) 263-6800 ext. 323 or UMass Amherst at (413) 545-2751 to make reservations.