Page 38 - joa-nov-22

“I Made This…” at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - “I made this…”: The between 1797 and 1798. Commeraw was a free his woodcarvings were a manifestation of his
Work of Black American Artists and Artisans opens Black businessman who operated a stoneware spirituality. By the early 1930s, Pierce began
on October 22, 2022, at the DeWitt Wallace pottery in lower Manhattan from 1797 to 1819. mounting his three-dimensional figures onto
Decorative Arts Museum, one of the Art He made utilitarian vessels, some of which sold cardboard or wooden backgrounds, such as in
Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. to businesses along the waterfront, many this example. In 1951, he opened his own barber
Twenty-eight examples of decorative art and managed by other free African Americans. While shop. His secular carvings showed his love of
folk art from The Colonial Williamsburg networking within the Black community, he sports and entertainment as well as his interest in
Foundation’s collections will go on view in a campaigned for abolition as well as rights for free national politics and his appreciation for
groundbreaking exhibition to be seen in the Black citizens including the right to vote. American heroes who fought for liberty and
Museum’s Miodrag and Elizabeth Ridgely Portrait of Marian Anderson by Elijah Pierce justice; these carvings expressed his life story
Blagojevich Gallery. Never before have the Art (1892-1984), a brightly colored, wooden relief while chronicling the African-American experi-
Museums exhibited together objects made carving of the heralded vocalist, is another ence.
exclusively by Black artists and artisans from the featured work in the exhibition. Pierce was born These objects are but a few of the works of
18th to the 20th centuries across so many genres in Baldwyn, MI, and started carving wood at the decorative and folk art that will be on view in “I
in both decorative and folk arts. Focusing on the age of nine when his older brother gave him a made this…”: The Work of Black American Artists
makers, this unique assemblage of paintings, pocketknife. Pierce left home as a teenager and and Artisans. The exhibition is funded by The
furniture, textiles, decorative sculptures, quilts, was interested in barbering. In the late 1910s and Americana Foundation. For more information
ceramics, tools, metals, and more will help early 1920s, he lived a transient existence about the Museum’s Miodrag and Elizabeth
illuminate their stories. working as an itinerant railroad laborer. In 1920, Ridgely Blagojevich Gallery, please visit
Among the highlights to be seen in “I made he received his preacher’s license and married in colonialwilliamsburg.org, or call 855-296-6627.
this…” is a ceramic jar made by Thomas W. 1923. He found work as a barber and began to Be sure to follow Colonial Williamsburg on
Commeraw (b. ca. 1775- d.?) in New York, N.Y. carve wood seriously in his spare time believing Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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