Columbus Artist Aminah Robinson's Work Featured In Chilean Exhibition
by Jami Goldstein
The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson will be on view September 9 through October 31, 2004 at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Santiago, Chile. Aminah Robinson’s inaugural international exhibition will consist of 46 pieces, including works the Columbus artist produced during her March, 2004 Chilean residency. The exhibition is organized and presented by the Ohio Arts Council in collaboration with Arts Midwest and the Columbus Museum of Art.
Robinson’s residency and exhibition function as important parts of a growing cultural partnership between Chile and Ohio. The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson will be the first exhibition at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes to be produced by the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council’s partnership with Chile began in 1998 with the signing of a memorandum of intent of cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Republic of Chile and the State of Ohio. Since that time, the Ohio Arts Council has engaged in more than 30 successful cultural exchanges involving arts administration, arts education and a variety of arts disciplines.
Robinson’s art is described as that which lives in two worlds. One is the craft and folk-art tradition of her heritage; the other is the self-conscious and more theoretical contemporary art world of a trained artist. Permeating her work is a firm grounding in history and life experiences, and, at the same time, a spiritual essence not easily identified. Through pen and ink drawings, cloth paintings, woodcuts, RagGonNons (rags, paint, ink, found objects) and sculptures, Robinson documents Columbus neighborhoods familiar to her – both past and present. To Robinson, born in 1940, art has been an intrinsic part of her life since a young age thanks to encouragement from her parents. Robinson graduated from East High School, then enrolled in the Columbus College of Art and Design and began working in Columbus’ downtown public library. During this time she began the research about Columbus neighborhoods that would play an important part in her ongoing bodies of work. She has illustrated and, in some cases, authored several published books. Her first major retrospective, Symphonic Poem, debuted at the Columbus Museum of Art in December 2002.
The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson is organized and presented by the Ohio Arts Council in collaboration with Arts Midwest and the Columbus Museum of Art. The exhibition is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Crane Plastics Chile, Museo Nacional Bellas Artes, Gobierno de Chile and Banco Del Desarrollo. Supporters include the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Ohio Arts Foundation, Inc., American Embassy, Santiago, Hyatt Regency Santiago and Roberto Edwards.
Donors to The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson are Sharon Cameron, Jules and Judy Garel, Chris Haines, Peggy Mativi, Jennifer McNally, Floradelle A. Pfahl and Rocky and Susan Saxbe. Lenders to the exhibition include the Columbus Museum of Art, Jeff and Marjie Coopersmith, Loann Crane, Otterbein College, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Bob and Fran Rothman, Charles and Joyce Shenk and Bettye Stull.
The Ohio Arts Council's International Program is recognized as a leader in cultural arts exchanges among U.S. state arts agencies. Designed to foster long-term involvement in international cultural exchanges, the International Program encourages Ohio artists and arts organizations to form partnerships with arts professionals abroad. The International Program provides grants to help nonprofit educational, cultural and arts organizations, individual artists, performers, educators, arts managers and administrators develop exemplary international arts projects and innovative partnerships that increase Ohio’s access to international arts activities. For more information visit www.oac.state.oh.us.
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
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