Exhibition Explores GDR's Solidarity Campaign for Angela Davis Through Multidirectional Memory
On October 10, 2020, the Albertinum in Dresden launched the exhibition '1 Million Roses for Angela Davis,' which was originally scheduled to continue until May 30, 2021, but was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Curated by Kathleen Reinhardt, the exhibit highlights the East German support for Davis during her incarceration in the United States from 1970 to 1972. A significant focus is the 1971 postcard campaign from the GDR celebrating her birthday, reflecting public backing. Utilizing Michael Rothberg's concept of 'multidirectional memory,' the exhibition links the U.S. Black Power movement with the GDR. It includes archival documents, modern art pieces, and a collection of Davis's writings. Following her acquittal on June 4, 1972, Davis received a warm reception in East Germany.
Key facts
- Exhibition '1 Million Roses for Angela Davis' ran from October 10, 2020 to May 30, 2021 at Albertinum, Dresden.
- Curated by Kathleen Reinhardt for Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD).
- Focuses on GDR solidarity campaign for Angela Davis during her 1970-1972 imprisonment.
- Centers on 1971 postcard campaign '1 Million Roses for Angela Davis' for her 27th birthday.
- Davis was acquitted on June 4, 1972 and later visited East Germany.
- Exhibition uses Michael Rothberg's 'multidirectional memory' concept.
- Includes historical GDR art portraits by Christoph Wetzel, Heinz Wodzicka, and Willi Sitte.
- Features contemporary works by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Nasan Tur, and Gabriele Stötzer.
Entities
Artists
- Angela Davis
- Kathleen Reinhardt
- Christoph Wetzel
- Heinz Wodzicka
- Willi Sitte
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan
- Nasan Tur
- Gabriele Stötzer
- Michael Rothberg
- Walter Benjamin
- Aleida Assmann
- George Jackson
- Fleeta Drumgo
- John Clutchette
- Jonathan Jackson
- Erich Honecker
- Karl-Siegbert Rehberg
- Paul Kaiser
- Constanze Fritzsch
- Gregorio D'Clouet Hernández
Institutions
- Albertinum
- Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD)
- Stanford University
- Washington Post
- American Communist Party (CPUSA)
- Che-Lumumba Club
- Soledad Brothers Defense Committee
- FBI
- Free German Youth (FDJ)
- 8th Art Exhibition of the GDR
- Contemporary &
- Getty Research Institute
- Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung
- Kunsthistorisches Institut, Florence
- Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- University Paris Nanterre
- University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
- ENS de Paris
- German Forum for Art History in Paris
- Bauhaus University Weimar
- Academy of Fine Arts Dresden
- University of Leipzig
- University of Dresden
- Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, Paris
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Dresden
- Germany
- GDR
- East Germany
- Stanford
- United States
- New York City
- Marin County, California
- East Berlin
- Syria
- Saidnaya
- Bautzener Strasse, Dresden
- Ethiopia
- Mozambique
- Netherlands
- Russia
- Canada
- Cuba
- Vietnam
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Warsaw
- Poland
- Florence
- Italy
- Chemnitz
- Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
- Paris
- France
- Weimar
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —