A passionate artist, educator, and beloved member of the University of Delaware community, James E. Newton founded what is today known as UD’s Department of Africana Studies in the 1970s. He believed that art, education, mentorship and community could change the world for the better.
In The Artistic Legacy of James E. Newton: The Archival Record, visitors will explore how Newton built communities and changed the lives of those around him. Through artwork, photographs, articles, ephemera and other materials in Newton’s papers, which were recently acquired by the UD Library, Museums and Press, visitors will gain insights into his artistic output, his work as an educator both in the community and at the University, and his commitment to collecting and sharing Black history.
This exhibition is part of a collaboration between the Delaware Art Museum and the University of Delaware to celebrate James E. Newton’s legacy as an artist, UD professor and leader in the Delaware community. Additional exhibitions in this collaboration include The Artistic Legacy of James E. Newton: Poetic Roots at the Delaware Art Museum and The Artistic Legacy of James E. Newton: Heritage and Character Portraits at UD’s Mechanical Hall Gallery.
Credits
This exhibition is curated by Demetra McBrayer, graduate research assistant in Special Collections and a doctoral candidate in the Department of English at UD. McBrayer’s research and curatorial work was supported by the Paul R. Jones Initiative.
