Visual Interpretations of African Art Exhibit Opening Jan. 14

A new art exhibit is coming to the San Bernardino County Museum. Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward© by artist Barbara Gothard, will be on display from Jan. 14 through Apr. 10, 2022. The exhibit is a research-based multimedia arts and humanities project consisting of mixed media installation works, and interprets the plight of early 20th century African-American homesteaders in the Mojave Desert. The series focuses on the Homesteaders’ stories and the contradictions of Gothard’s own desert-lived experience.

“I was first introduced to Barbara’s work in 2018, when her piece was featured in the Museum’s Life in the Cracks group show,” said Melissa Russo, Director of the San Bernardino County Museum. “When Barbara brought this current project to our attention, we immediately recognized the great value in her research and knew that there would be public fascination in this intersection of regional history and art.”

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.