BGIAS DMV x BWVA @ National Portrait Gallery

Saturday, Oct 26

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Hosted by

35 total spots

Join our lovely hosts, Nicole Eboni, Lauren Harris, and Dr. Lauren Davidson on October 26th from 5PM-7PM for a guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery's “Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939" exhibition. This meetup will be hosted in partnership with Black Women in Visual Art! Together, we will explore a shining account of cultural freedom and empowerment experienced by American women as leaders in early twentieth-century Paris. About the Exhibition: "During the early twentieth century, Paris was the destination of choice for talented and independent American women who were determined to move beyond the limitations that restricted them at home. As foreigners in a cosmopolitan city, they escaped the societal expectations and constraints of both the United States and France. Many used their newfound liberty as an opportunity for self-reinvention and discovery. In Paris, American women explored a variety of options for making their mark on contemporary culture. They carried out transformative work in wide-ranging fields including art, literature, dance, publishing, music, and fashion. An impressive number not only participated in important modernist initiatives but led them. By crossing the Atlantic to pursue their personal and professional aspirations, these “brilliant exiles” took a leap into the future. They experienced liberties, opportunities, and tolerances that were yet to be achieved in the United States. How much has changed since then? Have the freedoms and possibilities they sought become realities?" (Smithsonian Website) Black Women In Paris-Supplemental Resources by Nicole Eboni + Lauren Harris: 1)https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/trail-american-women-paris 2)https://a.co/d/4x3EGyi 3)https://a.co/d/9Lu3fjn 4)https://a.co/d/gNKCFHJ 5)https://ugapress.org/book/9780820354323/venus-noire/ 6)https://www.messynessychic.com/2020/06/04/the-other-lost-generation-of-black-american-artists-in-paris/ 7) https://www.washingtoninformer.com/paris-african-american-women/