Seattle Art Museum reopens to showcase a national traveling exhibit featuring Jacob Lawrence

March 5, 2021 at 4:50 pm Updated March 6, 2021 at 5:20 am

The Seattle Art Museum reopens with a major traveling exhibition featuring Jacob Lawrence. In the first room is “Rich Black Specimen #460” by Hank Willis Thomas, in aluminum with powder coat and automotive paint, representing a runaway slave. SAM will be open Fridays through Sundays, and next First Thursday in April with free admission all day. Capacity will be limited. This is the fourth stop on a five-city tour, and the only West Coast location. For more information see seattleartmuseum.org
(Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Personal photography is allowed at the Jacob Lawrence exhibit as long as no flash is used. The Seattle Art Museum reopens with an exhibit featuring Jacob Lawrence and Barbara Earl Thomas, with limited days and capacity. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

People with timed tickets wait for the doors of the Seattle Art Museum to open Friday. At left is an enlarged depiction of one of Jacob Lawrence’s images from “The American Struggle.” (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Harvey Sadis gets a closer look at photographs of Jacob Lawrence in this mixed media installation by Derrick Adams. Many items in this piece were personal artifacts owned by Lawrence. Three contemporary artists contributed to the exhibit and created pieces referencing, interpreting and honoring Lawrence. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

People with timed tickets line up in the Seattle Art Museum as it reopens with an exhibit featuring Jacob Lawrence and Barbara Earl Thomas. Artist John Grade’s “Middle Fork” sculpture dominates the space. There is an additional fee to enter the area with the Jacob Lawrence exhibit. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Martha West takes a photo of herself and husband Lowen in front of SAM as they wait, socially distanced from others, for the doors to open Friday. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

A local videographer waits to interview the curator of this Jacob Lawrence exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Derrick Adams created this mixed media installation with Jacob Lawrence’s armchair, book and other items from Lawrence’s personal archive. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Jacob Lawrence’s personal phonograph and record are part of this mixed media installation by Derrick Adams. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Barbara Earl Thomas’ room of back-lit cut-paper panels, “The Geography of Innocence.”
(Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

Dancing feet are featured in this four-minute video by Derrick Adams titled “Saints March.” It references Decatur Street in New Orleans. (Alan Berner / The Seattle Times)

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Alan Berner

Seattle Times staff photographer

Alan Berner

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