School of the Museum of Fine Arts

Jury Duty and Lois Mailou Jones

By: Charles Giuliano - Oct 03, 2006

Installation of works by Lois Mailou Jones

A wall of paintings and graphic designs.

Design for Cretonne Drapery Fabric #10, courtesy of the Lois Mailou Jones Pierre-Noel Trust.

Design for Cretonne Drapery Fabric #13. Courtesy of Lois Mailou Jones Pierre Noel Trust.

Design for Cretonne Drapery Fabric # 15. Courtesy of the Lois Mailous Jones Pierre Noel Trust.

Design for Cretonne Drapewry Fabric # 12. Courtesy of the Lois Mailou Jones Pierre-Noel Trust.

The Dog made the cut in the graduate show.

This installation piece came with a diagram.

Another to be assembled submission.

What to choose?

Big format photos of man and amusements parks.

More photos

Two artists submitted videos.

Graduate student Maya Freelon was very helpful.

- click for more

          Recently it was my pleasure to serve as juror for the annual exhibition of the graduate students of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Over the years it has always been insightful to visit the SMFA as a visiting critic to the classes of several professors. Often interesting relationships were formed from these initial contacts that may lead to exhibition projects and critical writing tracking the careers of interesting emerging artists.

        In addition to judging the works strewn about on the floor of a large auditorium/gallery there was the opportunity to view the unique exhibition of a selection of works by the 1927 graduate, Lois Mailou Jones. The exhibition of gorgeous, bright, lively, jazzy designs for fabrics and prints, as well as a selection of paintings, books and works on paper "Lois Mailou Jones: The Early Works: Paintings and Patterns 1927-1937" will be on view at the school through October 14. The work is beautifully installed and there was a nice feeling to the space which included an area where one might sit and listen to vintage big band jazz and swing.

           While intensely involved in the difficult process of accepting and rejecting works for an exhibition which is now on view, reception next Wednesday, October 10, 5 to 7 pm,  a young woman, Maya Freelon, introduced herself and stated that she had volunteered to help. I enjoyed the company and engaged in a dialogue. Right off I asked if she found the Jones exhibition of interest. She lit up and stated that as an artist of color she knew the work from slides in courses and regarded her as an inspiration and role model. "Some of these designs sold in fashionable stores in New York and Paris where as a woman of color she was not welcome," she stated. It was a daunting thought. Jones was the first African American woman to graduate from the SMFA and this is a real celebration of her life (1905-1998) and career. Many of the works on view from the first decade after her graduation have never before been shown in this manner. It was a great bonus on this morning of Jury Duty.

             It is fun to share with you images of the works strewn about the floor just as I viewed and judged them. Later I will look forward to attending the opening and meeting the artists. As well as seeing the works properly installed. So I hope this display of images conveys some of the sense of that experience.