Every community has common pictures.
They help form the idea of a community.
Common pictures are like common memories.

This is an exhibition of Elizabeth Catlett’s works of art.
Elizabeth Catlett was an American and Mexican artist.
She was born in 1915 and died in 2012.

Pictures tell us a lot about the history of a community.
They explain what is important to a community.
And show us how to recognise a community.

The study of pictures is a special area in art history.
Experts in art history look closely at the pictures.
They describe the people and other things in the pictures.

At the start of the 20th century pictures of
the black community did not exist.
No one spoke about the history of black people in America.
These people were shipped to America against their will.
They were sold to white Americans.

The white Americans treated them like slaves.
They treated them as their own property.

These African people did not have any freedom.
They suffered violence.
And depended on the white people they worked for.
They were enslaved.

Pictures of the black community did not exist.
Not in history or in art history.
Someone had to create the pictures.

Elizabeth Catlett’s paintings are of black people.
She painted their faces in much detail.
Each painting explains a personal story.
You learn more about the people from the pictures.
And you learn more about the history of black people in America.

Elizabeth Catlett also painted pictures of important women
in the black community.
These women were heroes.
They worked as slaves for white people.
And fought to free black people from slavery.
They also fought for the rights of black people.
And gave the black community hope.

These three women were:
      —Sojourner Truth.
          She lived from 1797 to 1883.
          She ran away with her daughter.
          And she also fought for the rights of black women.
          She was the first black woman to win a court case against a white man.

      —Harriet Tubman.
          She died in 1913.
          But we are not sure when she was born.        
          She founded a network to help other enslaved people.
          And also fought for:
             —the right to vote for women
             —the rights of elderly black people.

      —Phillis Wheatley.
         She was a black poet.
         And she lived from 1753 to 1784.
         She was the first black woman to write poetry and books.

Elizabeth Catlett painted people in different situations:
      —in the fields
      —at the side of the road
      —at work

Sometimes the people look vulnerable.
Sometimes they look as if they are fighting back.
Sometimes they are helping others.
And sometimes they are relaxed.

Elizabeth Catlett made many different works of art.
In this exhibition you can see:
      —pictures
      —small figures
      —prints
         She painted pictures and carved pictures
         onto different surfaces.
         She used stone, wood and natural
         rubber for the surfaces.
         Later she she used them to make prints.

Ellizabeth Catlett‘s works of art were often put on show.
Her works of art were not expensive.
She wanted to create art for everyone.
That was very important to Elizabeth Catlett.

This is the first large exhibition since her death.
It is the first time you can see her many different works of art together.
Works of art created at different times in Elizabeth Catlett‘s life.