Sketching the Pandemic Year 2020 Week 34 Aug 16-22
Carmen Herrera’s Rondo graces the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar2020 for the week of Aug 16-22. Cuban American artist Herrera sold her first painting when she was 89 and at 100 had her first show. In mid 20th century, she experienced blatant discrimination when a gallery owner told her: “ You know, Carmen, you can paint rings around men artists I have, but I am not going to give you a show because you are a woman”. I did not know all this when we visited Washington DC on Aug 22 2020 and went to see the ‘Black Lives Matter’ painted on 16th street leading to the Whitehouse on June 5 in honor of protesters who had assembled there peacefully earlier that week. The street with the sign and all the related protest signs around the ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’ gave me goose bumps. I always look up information about the artist and art for the week in the Smithsonian Engagement Calendar. But this particular week I was especially astonished to see the connections. Please scroll down to see photos from that day. Read about Carmen Herrera and interview with her at age 101 here.
Black Lives Matter in front of White House sketch in ink and watercolor by Meera Rao
Washington DC 16th street Aug 22 2020
Washington DC August 22 2020
Washington DC August 22 2020
Washington DC August 22 2020
Washington DC August 22 2020
Washington DC August 22 2020
