Drop me in any city and I’ll find the Black Art. Philadelphia made it easy. The African-American museum is exhibiting works by Dox Thrash. If you called him a pioneer of printmaking it would be an understatement – he’s somewhere between inventor, innovator, and wunderkind. His prints, often done twice with two different methods, are a doubletake/lookback at Black life in the “birthplace of America.” I was most grateful for the pictures of the artist at work; before this visit I’d neither seen nor heard of him. The worthwhile efforts to preserve his house in North Philly leave me wondering: how do artists, institutions, and audiences go about deciding what’s worthy of remembrance? How can anyone secure a permanent mark?

Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia on Thurs – Sun the next time you’re in Philly. “Imprint” is up until August 4.🖤🌟