Southern Junction: The Art of Lenard Brown

Brownsville-The Brownsville Heritage Complex, located in historic downtown Brownsville, invites the public the opening reception for the new exhibition, Southern Junction: The Art of Lenard Brown. The exhibition features contemporary art based on the Underground Railroad. The exhibit is organized in honor of Black History Month, which has been celebrated during the month of February since 1926.

The opening reception will take place on Thursday, February 2, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. The event is free to the public and everyone is invited to attend.

The subject of an established southern route in the Underground Railroad and how many slaves fled from Texas through Mexico is the subject of much historical speculation, as most of the focus on the Underground Railroad details the escape routes to Northern states. However, in recent years, Texas historians have taken up the subject in an effort to establish routes where slaves in Texas would have fled into Mexico.

The exhibit explores the idea of a Southern Junction of the Underground Railroad leading into Mexico. The exhibition also invites the viewers to contemplate how contemporary art can sometimes be influenced by historical topics.

The exhibition is particularly relevant in a border region, as those that crossed the Rio Grande did so in search of freedom, while today, many people continue to cross the river in search of a better life. The Southern Junction exhibition features prints and drawings by UTPA Professor Lenard Brown. Brown is a native of Henderson, Texas and he holds a BFA from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and an MFA from The Ohio State University.

Southern Junction will be on view in the Brownsville Heritage Museum through March 1, 2006. Admission to view the exhibit is included in the cost of admission to the Brownsville Heritage Museum ($2 per person). Admission is always free for Brownsville Historical Association members.

For more information please call 956-541-5560 or email info@brownsvillehistory.org.