The Spy was able to determine that the Ruth Starr Rose art exhibition, which was one of Mid-Shore’s major art events in Easton a few months ago, is now on display at the Salisbury University Galleries.
Ruth Starr Rose (1887-1965) was a prolific painter, printmaker, and draughtswoman active on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A white artist, she is best known for her thoughtful and honest visual interpretations of African American people in her local community. Rose’s works include scenes of Eastern Shore life and labor, visual depictions of “Negro” spirituals, and images of military heroes. This exhibition also includes archival material highlighting Rose’s correspondence with 20th century artists such as Paul Robeson, DuBose Heyward, and Mabel Dwight.
The life of Ruth Starr Rose provides an interesting backstory to the exhibition. Her artistic achievements, which are largely unrecognized, include significant work as the creator of the largest visual representation of African American spirituals as noted in 1956 by How ard University Art Professor James A. Porter. Rose traveled the world and documented daily life and religious festivals of Native Americans in New Mexico and Florida. She was comfortable living among diverse people and created similar works with local populations of Mexico and Haiti. She left an important legacy of hand-written notes describing the people whom she portrayed, along with a collection of studies illustrating her creative process in lithography. Rose’s work has remained in obscurity because she was unjustly dismissed as an amateur, and misunderstood as a socialite out of touch with the local community. Rose struggled with her vulnerability in an isolated, male-dominated world and found peace with the African American community. The subjects of Rose’s work are recorded with a familiarity and intimacy seldom seen in early 20th century America.
August 29-October 29 Fulton Hall, University Gallery
August 29-December 2 Guerrieri Academic Commons, Nabb Center, Thompson Gallery
Salisbury University
Downtown Campus
212 West Main Street
Thur & Fri: 2pm to 7pm
all other times by appointment
University Gallery
Fulton Hall 109
Mon – Thurs: 10am to 5pm
Fri – Sat: 12pm to 4pm
all other times by appointment
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