One year after the not-guilty verdict in the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is offering itself as a space to heal.
"Art and Healing: In the Moment," a new exhibition at the museum, will open June 17 in response to the death of Castile, 32, who was shot by a St. Anthony police officer during a traffic stop in 2016.
After the shooting, artists began making work about Castile. The exhibition features 15 works of art — paintings, sculptures, video and a mural — by Sarah White, Angie Renee, Xiaolu Wang, Leon Wang and others.
The works were given to Castile's mother, Valerie Castile, who contacted the museum and offered to share them with the public.
"The work of these artists has made me feel like I'm not alone," she said. "There are times when I sit in my living room, grieving, but then I look around and see this art, and I know I'm not the only one affected by Philando's death. That's why I wanted this exhibition to happen — it's about connecting, reaching out, having a conversation."
The exhibition will continue through July 29 along with related programs about issues of injustice and reconciliation, including a talk June 22 by Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala.
The project dovetails with the museum's recent efforts to explore ways in which the arts can create empathy in a sharply divided society.
"We would not have been able to organize this exhibition without the support of our community," said Nicole Soukup, assistant curator of contemporary art. "It truly was a collaborative effort as we worked closely with the Castile family and an advisory panel to organize an exhibition we hope engages audiences in a relevant and meaningful way, holds space for our community, and creates opportunities for dialogue."
