Too few Richmonders know the name Amaza Lee Meredith (1895 – 1984). Thanks in part to an important and timely new show at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, that may soon change.
A pathbreaking architect and educator, Meredith is the first queer black woman known to practice as an architect in America. She designed and realized several important early American modernist structures in Virginia and New York. Active from the 1930s through the 70s, Meredith worked at a time when segregation was the law of the land and gates of profession were shut against most women and African Americans.
The ICA show, titled “Dear Mazie,” examines Meredith’s life and work through architectural drawings, archival photographs and writings, and newly commissioned works of art. Special attention is given to “Azurest South,” the architect’s own home adjacent to the campus of Virginia State University near Petersburg, Virginia. Here, she lived until her death in 1984 with her partner Dr. Edna Meade Colson. Meredith, an alumna of the university, founded the art department and taught there for decades. The house is now occupied by the school’s alumni association.
Curated by and designed in collaboration with AD-WO, an architectural practice in New York City, “Dear Mazie” presents the work of the architect and the commentary of the artists in parallel, creating a constructive dialogue between present and past. A large, perforated partition covered with an enormous drawing of the elevation of Azurest South, dividing the space lengthwise while giving some sense of the scale of the architect’s works. Clever use is also made of the ground floor gallery window at the ICA, which has been modified to approximate the view from the windows at Azurest South.
Sculptures, paintings, and large scale installation and video pieces were produced by artists include Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Kapwani Kiwanga, Abigail Lucien, Practise (a partnership of artists James Goggin and Shan James), Tschabalala Self and Cauleen Smith. The collective known as The Black School, operated by Joseph Cuillier and Shani Peters, contributed an interactive piece with furniture, a small library, and information about the group’s own public art and design education project underway in New Orleans–an echo of Meredith’s work decades in the past.
“Dear Mazie” is a strong, stimulating statement. It is also mandatory viewing for anyone concerned with the architectural history of greater Richmond. The exhibit is on view through March 9th, 2025.
DOK
Venue: VCU Institute of Contemporary Art
Dates: Sep 6, 2024 – Mar 9, 2025
Link: Dear Mazie at the ICA
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