The Whitney Museum's exhibition 'Edges of Ailey' celebrates the renowned dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, highlighting his cultural impact. Artistic director Robert Garland reflects on the emotional resonance of the exhibit, which features footage of his cousin, Deborah Manning, performing Ailey's work. The showcase interweaves Ailey's artistry with broader themes of Black cultural survival, commemorating significant moments such as Juneteenth. Garland emphasizes the need for representation in both dance and visual art, underscoring the importance of Ailey's legacy and influence in American culture.
The Whitney exhibition-full of wonderful cultural cross-referencing between Mr. Ailey's own work and that of other artists-was done in the most breathtakingly beautiful and complete way.
Through his work, Mr. Ailey brought to the world a culture that had survived the Middle Passage, slavery, and Jim Crow.
Mr. Ailey was brilliant in that he pulled something out of my cousin that I had never seen before, even after having danced together at the Philadelphia Dance Company.
Like dance, visual art is about representation. The institutions of both dance and visual art must recognize and celebrate the cultural tapestry they explore.
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