John Rhoden Exhibit  John Schlia 

John Rhoden Exhibit at Memorial Art Gallery

March 28, 2026 - August 23, 2026​

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The Memorial Art Gallery newest major exhibition, Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden, now on view through August 23. The exhibition traces the career of African American artist John Walter Rhoden (1916–2001), one of the most prolific sculptors of the twentieth century, bringing together works that span several decades. 

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MAG has partnered with Garth Fagan Dance and Floating Home Films to explore the relationship between stillness and movement. Responding to the rhythmic qualities often attributed to Rhoden’s work, PJ Pennewell, Artistic Director of Garth Fagan Dance, created a series of short, original movements inspired by five sculptures in the exhibition. These performances, screened within the exhibition, offer an alternative to traditional interpretive labels—inviting visitors to experience the sculptures through motion, gesture, and narrative. 

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Each piece unfolds as a brief story in movement, performed by Garth Fagan Dance artists Sabrina Shiman, Kiara Jolié Haywood, Daria Clarke, Janalyce Lane, Raea Moorehead, Charlie Curran, and Jahkim Hodge-Price. Produced in collaboration with filmmaker Alex Weiser, this special presentation introduces a dynamic, multi-perspective way to engage with Rhoden’s work.