Adelphi University Presents “Amani Willett: Underground Railroad”

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Jan. 20, 2015 - PRLog -- The Adelphi University Exhibitions Program and the Center for African, Black and Caribbean Studies Program is pleased to present a captivating exhibition featuring more than 15 works by artist and photographer Amani Willett. Underground Railroad: Hiding in Place is a showcase of its legacy and the resulting blurred lines between myth and history, illustrating the ambiguous relationship between physical spaces, circumstantial evidence and lore. This exhibition will be on view in the Ruth S. Harley University Center Gallery, One South Avenue, Garden City, NY, from Tuesday, January 20 through Friday, February 27, 2015. A reception will be held on Sunday, February 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Underground Railroad began as a personal exploration and evolved into an investigation into the way history, memory and mythology have been etched into Underground Railroad sites. These places have become disconnected from their past yet still carry the legacy of shameful societal atrocities and stories of remarkable personal courage. As the years passed, the mythology of the Underground Railroad has grown; some original accounts have become exaggerated, overshadowed by our fascination with mystery and easily digestible history. Willett comes to believe that the way we, as a society, have chosen to remember or reconstruct our past is just as informative and important as the truth.

Amani Willett is an artist and photographer based in Brooklyn, NY. He received his MFA in photography, video and related media from the School of Visual Arts. In 2013 his first monograph, Disquiet, was published by Damiani, with an essay by Marvin Heiferman. Disquiet was noted for its unique approach to story-telling and was included on many year-end “best of” lists.

A long-term member of the iN-PUBLiC collective of photographers, Amani’s photographs have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including the Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography, in Detroit, MI; and the Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York. He has lectured at various institutions: International Center of Photography, the Camera Club of New York, The School of Visual Arts and Howard Greenberg Gallery.

To view glimpses of the works online, please visit art-galleries.adelphi.edu.The Ruth S. Harley University Center Gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To receive updates, find us on facebook under “Adelphi Galleries”.