TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 8-14, 2022 4
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The Lewis Latimer House Museum
opened a new spring exhibition
on April 2 featuring works
from Flushing native and artist
Dario Mohr.
“Blood is Thicker than the Water
that Separated U.S.” is on display
at the Lewis Latimer House
Museum, located at 34-41 137th St.,
now through July 3.
Inspired by family migration,
Black excellence, and Lewis Latimer’s
contributions to science
through light, “Blood is Thicker
than the Water that Separated
U.S.” is Mohr’s solo exhibition
that features a series of darkroom,
projection and LED light inspired
works.
“We are thrilled to feature
Dario Mohr for a solo exhibition at
the Lewis Latimer House Museum
in 2022 spring. The show amplifies
the artist’s lineage and vision
in a way that plays with light and
thus connects to the history of the
museum and Black inventor Lewis
Latimer’s story,” said Ran Yan, executive
director of Latimer House
Museum. “Its theme in exploring
one’s ancestry, family migration,
identity and pride will resonate
with the diverse Queens and NYC
communities today.”
According to Mohr, who refers
to Latimer as a hero, the inventor
was a successful Black Renaissance
man at a time when people of
color had fewer opportunities.
“Like him, I have a lot of creative
interests and also grew up in
Flushing, Queens, not far from his
residence,” Mohr said.
Mohr’s artwork draws on his
own challenges to connect with his
West African heritage and identity
as a first-generation Grenadian
American.
“This series is in honor of my
heritage that my recent ancestors
lost recollection of,” Mohr said.
Through his work, Mohr seeks
to address the gap that exists between
those who were historically
held captive and other U.S. citizens,
while representing the plight of
many African Americans and Caribbean
American people who have
assimilated to European culture
out of survival.
“I hope that this project engages
my BIPOC audience members who
may be in a similar situation, and
inspires them to uncover family
myths and blind spots, providing a
sense of closure for the reclamation
of ancestral identity,” Mohr said.
The exhibition will remain
on view during museum hours
through July 3. The museum plans
to also host an artist talk with
Mohr, to provide the audience with
a deep dive into his creative process,
at a date to be announced.
The exhibition is made possible
in part by the Queens Council on
the Arts and by public funds from
the NYC Department of Cultural
Affairs in partnership with the
City Council.
Flushing artist opening new exhibition
at Lewis Latimer House Museum
AT LEFT: Flushing native and artist Dario Mohr at the Lewis Latimer House Museum. AT RIGHT: “Revelations
through Generations” (2022). Digital collage on PVC, LED light. Photos courtesy of Lewis Latimer House Museum
/QNS.COM
