If Gastonia native John Biggers (1924-2001) was alive today, he might give us the following advice about interpreting his art: “It’s all in there – you just have to look.” Until now, visitors to The Mint Museum have not had the opportunity to see a significant body of Biggers’ work. This exhibition, featuring 12 important paintings, drawings and prints, as well as a rare example of the artist’s sculpture, will give them the opportunity to do so. Through the use of a rich symbolic language and beautiful craftsmanship, Biggers found connections between personal, familial, and regional histories, traditions, symbols, which he wove together to articulate broader cultural and historical concerns. Themes would remain central to his work throughout his career are prevalent in the works in the exhibition, most notably the importance of women and family and the power of the human spirit to triumph over adversity. This spotlight show was organized by The Mint Museum and will remain on view into 2017.
