Portraits L-R: John Lewis, Kelsey Juliana, Michelle Alexander, Nicole & Jonas Maines, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, & Diane Wilson

A major exhibit of Robert Shetterly’s Americans Who Tell the Truth portraits opened in Charlottesville, Virginia in mid-January 2020. Multiple organizations are participating including the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Charlottesville High School, City Space on the Downtown Mall, the Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights Office at UVA, the McIntire School of Commerce, and The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative.

Many thanks to our sponsors:  The McIntire School of Commerce • Jefferson School African American Heritage Center • The Hartfield Foundation • UVA Arts • Charlottesville High School • The Fralin Museum of Art • Chris and Cathy Kramer • UVA Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • UVA Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights • CitySpace • Hampton Inn • And many generous individuals!

People interested in supporting the Charlottesville exhibits can go to the AWTT Donate page. Americans Who Tell the Truth is a registered 501(c)3  organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.

EXHIBITION: 

Jan. 18 – Apr. 18, 2020

• A Place Fit for Women: The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center features 14 paintings of African American women and commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment, Jan. 18 – Apr. 18, 2020.

Jan. 18 – Mar. 31, 2020

• Created Equal: Portraits of Civil Rights Heroes:  Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello celebrates the lives of 3 iconic civil rights figures, Jan. 18 – Mar. 31, 2020.
  • Robert H. and Clarice Smith Gallery at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center | FREE 

Feb. 3 – 27, 2020

• Youth Speaking Truth: Charlottesville High School and the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center feature 8 of Shetterly’s portraits alongside 120 Charlottesville High School Student paintings of their truth-tellers, Feb. 3 – 27, 2020.

Feb. 3 – 29, 2020

• The Truth to Climate Change: City Space on the Downtown Mall explores various ways that environmental activists have worked to protect our natural resources, Feb. 3 – 29, 2020.

Mar. 2 – Apr. 10, 2020

• Americans Who Tell the Truth @ Charlottesville: UVA’s Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights Office, along with UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, honor 8 eight civil rights activists with a portrait gallery at UVA-EOCR Washington Hall, Hotel B, Mar. 2 – Apr. 10, 2020. 

Mar. 2 – Apr. 10, 2020

• Portraits of Change: The UVA McIntire School of Commerce highlights leadership in business and commerce, Mar. 2 – Apr. 10, 2020.

Mar. 6 – 29, 2020

• Youth Speaking Truth: The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative featuring 7 of Shetterly’s portraits alongside 120 Charlottesville High School Student paintings of their truth-tellers, Mar. 6 – 29, 2020.

More information about this and other events around the exhibit will be forthcoming.

EVENTS: 

• Saturday, January 18, 2020 | 6:00pm
  • ✴✴ Opening Reception at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center | FREE ✴✴
    Gallery Talk by Artist Robert Shetterly | 7:00pm
• Friday, February 7, 2020 | 5:00 - 7:00pm
  • ✴✴ First Fridays Opening at City Space | FREE ✴✴

• Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | 4:30pm-6:30pm
  • ✴✴ Closing Reception at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center | FREE ✴✴
    • Gallery Talk by Artist Robert Shetterly * CHS Students | 5:30pm
• Friday, February 28, 2020 | 5:30pm-7:00pm
  • ✴✴ One Earth, One Chance: Activists Discuss Climate Change ✴✴
    • Panel Discussion & Reception at City Space | FREE 
      Featuring local heroes John Hunter and David Swanson along with portrait subjects, Sherri Mitchell, Kelsey Juliana, and Diane Wilson. Moderated by artist Robert Shetterly.
• Sunday, March 1, 2020 | 3:00pm-5:00pm
  • ✴✴ American History: Activists Tell The Story ✴✴
    • Panel Discussion at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center | FREE
      Featuring portrait subjects Sherri Mitchell, Bree Newsome, and Reverend Lennox Yearwood, as well as artist Robert Shetterly. Moderated by Professor Brian Balogh of BackStory.
• Friday, March 6, 2020 | 5:30pm-9:30pm
  • ✴✴ First Friday Reception at the The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative | FREE ✴✴

• CANCELLED: Thursday, March 26, 2020 | 4:30pm-6:30pm
  • ✴✴ Reception at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce | FREE ✴✴
• CANCELLED: Thursday, March 26, 2020 | 5:30pm-7:00pm
  • ✴✴ Reception at the UVA-EOCR Washington Hall, Hotel B  | FREE ✴✴

IN THE NEWS: 

• Robert Shetterly’s ‘Americans Who Tell the Truth’ opens in Charlottesville Jan. 18 from the Augusta Free Press • January 17, 2020
  • READ HERE >
• Americans Who Tell The Truth: An Interview with Robert Shetterly on Charlottesville Inside Out by VPM • January 18, 2020 
  • WATCH HERE >
• "A Place Fit for Women" exhibit on display from CBS19 News • January 18, 2020
  • WATCH HERE >
• Conversation starter: Zyahna Bryant is the newest addition to “Americans Who Tell the Truth” series • By Erin O'Hare of C-VILLE Weekly • March 4, 2020
  • READ HERE >
• Questions of unity between activist groups dominate social justice panel • By Mackenzie Williams of Cavalier Daily •  March 3, 2020
  • READ HERE >
• “Youth Speaking Truth: Americans Who Tell the Truth” exhibit opens in Charlottesville • By Moriah Davis of NBC29 • March 6, 2020
  • WATCH HERE>
• Getting real: CHS students join Robert Shetterly in truth-teller exhibition • C-VILLE Weekly • March 11, 2020
  • READ HERE >

PORTRAIT SUBJECTS IN THE NEWS: 

• LocalSYR.Com: 8,000 Local Students To See Syracuse Stage’s Backstory, ‘So Journey to the Truth’
  • READ HERE >
• New York Times: Want to Do Something About Climate Change? Follow the Money by Lennox Yearwood Jr. and Bill McKibben
  • READ HERE >