In the heart of Germantown, a century-old house stands as a testament to the enduring power of art and spirituality. This is the Colored Girls Museum, a place where the past, present, and future intertwine, and where the work of Pittsburgh-based artist Vanessa German has found a home. The museum, housed in a three-story, 140-year-old twin home, is dedicated to celebrating Black art, and it was here that German was invited to install her spiritual 'magic'.
The result is a captivating installation titled 'The House, the Oracle, and the Table', a spiritual triad that evokes the very essence of the house itself. German, who spells her name in lowercase letters, believes the universe is magical and never casual. This belief is reflected in her work, which is made from whimsical and serious found objects, such as a chandelier crystal used as a teardrop, and a hole in the forehead of a beadwork bust filled with amethyst crystals, representing wisdom.
The installation is a powerful statement on the house's history and its role as a sanctuary for Black art. German's request to remove everything from the living and dining rooms and paint the walls black was a bold move, one that Dubois, the museum's proprietor, initially found shocking. But it was a move that highlighted the theater within the house, a detail that many people often miss.
'The Oracle' is a large head of a woman, made mostly of beadwork and adorned with objects such as teapots and a braided necklace of bottle caps. It rests on 'The Table', a blue drop-leaf table carved with handprints suggesting a ritualistic laying on of hands. In the adjacent room, 'The House' is a large figure with three heads and an amorphous body composed of blue-stuffed fabric balls and blue-painted objects, including bottles, shoes, cups, and vases.
The three heads represent the past, present, and future of the house, and its essence has always been onsite, existing well before the foundation was poured. German believes the house is everything, and this belief is reflected in her work. Since the 2023 exhibition at Montclair, German has shown work on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a residency and exhibition at the University of Chicago, and a solo exhibition at the Speed Art Museum in Kentucky.
The Colored Girls Museum, despite its small size, holds outsized importance. German believes it locks into Philadelphia history, into an unbroken chain of power. It is a space where colored girls can be free, a place where, in the midst of all levels of unsafety, a safe haven exists. This is the magic of the house, and the magic of German's work.
'The House, the Oracle, and the Table' opened in June with a series of ritualistic performances by German. She is expected to return to the house in the fall for an artist talk, and says she will perform another ritual when the installation is unmounted. This is a powerful statement on the enduring nature of art and spirituality, and a testament to the power of the house as a canvas and a vehicle for expression.
In my opinion, German's work is a powerful reminder of the importance of art in our lives. It is a celebration of the past, present, and future, and a reminder of the power of the house as a sanctuary for Black art. What makes this particularly fascinating is the way German has used found objects to create a spiritual triad that is both whimsical and serious. From my perspective, this installation is a must-see for anyone interested in art, history, and spirituality.
