The Brooklyn Museum is presenting a stunning show named “Spike Lee: Creative Sources” in honour of the many inspirations that have shaped the filmmaker. Curated by Kimberli Gant and Indira A. Abiskaroon, the show offers a close-up view of Lee’s vast collection and a unique window into the various and linked sources that have driven his illustrious career.
The exhibition, which is housed in the museum in Lee’s hometown, features over 450 objects from the director’s personal collection and highlights his love of Black art, music, sports memorabilia, photography, and cinema history. Lee, who was well-known for his obsessive collecting style, famously said, “I could fill the Brooklyn Museum.” The exhibit is packed with a wide range of objects that perfectly capture the spirit of Lee’s artistic journey. Lee’s body of work is fundamentally interrelated. Among the artefacts on exhibit are rare 1968 Esquire issue starring Muhammad Ali and clips from key scenes in his iconic flicks.
Professor of film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Lee challenges guests to recite passages from Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in a cinematic conversation. In addition to paying tribute to Lee’s personal pantheon of significant individuals, the display forges a spiritual bond between the director and his most treasured possessions. Lee’s statement to The Guardian, “When I’m in my office, I’m looking at them, and they’re looking at me,” highlighted the close bond that exists between the artist and his collection.
Lee shows a great deal of respect for historical individuals, especially Black innovators such as the baseball stars of the Negro League and the boxing greats Jack Johnson and Joe Louis. Lee is energised by these hallowed athletes, who act as sacred conduits linking him to significant periods in Black American history. The exhibition, features images by James Van Der Zed, a photographer from the Harlem Renaissance, which usually hang on the walls outside Lee’s editing office, illuminates Lee’s methodical approach to filmmaking. These prints function as mood boards, providing a visual story that elucidates the aesthetics of Lee’s motion pictures.
“Spike Lee: Creative Sources” essentially reveals the director’s abiding respect for the past, nostalgia, and the tenacity of Black trailblazers. Lee has created a collection that demonstrates the enduring value of art and its capacity to retain communal memories by fusing these influences. The display, which resembles a Wunderkammer, allows guests to establish connections with the sublime, the ancestors, and the muses that have inspired Spike Lee’s remarkable career. With this immersive experience, the Brooklyn Museum offers visitors an engrossing voyage into the artistic tapestry of one of the most significant American filmmakers, fostering a deep appreciation for the nuanced layers that characterise Spike Lee’s legacy in film. The Brooklyn Museum will have the exhibition up until February 4th.
About Brooklyn Museum
Situated in New York City, the Brooklyn Museum is the second largest in the city, with 500,000 pieces in its collection. Founded in 1898, the museum struggled at first but, following significant restorations saw a revival in the late 20th century. Egyptian antiquities, European, African, Oceanic, and Japanese art, together with important American pieces by painters such as Rothko, Hopper, and O’Keeffe, are among the collections of note. The Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, which features repurposed architectural materials from all across New York City, is another highlight of the museum.
Sources:
- The Guardian
- Brooklyn Museum
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