A Conversation with the artist Jeremy Okai Davis, Gwen Carr and Tammy Jo Wilson

Space for this free event is limited. A RSVP is kindly requested to reserve your seat.

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 1-2pm
The Bush Barn Art Center & Annex opens at 12pm on Saturdays. We invite you to come early or stay to view the portraits in the A.N. Bush Gallery. 

Please join us for a panel discussion with artist Jeremy Okai Davis who has spent the last three years working on portraits of Oregon Black Pioneers commissioned by the Salem Art Association and Bush House Museum. The conversation will explore Okai Davis’ own research and process and discuss how the project came to be realized and the future of the project. 

Panel participants:

Jeremy Okai Davis, Artist, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon

Tammy Jo Wilson, Exhibit Curator, Director of Bush House Museum Exhibits & Programming

Gwen Carr, Oregon Black Pioneers Emeritus

These portraits are now proudly part of the BHM Permanent Collection, reflecting our commitment to reinventing and reimagining the Bush House Museum. As curators of this historic site, we recognize the importance of acknowledging the harm Asahel Bush caused to people of color in our state. At the same time, we are actively addressing the underrepresentation of people of color in permanent collections, including our own, and see this as a vital step toward creating a more inclusive and representative museum.

This exhibition aims to challenge the dominant historical narratives that have long sidelined the contributions of Black Americans, reaffirming the importance of inclusivity in our cultural archives. Each portrait is a declaration of presence–a reminder that these individuals existed and deserve recognition and that their stories are fundamental to the fabric of our society.

As we engage with these portraits and the lives they commemorate, we are challenged to reconsider how we discuss our past. This work by Davis is instrumental in enhancing our understanding of history and prompting important conversations about representation, inclusion, and the enduring effects of systemic disparities. By remembering and honoring the experiences of those who have been denied their place in museum exhibitions and cultural narratives, we not only enrich our collective history but also empower future generations to embrace a more equitable and compassionate society. This exhibition is a celebration of their legacies and a call to acknowledge and amplify the diverse mosaic of experiences that define our shared heritage.