6abc Loves the Arts: “Tactile: Storytelling Through Feel and Texture” on view through March 31

The Museum of African American Art Collections, known as the MAAAC, has work from seven collectors on view now at the Germantown Historical Society.

“This exhibition is titled ‘Tactile: Storytelling Through Feel and Texture,'” says William S. Jiggetts, art collector, curator of the exhibition and founder of the MAAAC.

Jiggetts loaned five works for the show, including Nail Head by artist Richard Gaines.

After collecting for more than 30 years, Jiggetts decided to take his private collection public by creating the MAAAC.

“Because I have more art than walls,” he says. “I wanted my art to get out, to be seen.”

And he convinced other collectors to do the same.

“We have all the great artists, all the great artworks. They’re in our homes and we are the stewards of this part of the culture,” he says.

There are about 30 pieces in the show.

“They range from paintings, collage, fabric work, sculpture in various mediums,” he says.

And the materials, not just the images, are part of the storytelling.

Jiggetts says Nail Head has “over 300 carpenter nails” in the work.

“And it’s representative of how the African American male feels the need to be hard, to look hard,” he says. “This is the mask we have to wear.”

Exhibition highlights include work from artist Lorrie Payne.

“She’s pretty famous for these beautiful dolls, and the collector is Deborah Stephens,” says Jiggetts.

The Craig Family Foundation loaned a commissioned piece from artist Bisa Butler.

“There’s an Elizabeth Catlett sculpture, Mother and Child,” says Jiggetts.

The public display of private works is a rare chance to see this art from both local and emerging artists.

“At the moment, the MAAAC is decentralized, so it moves around,” he says. “The next one will be somewhere else, showing something else.”

And admission is free to hopefully cultivate some new collectors.

“Art collecting is accessible,” says Jiggetts. “You can do it.”

“Tactile: Storytelling Through Feel and Texture” is on view through March 31 at the Germantown Historical Society.

For more information:
Museum of African American Art Collections (MAAAC) – “Tactile: Storytelling Through Feel and Texture”
Germantown Historical Society

Germantown Historical Society
5501 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19144