The Monuments exhibit at Portland Art Museum is the largest retrospective ever collected on the enigmatic jazz icon, tapping into his intergalactic reach.
Complete with his infamous N.A.S.A application, his cosmic outfits, his records, films, trophies, disparate art works, sculptures and more – this exhibition marks an exploration into the Sun Ra’s idea of an “altered destiny,” of the utopian world of “outer space,” according to the Portland Art Museum.
Throughout the jazzman’s career, ideas of the beyond occupied a significant role. Co-curated by Libby Werbel, this one-of-a-kind exhibition compiles items that describe the story of the pioneering musician, through his fascination with outer space, interstellar enquiry, far-reaching philosophies and Afrofuturist enlightenment.
Including artefacts on loan from the University of Chicago, alongside the contributions of private collectors and fans, the Monuments exhibit is sure to entice and beguile fans of music and art alike. It runs until the January 27. Watch the trailer here:
