The Gospel and the Storefront Church

Name/Title

The Gospel and the Storefront Church

Entry/Object ID

MG.008

Description

Cultural Celebrations

Collection

Jos Sances

Made/Created

Artist

Mildred Howard

Date made

1984

Dimensions

Height

18 in

Width

14 in

Dimension Notes

13.75x9.75. Needs backing

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This print played a role in Mildred Howard’s first major installation work: a storefront gospel church in Mill Valley evoking the African American sense of identity. Printed in an edition of 800, this fan – representing the widespread use of fans in Black churches – was both part of the exhibition and an advertisement. Over the years, printer Jos Sances has continued to assist with Howard’s projects. Printmaking for an installation is wholly different from Gráfica’s more common use of screenprint as advertisement or advocacy tool. It points to the wide diversity of approaches, communities, and individual artists connected to Gráfica; while the center is based in Latino culture, the reach of Gráfica has never been contained in one single community.