21 september 1968 & final day of alma thomas' solo exhibit

#OTD 21 September 1968 This was the last day of Alma Thomas’ solo exhibition at the Franz Bader Gallery (2124 Pennsylvania Ave, NW). The gallery (and bookstore) opened on 29 March 1954 by Bader (white). It was a popular exhibition space for artists in the city. Thomas’ exhibit was free and open to the public.

In the above photograph, see the art work behind Thomas’ left shoulder. It appears to be the same painting featured on the exhibition poster. Click here to see the poster.

This photograph appeared in the Washington Daily News, 30 August. Alma Thomas is in the Franz Bader gallery with Chuck, her grand nephew, on 29 August.

Your comments are welcome below. Did you see the exhibit? Were you one of the dozen or so Washingtonians who bought a painting or watercolor? What do you remember about the Franz Bader Gallery? You may comment privately here.

Photo source: Courtesy Archives of American Art, n.d. Photographer unknown. I took a photograph of the image from Alma Thomas exhibit catalog, Studio Museum in Harlem and the Frances Young and Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.