Changing History

Mirrored tiles, wood branded with politically charged symbols, LPs, books, chairs, rugs and mounds of slowly melting shea butter are just a few of the materials that New York-based artist Rashid Johnson layers into his complex sculptural works. Some hang on walls; others, like the installation called “The Shea Butter Irrigation System,” actually seep into their surroundings over time. Rashid Johnson: New Growth, which comes to MCA Denver from the Marfa Ballroom in Texas, brings all this and more to the museum in new configurations.

“He uses a lot of familiar objects to talk about potentially difficult issues regarding race,” notes MCA curator Nora Abrams of Johnson, the son of a college professor, who was raised on book learning rather than street culture and whose work challenges African-American stereotypes. “He tries to demonstrate that African-American experience is incredibly diverse and not singular — it’s a plurality of experience,” Abrams adds. To do this, Johnson incorporates texts and loaded symbols (for instance, the crosshairs symbol popularized by the rappers Public Enemy), while also channeling bits and pieces of African roots and lore.

New Growth opens with a public reception from 8 to 10 p.m. this evening at the MCA, 1485 Delgany Street, and runs through June 15; admission tonight is one thin dime (or free for members). For details, go to mcadenver.org or call 303-298-7554.

Fri., Feb. 21, 8-10 p.m.; Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Feb. 21. Continues through June 15, 2014