The Des Moines Art Center is gaining national recognition for spotlighting up and coming young artists from across the country. The latest in the group is Rhode Island native Ellen Gallagher. He first solo U-S museum exhibition opens today in Des Moines. Her sculpture looks like a jungle gym — but a closer look reveals it contains tiny images of stereotypical African-American faces.The walls surrounding the jungle gym contain pictures of wig advertisements from “Ebony” magazine. Gallagher says they show how wigs were once used to hide or cover traditional African-American hairstyles.Gallagher says her work isn’t intended to make a glaring statement, but rather to entice you to look a little closer and investigate.Gallagher’s exhibit runs through August 5th. Admission to the Des Moines Art Center is free.
