MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.- Memphis Brooks Museum of Art has acquired a series of photographs by acclaimed contemporary artist Fred Wilson. Wilson, who won a MacArthur "Genius" Award in 1999 and represented the U.S in the last Venice Biennale, is known for his projects that challenge museums to question how they address race, gender, and their representation in exhibitions. Going into collection storage, he selects objects, many of which have rarely been exhibited, and places them on view in a way that encourages viewers to think about museums and the work they exhibit. He says of his projects, "My work with museums is a critique on many different levels-a critique of traditional subject matter, of the notion of exhibition, of the museum as an institution, and by extension, of the society in which museums exist."

Twenty photographs make up the series, Old Salem: A Family of Strangers, 1995, in which Wilson photographed 19th and 20th century dolls found in the collection of the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts, Winston-Salem. The folk dolls, that had rarely been shown, represented the marginalized "other" within the Salem community. When Wilson photographed the dolls he used the techniques of traditional, formal portraiture, creating the illusion that the portraits were of human sitters.

Through his work, Wilson sets up situations that encourage viewers to think in new ways. He does not offer answers, but encourages viewers to explore their own assumptions about art. "We are thrilled to acquire this important series of photographs by Fred Wilson. Old Salem: A Family of Strangers is an incredibly compelling work of art; the viewer is immediately captivated by the strange beauty of the figures and at the same time curious about the stories behind the silent people who made the dolls," states Brooks director, Kaywin Feldman.

Following a growing trend in American museums, the Brooks jointly purchased Old Salem: A Family of Strangers, 1995 with the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA). This is the first time the Brooks has joined with another institution in this creative new collaborative format developed to help confront the ever-increasing costs of fine art. "This acquisition with Birmingham is another example of the Brooks Museum's creative and effective collaborations," said Feldman. The BMA generously lent their half of the series so that the complete installation could be unveiled at the Brooks, which will be on view from July 1 through October 16.