COLUMBUS, OH.- Celebrate Columbus’s Bicentennial with a historic journey of Columbus as seen through the eyes of artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. Songs for a New Millennium, 1812 – 2012: Works by Aminah Robinson Celebrating 200Columbus opened August 24 at Columbus Museum of Art. Created to coincide with the city’s Bicentennial celebration, this exhibition is a continuation of Aminah’s illustrative stories about family, community, and migration in Columbus.

“You have to understand that every chapter or body of work that I produce is connected to the next, and there is a body of work that will be connected to this piece. And that goes all the way back,” said Robinson.

The exhibition includes eight new works Robinson created to honor the Columbus Bicentennial. At the center of the exhibition is a large colorful map that outlines the history of the Poindexter Village on the near east side of Columbus, including the first schoolhouse, the home/ art studio of Cleetis Butler, and the original Isabella Ridgeway Home for the Aged. Based on the stories and memories of her beloved Uncle Alvin, Aminah preserves the history of a lively, populated community that changed dramatically over time.

“Aminah’s works draw deeply on her passion for history and storytelling,” said CMA Executive Director Nannette V. Maciejunes. “The oral histories that have been passed from generation to generation hold a great deal of truth for her and her work reflects her strong belief in preserving these stories. As we mark our city’s Bicentennial, I find it fitting to share with our community these works that beautifully illustrate Columbus’s rich history.”