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Robert Schiffhauer's portraits snake along the wall, 40 in all.
Some are of prominent leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, and others are of forgotten trailblazers, such as one of Texas' first black state senators, Matthew Gaines. All tell the story of a turbulent period influenced by America's 16th president.
The Texas A&M associate professor's exhibit, "Abolitionists, Abraham Lincoln and Reconstructors," is on display at the Brazos Valley African American Museum until March 31 as part of a celebration of black history.
"It's a personal passion," said Schiffhauer, who teaches a variety of art and architecture classes. "I love art history, and I love history history."
Wayne Sadberry stared at Matthew Gaines' purple and orange portrait Saturday and burst into a grin wider than the one sported by the life-sized Barack Obama cutout nearby. The curator of the Brazos Valley African American Museum marveled at what he called the "beauty of the unfolding story."
"That guy over there was elected with the help of white voters," he said, pointing at the grinning Obama. Then he tilted his head toward the Gaines portrait: "And that guy on the wall was also elected with the help of white voters. ... It takes people coming together to move us forward. It's beautiful."
Schiffhauer wanted to tell this story, of the men and women, black and white, free and slave, who lived during the tumultuous era that he said set the course that led to the steps of the Capitol, where the nation's first black president took the oath of office last month.
The exhibit features eight portraits of Lincoln, whom Schiffhauer calls America's greatest president. The teacher admires Lincoln's ability to better himself. Just as important to the display are the lesser-known figures, Schiffhauer said.
There's Blanche Kelso Bruce, a Mississippi Republican born of a white plantation owner and a black mother -- and freed by his father -- who became the first black to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. And Bass Reeves, a deputy U.S. marshal who, according to legend, knocked out his owner with his fist and fled toward Indian territory to claim freedom. And Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a black journalist who crusaded against lynching.
The artist used colored pencils, watercolor pencils, charcoal and more to create the pieces. "I don't like to get stuck with just one medium," he said. "You can get so comfortable and good with it that you have complete control. I don't like that. I like to explore every medium."
Last year, an exhibit by Schiffhauer of 50 portraits honoring civil rights leaders was displayed at the museum. Four portraits of Martin Luther King Jr. still stare back from a white board at the museum. Schiffhauer uses art to honor those he respects for their commitment to justice and fairness, he said.
"The overarching theme that connects all these exhibits I've been working on since 2004 is that they're all 'torchbearers' -- the people who led the way, fighting for equality," he said.
The portraits began in 2004 with a series honoring Charles Gordone, a Texas A&M professor who died in 1995. Gordone, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and stage actor, helped break down barriers in the entertainment industry. His widow, Susan Gordone, serves as Schiffhauer's archivist. The pair hope to someday have the portraits displayed permanently at Texas A&M University.
Schiffhauer grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., an industrial town near Scranton. His father's parents were German, and during the time between the world wars, there was much anti-German sentiment in the U.S. To avoid the stigma, his dad tried to enlist in the U.S. Army when he was 16 to prove his patriotism. Schiffhauer, 71, also felt some of the sting of bigotry growing up during World War II, he said.
He kept his thoughts to himself though, until he moved to New York to attend the Cooper Union Art and Architecture School. The school, coincidentally, is where Lincoln delivered a key speech as he campaigned against Steven Douglas.
In art, Schiffhauer says, he found his voice.
Related story: Locals recall time before integration
