The American Visionary Arts Museum is a unique and original center for showcasing art that is
particularly soulful and "…often may not even be thought of as ‘art’
by its creator." The Baltimore museum hosts a mega-exhibit each year that runs from October to the following
September. Earlier this fall AVAM’s 11th such exhibit opened to the public: Race, Class, Gender ≠
Character centers on the belief that the worth of a human is not based on his or her skin color, gender or
ethnicity. The show communicates, through a series of thought-provoking works, that what matters most is simply one’s
character, the inner being that makes each person tick. The exhibit features visionary expressions of this theme from
all corners of the globe — cultural celebrations of character through craftmanship include pieces made of cut-paper,
pipe cleaners and even trash. The exhibit is dedicated to the work of Lily Yeh, who transcended political, economic and
cultural boundaries to inspire the very poorest to establish "Eden-like" communities in North Philadelphia,
Nairobi, Kenya, and rural China. It’s an innovative and interactive showcase of visionary art that is sure to inspire
and interest museum-goers of all ages.