[Swipe 👆] Gary Simmons’ “Ghost Reels” drawing installation will be on view in The Drawing Center stairwell through January 2018 [note: we are closed now for installation and reopen on Friday, April 14]. According to Simmons, the work reflects “the memories of actors that have been blurred in the history of Hollywood film . . . a kind of silence in both voice and visibility.” Here we explore the contributions of African American actors and musicians of the early 20th century. Abbie Mitchell Cook’s voice is one you’ve likely heard, even if you don’t know her name. A soprano opera singer and actress from the early 20th century, Mitchell originated the role of Clara in Porgy and Bess, and was the first to record the song “Summertime,” backed by George Gershwin, in 1935. Born Abriea Mitchell in 1884, Mitchell was raised by her aunt in Baltimore before attending vocal school in New York in 1897. She often collaborated with her husband, famed composer Will Marion Cook, and became known for ...