Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art, and Activism

Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art, and Activism showcases a variety of items from the life and artistry of Joan Baez. As a singer songwriter, Baez occupies a singular space in history, but her artistry extends into many facets of creativity, including poetry and visual art. Her ability to speak truth to power in the fight for social justice has always been guided by the principle of nonviolence, and her fearlessness makes her an enduring influence on artists and freedom fighters around the world.

Since appearing unannounced at the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, Joan Baez established her place as a pivotal part of the 1960s Folk Revival. She appeared numerous times at the iconic Club 47 in Cambridge, performed at Woodstock in 1969, and introduced Bob Dylan to the world by inviting him to open her concerts. A voice of hope to the people, Baez stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington. Her social justice advocacy extended beyond the Civil Rights Movement to protest the Vietnam War and promote equal rights for women, the LGBTQ+ community, and other disenfranchised parts of society.

The artistry of Joan Baez expands beyond music to include painting and her recently published book of poems When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance: Poems. This exhibition celebrates all her artistic endeavors and activism as it extends Joan Baez’s invitation to the world to continue sharing her message of peace, equality, and social justice.

This exhibit will be on display at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame March – July, 2025