Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour
Large print labels and exhibition texts
This resource accompanies the exhibition 
Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour.

This walkthrough provides directions on how to move through the exhibition Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour. It identifies where key objects are located, and provides access to labels and wall text online. If you would like more in-depth verbal descriptions of the objects in this exhibition, please reach out to GroupsandTours@moma.org to request a guided tour.

At the exhibition’s entrance, to your left, there is a dark red wall with the title of the exhibition in large black letters, Issac Julien: Lessons of the Hour. Pass through the automatic sliding glass doors about three paces and the intro text is on the wall in front of you and slightly to your right.

If you rotate to the right from facing the introductory text, you will find a vertical case holding a black-and-white daguerreotype portrait of Frederick Douglass. Labels containing the work’s title and additional information are to the left of the portrait.

To go deeper into the exhibition, walk away from the glass doors (the red wall will be on your left) about eight paces. In this second small gallery you may notice the wallpaper that covers all three walls from floor to ceiling. A text label describes the wallpaper. Directly in front of you is an angled case with six objects inside. Each object has a label, some with additional information and context. Labels linked here identify objects from left to right. Above the case is a framed black and white photograph of Frederick Douglass with a label to its right.

Above the case is a black and white photograph.

When in front of the first case, you may hear the soundtrack of the video installation to your left. Turn right, with your back to the soundtrack, and walk four paces to the next case. This angled case contains 10 manuscript pages laid out in a horizontal row. The leftmost manuscript has a label underneath it.

From the manuscript case, turn around and walk back toward the sound of the videos, into the next room of the exhibition. After about seven paces, you will cross a threshold into a very dark space with plush red carpeting on the floor.

Just inside the threshold, on the left wall are credits and text with information about the video installation ahead. On the right wall is a label with basic information about the work of art, as well as information about how to access sound amplification and a video transcript. 

As you proceed further into the dark space, you will be entering the largest room of the exhibition. It has cushioned bench seating along its left wall and 10 large hanging screens on the right showing video projections. The screens are different sizes and hang at different heights.

Exit

When you’re ready to exit the exhibition, you may continue walking through the long dark room, keeping the videos on your right, to a red double door at the far end. You may also exit by retracing your steps back to the automatic sliding glass doors.