'Brave,' 'shocking': First reactions to Montgomery's new J. Marion Sims mural

Educators, medical professionals, historians, businesspeople and artists waited in a line that wound past a warning: “You may feel a little pressure.”

They stepped up in small groups and disappeared behind a white curtain streaked with red, on the patch of land in downtown Montgomery where, in the 19^th century, J. Marion Sims performed medical experiments on enslaved women. Artist Michelle Browder waited inside the small gallery to reveal her latest piece, which focuses on Sims’ legacy. Photography was not allowed.

At times, applause erupted from behind the curtain. More often, there was silence.

After emerging, a few visitors said they were left speechless by what they saw. Most who found the words described it as brave, shocking or inspiring.

“I can see the transformation,” said Dr. Susan Bradshaw, a physician specialist for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in California. “I see the transformation in art, how you can flip your narrative. Finally, we have an example of how we can make positive change in this country.”

Washington, D.C., artist Anne Bouie said she came away impressed on two levels: “(by) the commitment of Ms. Browder to see this through, and secondly, to transmute pain, horror and agony into dignity, respect and honor of ancestry, of things that women went through to get us here.”

There was limited space for the Saturday evening event at 33 South Perry St. and people had to register in advance. But the line of dozens kept growing throughout the night as people talked about what they saw.

More:Michelle Browder to unveil 'extreme' art at site of Sims' experiments on enslaved women

Browder, who created the Mothers of Gynecology Park at 17 Mildred St., said she plans to hold other limited public showings inside the mobile gallery over the next month before a wider public reveal and discussion of her expansion plans. A statue of Sims remains on the state Capitol grounds a few blocks away, recognizing him as “the father of modern gynecology.” Sims’ work has since been discredited by scholars, but the statue is protected from alteration by the state’s monuments law.

Musician and Downtown Business Association President Jonathan Avant said he was equally impressed by the piece and by the artist’s bravery.

“This type of bravery is what made Montgomery who we are right now,” Avant said. “This is why people come. This is why we have a tourism industry. Now you're seeing it in our day.”

Montgomery artist Kevin King, who recently completed a mural at the Equal Justice Initiative’s new Legacy Plaza, called Browder’s piece “provocative and controversial in a way that it needs to be in Montgomery.”

“The artist definitely modernized this particular piece,” King said. “I think everyone who walks in there can see themselves in one way or another. And for us as artists, we have to make things relevant to the culture in which we live. … I know they pulled it off. This is something that the whole world needs to see.”

Browder plans to announce future mural showings through her site, anarchalucybetsey.org.

Brad Harper covers business and local government for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him atbharper1@gannett.com