We look forward to sharing more information about this gallery exhibition soon!
The little-known story of Benjamin Lay, an eighteenth-century Quaker dwarf who fiercely attacked slavery and imagined a new, more humane way of life, will be told for live, theatrical audiences in the Shiner this Spring.
Simultaneously, in our Dilenschnider Gallery, we will be showcasing an exhibit diving deeper into the remarkable life of this singular and astonishing man. One of the first ever to demand the total, unconditional emancipation of all enslaved Africans around the world, Benjamin Lay performed public guerrilla theater to shame slave masters, insisting that human bondage violated the fundamental principles of Christianity. He wrote a fiery, controversial book against bondage that Benjamin Franklin published in 1738. He lived in a cave, made his own clothes, refused to consume anything produced by slave labor, championed animal rights, and embraced vegetarianism. He acted on his ideals to create a new, practical, revolutionary way of life, and inspired future generations to fight for freedom and radically live their values.
We look forward to sharing an exhibit of contemporary interpretations of Lay's significance with you!
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