CHARLES WHITE LEONARDO DA VINCI Curated by David Hammons at MoMA - Staggering

There is a phenomenal exhibit at the MoMA CHARLES WHITE - LEONARDO DA VINCI curated by David Hammons in a gallery located on the 5th floor.  The entire gallery is painted a deep blue.  The gallery has only 2 paintings.  One is "Black Pope" (Sandwich Board Man) 1973 by Charles White and across from this painting is "The drapery of a keeling figure" 1491-1494 by Leonardo Da Vinci.  The wall that connects these two is covered by astrological charts which in & of themselves are not compelling.  But ask yourself, prior to reading Hammons' intriguing curation, what is Hammons' intent and what am I responding to with the vastly different paintings made more than 500 years apart.  And, what to make of all the astrological charts?  Charles White's (b Amer 1918-1979) large oil wash on board is of a black clergy in sunglasses wearing a sandwich board with the word NOW.  His hand is flashing the peace sign.  Atop the painting is the only other discernible word Chicago, the artist's birthplace.  Of course, Chicago today is a war zone of killings & shootings in a very underserved and impoverished sector.  White's work is sanctimonious with swagger.  Da Vinci's brush & black ink on blue prepared paper is a much smaller work.  The figure only shows the flowing robes of a religious cleric.  Da Vinci alludes to repressive religious norms. (This piece is on loan from the Royal Collection by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.)  Kudos to Hammons for having the clout to bring this priceless piece to the MoMA.  What's imposing in the gallery is the erudite relationship Hammons summons from the 2 significant works and the astrological charts.  Both artists share the Aries sign but, on a higher plateau, the two diverse artists share similar concerns for the epoch in which they lived.  I don't believe the stars need to align to draw parrallels between these two artists but it is significant to consider their celestial omnipotence.   Sadly, the gallery seemed to be a mere pass through for most museum goers who didn't pause before either painting.  Pity, because the devotion by both artists for their craft & their influential legacies deserves contemplation and veneration.