Black art is alive and well

Art Business News, Feb, 2005 by Lyndsey Walker

The popularity of African American art is stronger than ever, as evidenced by the many recent and current black art exhibits and events that are helping to celebrate Black History Month (February).

* HARTFORD, CT -- "African Art, African Voices: Long Steps Never Broke a Back," is on exhibit at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art beginning Feb. 12 through June 19. The exhibit features approximately 150 works dating from the 19th century to present day, grouped according to culture of origin, and is intended to transport visitors to the African markets, palaces, shrines, streets, and countryside, with audio guides, video installations and computer stations. In the diverse African societies, art is central to daily life, as the art may serve as symbols or metaphors, as community mediators, as medicine or talismans, or as dwellings for spirits. Many of the works featured include carved masks and sculptures from Western Africa; beaded jewelry from Kenya; gold weights from Ghana; regalia for masquerades from the Yoruba, Dan and Mende; hunter and warrior shirts of the Mande; hand-woven fabrics from Cameroon; and royal thrones from its Kom Kingdom.

The exhibition begins with a three-day festival, "Miawoezor!," Feb. 11-13.

* CINCINNATI, OH -- The Contemporary Arts Center presents, "Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti," through March 6. The exhibit explores the influential and artistic legacy of the legendary Nigerian Afrobeat musician and activist who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1997, and features a diverse range of artists, including Radcliffe Bailey, Sanford Biggers, Kara Walker, Alfredo Jaar and Mayo Ogundipe. The participating artists do not necessarily agree with Fela's legacy, philosophies, or actions, but they all have been influenced by his life and their works reflect the many issues surrounding it.

* ATLANTA -- The High Museum of Art has announced the establishment of the David C. Driskell Prize, the first national award to honor and celebrate contributions to the field of African American art and art history. The prize, which will be given on March 7, is named after David C. Driskell, a renowned African American artist and scholar whose work spans more than four decades. The award will be presented to an individual in the beginning or middle of his/her career, whose work represents an original and important contribution to African American art or art history, and one that is generating work that has not been fully recognized within their discipline. The award includes $25,000 and the Driskell prize.

"The High Museum is launching this award to bring attention to the important work taking place by artists and scholars in the field of African American art, and to share their work with Atlanta and the broader community," explains Michael Shapiro, director. "Creating this prize in David's name is a wonderful way to honor the significant work he has done as a scholar, educator and arist, and reflects the High's ongoing commitment to scholarship and creativity in this important area."

The museum identified 40 nominators--artists, museum professionals, art historians, collectors, and academics--from throughout the United States and each nominated two individuals for the award. The selection committee then selected a single winner.

* NEWARK, DE -- Paul Jones, a lifelong collector who has accumulated more than 1,000 works of art by noted black artists, has donated his collection to the University of Delaware. "A Century of African American Art: The Paul Jones Collection," will be on view through June 1 at the University Museums. Jones wanted to promote the study of African American influence across a broad spectrum of culture in this country.

Jones was inspired by the vast under-representation of African American art in public collections. He then identified a number of young artists he wanted to support and purposefully sought them out. The emerging artists of decades past can now be counted among today's most respected painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors, including Charles White, David Driskell, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Selma Burke and Earl Hooks. Over the years, Jones has collected works ranging in a variety of mediums and stylistic periods.

"We are so very pleased and honored that in the university's outstanding programs in art, art history, art conservation, black American studies and museum studies, Paul Jones has seen an appropriate home for his collection" says David P. Roselle, president of the University of Delaware.

Paul Jones will be one of the honorees at the National Conference of Artists celebrating Black Arts History Makers on Feb. 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Feb. 5 at Columbia University.

* The first annual Off the Main show, a black art fair for contemporary African, Caribbean and Latin American art, was held in October at New York's Puck Building. The event attracted 40-plus exhibitors representing more than 200 emerging and established artists from 20 African nations. Several of the nation's top galleries dealing in black art were also present. With all the buzz that was created, many believe it will draw even more collectors and art lovers in the future.