Visions Of Black America

American Visions, Dec, 1998 by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

Golden walls with silver-leaf panels cast a warm glow. Long black wire figures seem suspended in air, and handwritten messages on shiny silver paper whisper words of wisdom. "What's gold about the gold in goldsboro," by Sheila Batiste, is part of the Studio Museum in Harlem's annual artists-in-residence program, and it's just one of the myriad programs, events and workshops that have characterized the museum since its founding in 1968. It's also one of seven exhibits celebrating the museum's 30th anniversary.

"From the Studio: Artists-in-Residence, 1997-1998," on display through February 28, introduces a new generation of African-American artistic genius. It juxtaposes Batiste's multimedia environmental explorations, Brett Cook-Dizney's vivid portrait murals, and the bold symbolism and imagery of Julio Valdez's multimedia paintings and prints to make a wonderfully composed collection of artistic ideas that any creative mind will appreciate.

Batiste, Cook-Dizney and Valdez received yearlong stipends and studio space at the museum to aid them in completing a collection of works. These awards exemplify what the museum has done successfully for three decades: It has supported African-American artists directly through exhibitions, and it has built an awareness of the impact of African-American art on Americans' overall artistic vision.

Also on display through February, "Selected Works From the Permanent Collection" (the second exhibit of the 30th-anniversary series) features the works of Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Sam Gilliam and Hale Woodruff, who have had close working relationships with the museum. The 1,600-piece collection visually recounts the artistic growth of these artists. The diversity of these four masters makes this exhibit a sensory delight.

Upcoming events in the series include "To Conserve a Legacy: American Art From Historically Black Colleges and Universities," "Wrights of Passage: Contemporary African-American Artists in Transition" and "African-American Artists and American Modernism--an of which are supported in part by Cornel West and Toni Morrison.

Can't make it to Harlem by February? Don't despair. The Studio Museum has set a commendable goal to honor 30 years of success: Exhibits will begin traveling nationally to promote an appreciation of the contributions of the art of the African diaspora. George Knox, chairman of the Studio Museum in Harlem, says that the museum's main goal is to "welcome new audiences from around the corner and across the country." For more information, call (212) 595-1827.