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Celebrating Black History Month

This is actually an updated version of last year's column -- mainly because most of last year's had to be scrapped anyway. Only about three of the links were still live. It's terrible when web sites allow their links to expire in less than a year.

We've caught up with some of the brightest Black artists and designers, photographers, illustrators and creatives both from yesteryear and today. We were a bit disappointed that we did not get a single submission from the DTG readership recommending African American artists and designers.

Access Art

African life This collection of African American art provides a rich introduction to over 100 years of noted achievements in painting, sculpture, and printmaking. give information about the artists in the collection African American Art from the Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu)

sharecropper The amazing thing about much of the art we're finding is that although it is classified as "fine art" it is so graphic, and so today that it would be very dramatic in magazine articles, advertisements, and at home at any of today's ad agencies.
      The stunning Linocut (on cream Japanese paper) on your left, Sharecropper, was created in 1957, but not printed until 1970 -- by Mexican born Elizabeth Catlett, born in 1915. Click to see an enlargement of this remarkable work.
      On the right, you see Study for Aspects of Negro Life: The Negro in an African Setting, 1934, by Aaron Douglas. It is in Gouache on Whatman artist’s board, but was actually a study sketch in preparation for a mural! Again, the striking graphic quality of the work rivals most of today's commercial art produced on computers.

Must see tour: Selected African American ArtistsNational Gallery

At the National Gallery of Art, this Gallery's collection of American art includes some 154 works by African American artists, from Romare Bearden, Willie Cole, Sam Gilliam, Barkley Leonnard Hendricks, Joshua Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Edward L. Loper, Joseph Norman, Horace Pippin, Martin Puryear, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Alma Thomas, Bob Thompson, James Wells, and Charles Wilbert White. Bookmark: www.nga.gov


African American Graphic Arts

African American Art Defined

This website represents a lot of work on someone's part -- no name could be found, and their Whois registry entry is empty. (Against ICANN policy!) However, it is probably the most complete repository of references to Black and African American history we ran across. Quoting the site:
      The website includes additional African American Artists as well as historical data on soliders from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Indian War etc. Many of the pages below contain images of soldiers, African American Artists, Slave Narratives, African American art galleries. Beware though, just as we've experienced, many of their links have gone dead too.

African American Artists

Here you can see and read about some stunning examples of graphic arts. They even offer a downloadable PDF of African American art references (PDF) You can also check out their complete list of African American art and photography galleries at: www.negroartist.com/GALLERIES.htm


University of Virginia

Perceptions of Black

At the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia you will discover a very nicely presented collection of current and historic African American graphics and art called: African American Art and the Visual Arts Movement - University of Virginia. Visit the gallery- learn about African American aesthetes- see the events using the timeline virginia.edu


Lori cooper

Art at Airport Fine Art -- Contemporary works

In the unlikely web site called "AirportFineArt.com" we found a huge collection of wonderful visual arts from contemporary artists. We have no idea why this College Park, GA firm is called "Airport", nor could we find the owner, but he does present a page of photos of himself and the artists. Curious. We buy, trade, and sell African American art and represent some very talented atists.

Paul R. Jones Collection

The University of Delaware shows a collection of works from noted African American artists including Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Selma Burke and others.

African Voices

is an extraordinary exhibition that examines the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa's peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment. From the Smithsonian, so you know it's good! www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices/
The Smithsonian also shows this spectacular presentation on African "Mud Cloth"

Houston Collects: African American Artwoodcut

The Houston Press is showing two slideshows titled at the MFAH Selections from the exhibition, whic"Houston Collects: African American Art" including the wonderful woodcut (at right) by Hale A. Woodruff (Amerian, 1900-1980) and colorful creations by Jacob Lawrence, (American, 1917-2000) in tempera on gesso paper.
      Actually, Houston has a whole venue of spectacular art. Try out their galleries, even though they're a bit slow. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

American Masters

American Masters: Alfred Stieglitz presents an essay, timeline, video clips, and interviews examining this photographer, artist, and art impresario. Stieglitz was a powerful force in the arts of the early 20th century and an important interpreter of emerging modern culture. This web site is a companion to first full-length film biography of the photographer, "Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye." WNET, supported by National Endowment for the Humanities

Artifacts of African American history

The Online Academy highlights artifacts, scholars, collectors, and preservers of African American history. Features include the inventor of the multiple effect vacuum process for producing sugar, the first identified African American toolmaker, the autobiography of an African American cowboy, and Zora Neale Hurston's first novel. (Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, supported by Smithsonian Institution)

And others...

If you have suggestions or additions, please let us know!

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