Black Art, White House

Here are some of the African American Artists featured in the White House and private residence, art collection that the Obamas have put on display:

 

 Sky Light

1973 Alma Thomas

Black Like Me No.2

1992, Glen Ligon

 Watusi (Hard Edge)

1963, Alma Thomas

Children Dance Children Dance

ca. 1944 William H. Johnson

 Flower to Teacher

ca. 1944, William H. Johnson

 Booker T. Washington Legend

ca. 1944-1945, Willaim H. Johnson

Folk family

1944, William H. Johnson

Say Hello to the New Boss

This Jamaican born, model turned gallery director is one of SoHo's key players in the art world. She went from cat walking on the Calvin Klein runways to studying art history and business at NYU. In a matter of two years, Nicola Vassell blossomed from an intern at Deitch Projects gallery in SoHo, to a director. It was meant to be...

Though the art world is historically known for being dominated by white males, the ever changing globalization of the art market has ushered in a wave of multiculturalism. It is very rare to find a successful black director in a mainstream gallery, but Ms. Vassell is symbolic of the heartbeat of change.

Attending hundreds of parties held each and and traveling to major art exhibitions in Switzerland, London, Venice and Miami are just a few of the fabulous perks that Ms. Vassell enjoys on the job. One of her most important projects as of late: coordinating a meeting between contemporary art sensation Kehinde Wiley, a Los Angeles native, and athletic goods company Puma. Puma sent Mr. Wiley a contract to create a clothing/accessories collection for the 2010 World Cup to he held in Africa for the first time. This type of deal is one that Ms. Vassell sees as essential to the economic future of the contemporary art world. Ms. Vassell has sold Wiley's paintings to at least a dozen museums.

She's savvy, she's flyy and clearly she is in charge.

(Nicola Vassell, a director at Deitch Projects in SoHo, with Jeffrey Deitch at a Miami exhibition space.)

“It’s not a surprise that the director of a prominent, important gallery is black or is young or is a woman, but when you run the three together, it sends a very important signal.” - Arnold Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum

“I think I represent the future of contemporary art and the synthesis of so many worlds that include contemporary art, like fashion." - Nicola Vassell

Kehinde Wiley shares a laugh with Nicola Vassell at the July 2008 opening of his show at the Studio Museum of Harlem.

“In the last few years, it’s like somebody who abides with you. She’s got a nose for really great art. She comes by the studio and we talk and I can paint. It’s a conversation that turns into an ability to communicate to the public what I’m trying to do.” - Kehinde Wiley

Black Art v. The Black Artist

(I preformed a Google search for “Black Art” and this is one of the many images that the search engine found…)

There is an ongoing debate in the art community on how to classify art made by African American artists (often referred to as black art). After doing a good deal of reflection on this term, I came to the conclusion that “black art” does not exist. Yes, Black artists do exist, and at times they do create work that reflects our culture, but black artists should not be limited to one genre, but rather be looked at as artists that create work that inspires them. Although it is possible to create art that is thematically black, it is impossible to construct art in a distinctly “African American style”. Although art created by African Americans is capable of reflecting the history of artists of color, black artists should not be limited to art that reflects African American subject matter.

A recent article in the New York Times titled “Reluctant Fraternity, Thinking Post-Black”, investigates the notion of black art and the black artist. Through examining and interviewing four prestigious African American artists (Edgar Arceneaux, Rodney McMillian, Mark Bradford and Kori Newkirk) journalist Jori Finkel explores the psyche of the contemporary black artist. I would highly suggest reading this article. Even if you are not very familiar with art “Reluctant Fraternity, Thinking Post-Black” provides a brief overview of the state if black art, and does a solid job of incorporating various perspectives.

Mark Bradford, one of the artists featured in the article currently has work on display Eden’s Edge at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, (310) 443-7000). This group exhibition features fifteen Los Angeles contemporary artists and will be on display until September 2, 2007.I highly recommend the show and if possible, I advice you take the time visit the exhibition (and during the summer the Hammer Museum has free admission). In my opinion, Bradford’s work is moving, and quite frankly the best in the show.


WHAT DO YOU THINK?

A Square in a Bowl

A communicative exchange between his turquoise tap shoes and the rhythmic sounds coming from the jazz quartet. Stamina. The improvisation and masteries as his feet took on the role of the percussion. Dilettantish. On Sunday evening Savion Glover tap danced on a sound amplified square in the center of the stage at the Hollywood Bowl. As the jazz quartet comprised of Tommy James, Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax, Patience Higgins and Andy McCloud iver" by Duke Ellington, Glover brought in the funk with his rhythmic reconnaissance. Bass drum. Through his choreography he became a composer and a musician. I watched with heartfelt awe as Glover translated the jazz music into tap dancing and translated the tap
dancing into jazz music. A true artist he is.

Among his list of accomplishments: Tony Award for his choreography in the Broadway smash hit Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk, recipient of the 1996 Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award (choreography), two Obie Awards, and two Fred Astaire Awards for his choreography and performance in Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk as well as the 1996 Dance Magazine Choreographer of the Year Award.

Enjoy life. Enjoy Beauty. Enjoy the arts

Mozart Dances

Mozart Dances, a critically-acclaimed presentation by the Mark Morris Dance Group, will make its victorious debut at the Dorthy Chandler Pavillion in Downtown Los Angeles. Morris’s mastery of innovation manifests through his visually titillating dance performances, which capture the pulchritude and sentiment of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masterpieces. Morris’ majestic affectation of movement and technique is displayed in all its splendor through a merge of folk dances, balletic lifts, pose and sculpture.

Dances was commissioned by the Barbican Centre (London), Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (New York), New Crowned Hope (Vienna). So happy to have the Mark Morris Dance Group in L.A.!!


PERFORMANCE DATES/ TIMES
Saturday, October 20, 2007 7:30pm
Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:00pm
Sunday, October 21, 2007 7:30pm

Enjoy life. Enjoy beauty. Enjoy the arts.