Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African-American Identity
In African American communities across the nation, kente is much more than mere cloth: it is a symbol of African pride and a powerful cultural icon
Learn More About The New Exhibit!
Category: Black Art News
The Art and Life of William H. Johnson
“My aim is to express in a natural way what I feel, what is in me, both rhythmically and spiritually, all that which in time has been saved up in my family of primitiveness and tradition, and which is now concentrated in me.”
Learn More About William H. Johnson
Save the Woodruff and Alston Murals at Golden State Life Insurance Company
Save Golden State’s valued African American Art Collection
Save Golden State Life Insurance Company’s Art Collection
$650,000 for Black Art in Pittsburgh
Robert Vagt, Heinz Endowments President
We are happy to announce that The Pittsburgh Foundation and Heinz Endowments have come together to support organizations and individuals involved in African American art. The $650,000 was just an initial funding amount and grants will be issued bi-annually starting in the spring of 2011. Those interested in applying should contact The Pittsburgh Foundation. Read More About This Announcement
Our February 2010 Edition of Gallery Talk!
Please visit our monthly newsletter archive to view our latest edition of Gallery Talk. This month’s newsletter contains information on the artist Leonard Freeman, our latest monthly special (Sterling Brown Art), our latest newsletter (Women on A Mission by Roederick Vines) as well as additional announcements and information. View Our Newsletter
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Rest In Peace: Henry C. Porter
It has just been brought to my attention that on April 28, 2009 Henry C. Porter passed. I want to offer our condolences to the Porter family and also apologize to the readers of this blog for overlooking the passing of this tremendous African American artist. Below you will find a biography of Henry C. Porter and samples of some of his work.
Henry C. Porter Bio
Henry C. Porter was born in Bishopville, SC in 1921 and lived most of his life in New York and Georgia. He entered Morgan State University on a football scholarship in 1940 and was drafted into the army while in college. Henry later resumed his education, studying painting at the Academy of Arts in Newark, NJ, and graphic design and illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. For the next thirty years he operated his own freelance graphic studio in New York City, winning awards and corporate contracts for his point-of-sale displays, costumes, and packaging design. At this time, Henry also embarked on a career as a fine artist, a calling to which he would devote himself to full-time after moving to Kennesaw, GA in 1980. As an artist he found acclaim for his polished figurative paintings and his highly charged abstracts on Plexiglas.
Henry Porter has had numerous gallery, institution, and museum shows that include the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon, GA., displays at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA., and exhibits at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA.
Henry C. Porter will be remembered as a man who had strong convictions and who was ever looking for the next challenge.
Henry C. Porter Art
Below you will find some samples of art by the late and great Henry C. Porter. The title of these prints are Bejewled, Head Two Figures and Nerfertiti.
This Week In The African American Art Industry
This Week In The African American Art Industry
Date: 04/27/2009 – 05/02/2009
Below you will find links to news that was published this week about the African American art industry and in some cases Black History and the African American experience in general. Enjoy!
1. Ernie Barnes dead at the age of 70
The death of an icon in the African American art industry. He was born in my hometown of Durham, NC and I actually use to be babysitted by one of his daughters. The African American art industry will miss him dearly. Rest in Peace Ernie Barnes: http://twurl.cc/vsr
2. York W. Bailey Museum exhibition features 14 African American artists
A stimulus art exhibit? Hey, we all need help right? It’s tough out here. Anyway, if you’re in the Pennsylvania area check it out. It will run until June: http://twurl.cc/vss
3. “Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African-American Portraits” at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora
Wow, didn’t know this museum existed but I’d check out the exhibit just on the strength of the title alone. A lot of these photos were curated for the Smithsonian’s African American History Museum. The exhibit will be featured in San Francisco until June 14. If anyone gets a chance to go please email me some photos if they allow it. Seems very interesting and I wish I could go check it out: http://twurl.cc/vst
4. Free workshop on how to buy and collect African American art today in Dallas/Fort Worth
A little late to post this one now. I originally posted this as an update to all of the fans of The Black Art Depot on Facebook. It took place in the Dallas/Fort Worth area yesterday. Did anybody attend? Please provide some feedback for the rest of us: http://twurl.cc/vsu
5. African Americans in Montana (Heritage Resources)
I find it impressive that Montana would even have a page on their official site detailing African Americans that were prominent in Montana and chronicling the African American experience in Montana at all. I mean we barely make up 1% of the population in Montana: http://twurl.cc/vsw
6. Ghanian Ministry Moves To Save Marcus Garvey Guest House
Anything that has the name of the late, great Pan-African icon deserves to be mentioned: http://twurl.cc/vsx
