• Home
  • Features
    • Featured Articles
      • Black Art News
      • Artist Spotlight
      • Artist Interviews
      • Emerging Artist of the Month
      • Museum Spotlight
      • Art Terms
      • African American Theatres
      • Organizations
      • Spotlight Photos
      • Contests
    • African American History
      • Black Historical Facts
      • Monuments and Statues
      • Humpday Hero
    • Photoblog
    • Featured Products
      • Top Sellers
      • Art Print of the Week
      • Book of the Week
      • Sculpture of the Week
      • Movie of the Week
      • Affiliate Showcase
    • African Proverbs
  • Marketplace
  • Artist Directory
    • A-D
      • Alonzo Adams
      • Ernie Barnes
      • Cbabi Bayoc
      • Chalres Bibbs
      • Charles Bibbs
      • Bryan Collier
      • Doyle
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Black Art Depot Today

Your #1 Source for News About African American Art

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home Archives for Artists Other

Kani Saburi Ayubu November 17, 2008 Leave a Comment

Whitfield Lovell at the Hudson River Museum

Intimate Views of Anonymous African-Americans
By: Benjamin Genocchio, NY Times

Large-scale tableaus with drawings from the past decade by the well-regarded New York City-based African-American artist Whitfield Lovell are the subject of a powerful exhibition at the Hudson River Museum. It is the excruciating consciousness of the weight of history that makes these works so memorable, along with the fact that they are really beautiful.

Born in the Bronx in 1959, Mr. Lovell focuses on the lives of black Americans from about the end of the Civil War through World War II. History and memory ooze from his assemblages, which evoke for viewers ideas and feelings linked to the period’s societal and political changes. They are sort of sweet and scary, uplifting and depressing at the same time.

Dominating the artist’s assemblages are exquisitely detailed life-size charcoal portraits based on historic photographs of anonymous people whose biographical details are now lost to time. Mr. Lovell imagines a new life and a world from scratch, posing them in domestic interiors or homemade settings using furniture picked up in flea markets, tag sales and salvage yards.

Bringer by Whitfield Lovell

“Bringer” (1999), on loan from the Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase, is an especially evocative work. It consists of a full-length charcoal portrait of a matronly black woman drawn on recycled wooden floor paneling, attached to which is an old glass oil lamp. On an antique side table in front of the drawing is another lamp. Together they evoke a sparse domestic interior.

Empathy is what gives this assemblage and others like it its power. The woman appears to be waiting for someone, her hand resting on the back of an empty chair in a gesture of affection. In anticipation she has left the lights on. In our own way, we have all lived it.

The visual device of a lone figure standing next to an unfilled seat recurs in several assemblages. “Ode” (1999) contains a beautiful charcoal portrait, on recycled floor boards, perhaps from an old barn, of a well-dressed man standing beside an empty easy chair, in front of which are two badly neglected and torn velvet chairs. The overall impression is one of time passing and loss.

In another tableau, “In Silence” (2003), an empty doll’s bed covered in blue gingham fabric is attached to the bottom of a portrait of a middle-aged woman wearing a high-necked blouse, her hair knotted on her head. The empty bed suggests a memorial of some kind, perhaps to a dead child. Either that or it hints at the profession of the woman, who is dressed like a 19th-century nurse.

Writing in the exhibition catalog, Bartholomew F. Bland, the museum’s curator and the organizer of this exhibition, suggests that by creating a surrogate existence for lost and contested African-American histories, the artist aims to restore a sense of dignity, identity and historical recognition to the subjects.

This quality is more apparent in some pieces than others. “Battleground” (2001) contains a delicately drawn full-length portrait of a black soldier serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. Beneath the portrait, again on recycled flooring, is an elevated platform on which sits a cannon ball, along with an Eastlake table with an open book resting on top of it.

This work memorializes the more than 150,000 African-American men who served in the Union Army and whose bravery is often overlooked in history books. Beyond this, the meaning is ambiguous, for in spite of the title the soldier stands alone, at attention – emphasizing, perhaps, the anonymity of his sacrifice.

“Twine” (2001) deals with more recent historical events, specifically the lynching of African-Americans in the South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here meaning is more overt, the artist using a rope to frame the portrait of an elegant and affluent-looking black man on wooden planking. Look closely and you’ll notice the man has no legs. He is literally floating in the air.

Of course, Mr. Lovell is not alone among African-American artists in mining the historical archive. Willie Cole, Carrie Mae Weems and Lyle Ashton Harris all rescue and reuse historical images of black Americans to counter stereotypes. What is peculiar to Mr. Lovell’s work is its disquieting intimacy.

Mr. Lovell’s assemblages look at the hidden, private world of African-Americans. They take viewers into homes, show people at work, at play, alone at war. They provide an unexpectedly intimate view of black people from a bygone era, a view that exposes the biases and limitations of standard histories and inspires new historical perceptions.

“Whitfield Lovell: All Things in Time,”
Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton
Avenue, Yonkers, through May 10. Information: (914) 963-4550 or www.hrm.org.

Filed Under: Black Art News, Other Tagged With: whitfield lovell, whitfield lovell art, whitfield lovell exhibition, whitfield lovell hudson river museum

Kani Saburi Ayubu November 4, 2008 Leave a Comment

Get Out & Vote!

Get Out & Vote!

Filed Under: Other Tagged With: get out the vote

Kani Saburi Ayubu September 29, 2008 Leave a Comment

William Cathay’s Secret by Kathy Morrow

Cathay Williams Art Prints & Posters

William Cathay's Secret by Kathy Morrow

Title: Wiliam Cathay’s Secret
Artist: Kathy Morrow
Size: 16 x 28 inches
Medium: Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Lithograph
Edition Size: 350
Price: $95.00

This new release by Kathy Morrow features the famous Cathay Williams, Female Buffalo Soldier.  It has a tentative release date of October 15, 2008.  This image can be veiewed and purchased in our Buffalo Solider Art Gallery.  Below, you will also find some additional resources where you can learn about Cathay Williams, Female Buffalo Soldier.

Additional Resources

Cathay Williams, Female Buffalo Soldier With Documents

Cathay Williams, Woman Buffalo Soldier

The Cathay Williams Regiment

Filed Under: African American History, New Releases, Other Tagged With: cathay williams art, cathay williams kathy morrow, kathy morrow art, william cathay's secret, william cathay's secret kathy morrow

Kani Saburi Ayubu September 10, 2008 Leave a Comment

“Black Butterfly” by Michael Wallace: Featured Art Print

Title: Black Butterfly
Artist: Michael Wallace
Size: 20×30 inches
Price: $20.00

“Black Butterfly” by Michael Wallace is our featured print for this week.  It is one of  Michael Wallace‘s new releases and an item we should have back in stock shortly.  If your interested in purchasing this print please visit our Michael Wallace Art Gallery online or call us at: 678-916-6545.  Enjoy!

Filed Under: Art Print of the Week, Other Tagged With: black butterfly art, black butterfly michael wallace, michael wallace, michael wallace art

Kani Saburi Ayubu August 4, 2008 1 Comment

African American Magnets Now Available!

The Black Art Depot has recently began to sell magnets featuring African American art as of August 1, 2008.   We currently have African American Magnets which feature the artwork of Edwin Lester, Sterling Brown and Cidne Wallace.  All of our magnets currently retail for only: $5.00 $4.50 and are perfect for adding to your existing collection or starting your collection of decorative African American Magnets.  Below you will find some samples for you to view:

Choices by Sterling Brown Hear No Evil by Sterling Brown 100% Natural Chocolate by Cidne Wallace

LEAVE A COMMENT

Filed Under: Other, Site Updates, Spotlight Collectible, Sterling Brown Tagged With: african american magnets, black art magnets, ethnic decorative magnets, ethnic magnets

Kani Saburi Ayubu July 21, 2008 Leave a Comment

Featured Art Print of the Week: July 21, 2008

The Annointing by James Loveless

The Annointing by James Loveless

The featured art print this week comes from an artist from St. Louis by the name of James Loveless.  This print is entitled “The Annointing” and is one of my personal favorites by the artist and hope you enjoy it as well.  Let me know what you think!

LEAVE A COMMENT

Filed Under: Art Print of the Week, Other Tagged With: james loveless art, james loveless artwork, james loveless posters, james loveless prints, james loveless the annointing

Kani Saburi Ayubu July 6, 2008 Leave a Comment

LEGO Artist Building Bigger Career

I usually like to focus on ethnic art and ethnic artists on my site for the most part.  It’s just a personal choice and the niche market that I’m in.  However, from time to time, I find articles that are very interesting that I like to share with those that visit our site and blog.  This one in particular shows how art comes in many different forms and flavors.  It also shows how a hobby, if truly mastered, when combined with creativity can become a revenue generating activity.  I hope you find the article informative and inspirational.

Lego Artist

Since CNN spoke with LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya a year ago, his popularity has skyrocketed. Just check out his clientele.

Donald Trump recently asked Sawaya to create a replica of the new hotel he’s building in Dubai. With 10 days to complete it, and only architectural renderings to work from, Sawaya toiled away in his Manhattan studio snapping tiny bricks together, barely sleeping, to finish the curvy 10-foot statue in time for its unveiling.

His work has also created a, well … buzz with entertainers.

Sawaya built a 4-foot bumblebee for Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz to offer his new bride, Ashlee Simpson, as a wedding gift. Stephen Colbert wanted a piece of the action too. The comedian invited Sawaya on his show last August to present a life-size LEGO Colbert replica.  Read Full Article

Filed Under: Black Art News, Emerging Artist of the Month, Other Tagged With: lego artist, nathan sawaya

Kani Saburi Ayubu June 25, 2008 Leave a Comment

Harlem Heat by Gary Kelley

Introducing “Harlem Heat” a new art release by Gary Kelley. This print is not currently available on our site but can be purchased directly on the blog via Paypal. We hope to have this print and the rest of our Women of Color Art Collection available by mid July.

Harlem Heat by Gary Kelley

Title: Harlem Heat
Edition: Open Edition Offset
Artist: Gary Kelley
Size: 26×26 inches
Price: $34.10 (includes shipping and handling)



Filed Under: New Releases, Other Tagged With: gary kelley art, gary kelley harlem heat, gary kelley posters, harlem heat art, harlem heat poster

ABOUT COMPANY

The Black Art Depot

The Black Art Depot

Welcome to the World of African American History, Art & Culture    Learn More

ABOUT ME

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Kani Saburi Ayubu

Founder of The Black Art Depot Read More

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, new product offerings, specials and exclusive articles.

Categories

Featured Products

2018 African American Calendars

Laurie Cooper Art Gallery

Black Religious Art Collection

Featured Book

Warriors Don't Cry

Featured Movie

Africans Vs. African Americans

Recent Pins

Framed artwork available at our Decatur, Georgia showroom this week. If younlive within 30 miles of our office delivery is available as well. Featuring artwork from Frank Morrison, Monica Stewart, Kevin "Wak" Williams, John Holyfield, Lester Kern, Cecil "CREEd" Reed, Justin Bua, Andrew Nichols, Wishum Gregory and others! #blackart #atlanta #decatur #georgia...
A romantic release from Ted Ellis that shows an African American couple strolling hand in hand at night through the artist hometown of New Orleans after an outing....
A religious themed work of art by Ted Ellis that depicts an old fashioned baptism down by the river like Grandma and them used to do back in the day. Love this folksy release by New Orleans born artist Ted Ellis. #blackart #africanamericanart #church...
Love this work of art and the way it is framed! The colors really pop in this white frame with white mat. A vibrant and colorful work of art by Larry "Poncho" Brown reminding us what family is really about! #blackart #family #blackfamily...
"Nigerian-British scientist Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock won the 2020 William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize for her “exceptional services to science education and physics communication” this October, according to the Institute of Physics. This made her the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the award’s history. Aderin-Pocock was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of eight but she never let go of her dream to be a scientist and worked to see it to fruition."...
One Night in Miami? How am I learning that this may be nominated for an Oscar before I even knew it was a film. Can't wait to check this out on Amazon Prime on MLK Day. Love historical pics...and this one looks very interesting. Congrats to Regina King....sis doing everything nowadays... #blackhistory #blackfilm...
Nothing like quality time with Mom or baby girl! This special moment was captured beautifully by the magical hands of artist Kerream Jones. #motherhood #blackart #parenting...
The perfect picture frame for remembering Mama or to gift to someone who recently lost their mother. Beautiful and Powerful sentiments on this one....
I love the colors in this new release from D.D. Ike titled "The Sound of Joy and Gratitude". Always remember to be thankful and grateful!...
A beautiful ink drasing by the Chicago born and Atlanta based artist K.A. Williams II also known as WAK that depicts the late great Nina Simone!...
Follow Me on Pinterest

Join Our Community!



Monthly Specials

Monthly Specials

Copyright © 2021 · Streamline Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in