March on Washington Film Festival  by D. Amari Jackson  “You are touched by people so long in the past that they didn’t know your names, when you’re the dream that they had for today, and now you are creating a place for those whose names you don’t know and they won’t know you. They will be the manifestation of the visions that you have.” -Isisara Bey, Artistic Director, March on Washington Film Festival from On Vision, TEDxBarnardCollegeWomen/TEDx Talks, Jan 2013      The March on Washington Film Festival (MOWFF), as its name confirms, was born of struggle. Sixty o ..read more

Kimberly Camp- Cross River: A Parallel Universe Curated by Judith K. Brodsky and Ferris Olin   Kimberly Camp, artist, arts administrator/entrepreneur and professor, creates dolls. These figures are playful, but not playthings. They emerge from Camp’s imagination inspired by the experiences of peoples of the African Diaspora, historically and in contemporary times. They refer to her own family history and at the same time, are otherworldly including anthropomorphic animals, purple- and green-skinned dolls, and fantasies from outer space, suggesting an existence in a Parallel Univ ..read more

Collecting an Artistic Legacy By Shantay Robinson “Becoming a champion for the artists you find interesting is a great way to ensure your investment grows with time.” Collecting art can start with the decorating of a new home but turn out to be a passion. Artists create art out of a need to communicate a message, but if the artwork does not find a home, then the art is missing that much needed communication. The relationship between artist and collector is vital for the existence of the art world. While going to a gallery opening is a good time, as one views art, drink wine, and socialize, gal ..read more

The Quilting Tradition By Shantay Robinson   Harriet Powers- Bible Quilt Harriet Powers was once a slave in rural Georgia, but her intricate quilts make her a celebrated artist today. Her story quilts depict biblical tales and local histories. She began exhibiting them in 1886 at the Cotton States and International Expo. Now her quilts, Bible Quilt, is at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Pictorial Quilt is at Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Existing as a slave, bearing at least nine children and being subject to a racist and sexist society, Powe ..read more

Artist Najee Dorsey creates signature artwork for 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival “We are proud to announce the signature artwork for the 47th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is Two Generations by Najee Dorsey,” states Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “The mixed media artwork depicts a father and son sharing a beautiful moment, and truly represents the spirit of the festival.”  Dorsey’s artwork will be featured on this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival poster and t-shirt which will be available for purchase at the festival in Piedmo ..read more

Thoughts on Greg Tate, a Black boy Genius By Michael Simanga Greg Tate was a child of the Black Arts Movement. It is important to remember the foundation of his great contributions. He grew up in the heat of Black cultural production, unparalleled in its influence on every discipline in the arts. His parents, Florence and Charles Tate, were movement people with their lives committed to Black liberation, self-determination, and justice. That knowledge and light is present in everything he wrote. It is not the exclusive place of his learning, but it is the source. He was a scholar of Black cult ..read more

RHYTHM OF RESILIENCE: THE ARTISTRY OF SAM MIDDLETON MAY 17, 2024 - AUGUST 18, 2024 Art: Newport by Sam Middleton (1992) Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the life and works of Sam Middleton, a pioneering mixed-media artist whose vibrant creations echoed the rhythms of Harlem jazz and the landscapes of Europe’s Low Countries. Born in New York in 1927, Middleton’s artistic odyssey transcended borders and he left an indelible mark on both sides of the Atlantic. Rhythm of Resilience: The Artistry of Sam Middleton o ..read more

Is there a Place for Black Christianity in Contemporary Art? by Yvonne Bynoe Among both the sanctified and the sinners, the sleeper hit song of the pandemic was “Try Jesus, Don’t Try Me” (2020) written by Tobechukwu “Tobe” Dubem Nwigwe. Nwigwe is a thirty-something-year-old Houston native of Nigerian descent. The married father of three is also a former Catholic. Against mournful tones reminiscent of blues ballads, Nwigwe and his bandmate trade the lyrics: Try Jesus, not me, ’cause I throw hands. Try Jesus, please don’t try me, because I fight. I know what he said about getting slapped, but if ..read more

Close Looking: John Biggers – Characterizing Symbolism by Shantay Robinson Throughout his career, John T. Biggers (1924 – 2001) focused his art’s subject matter on racial and economic injustice. As a well-educated artist, he influenced so many, including his students but also his fellow artists. Biggers started out by painting exaggerated figuration, and, by the end of his career, he painted geometric allegories. Using symbology and African cosmology, his stylistic choices changed, but his focus on empowerment of his people remained steadfast. Having lost his father as a child, his mother sent ..read more

Art or Nothing: S. Darius Parker’s Path From ADHD to Artistry by Trelani Michelle S. Darius Parker was introduced to art by his mother as a means of “satting down somewhere.” He was restless and his mind skipped thoughts just as fast as his feet needed to move. You could say he was hot-footed. As a child, however, this can be a little problematic in the classroom setting. His mother figured that, with an outlet to create and imagine out loud, as well as burn some energy, then the hyperness would level itself out. And it did. “Dreams of Declaration” by S. Darius Parker 24 x 30 inches, acr ..read more