NBAR
Nashville Black Artist Renaissance
REBIRTH OF BLACK
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DN&Dato=20110303&Kategori=LIFE01&Lopenr=103030806&Ref=PH
'The Rebirth of Black'
showcases local African-American artists
6:27 PM, Mar. 3, 2011
Written by Claudia Pinto
Rain Blessings by James Threalkill is among the works included in The Rebirth of Black showcase, which will be on display Saturday at the Ha Factory Gallery & Lounge downtown, coinciding with the First Saturday Art Crawl.
Filed Under: Entertainment - Entertainment Arts & Culture
Related Links: The Rebirth of Black
Related Links: The Rebirth of Black
"I loved the way the sun would make the colors land on the pews," she says. "It was alive. There was movement in it."
Today Turney-Turner is one of a small handful of artists in the United States who depict African-American experiences in stained glass. Her images range from soulful jazz bassists to African women balancing baskets of fruit on their heads.
Her work, along with 11 other local artists, will be on display Saturday at the Ha Factory Gallery & Lounge downtown as part of the inaugural Rebirth of Black artist showcase. The event, which will coincide with the First Saturday Art Crawl, is being organized by the Nashville Black Artists Renaissance 12, a cooperative that aims to showcase the talents of area African-American artists.
Jeff Obafemi Carr, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, says it's difficult to find large collections of African-American art in Nashville, and he says he hopes this show will help fill that void.
"To my knowledge, there hasn't been a coming-together of this level in a couple of decades," says Carr, who isn't involved with the show. "There is a whole lot of talent here. It's operated off of the radar of the mainstream. I've seen some of the artists' work, and it will make you angry if you don't have money to buy it."
The artist showcase will feature 36 pieces, in mediums ranging from watercolor, oil, acrylic and airbrush painting to stained glass and photography.
Among the works will be pieces by James Threalkill, an artist who works primarily in oils and acrylics. Threalkill has won an Emmy for a mural that he produced with children from the Edgehill public housing community for Viacom cable network. He illustrated a children's book series called Visions: African-American Experiences that was featured on Sesame Street. And his painting Gulf Coast Sunset was seen in the Disney movie Snow Dogs.
While much of the artwork reflects African-American experiences, Threalkill says the show will appeal to everyone.
"African-American art is undergoing a rebirth," Threalkill says. "It's starting to be collected by a very diverse group across the country. More and more people are seeing the beauty in the work that we're creating. And I think parents are really trying to expose their children to the reality of the multicultural world that we live in."
Artwork in the show ranges in price from $150 to several thousand dollars. Twenty-five percent of sales will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, an organization that links children in need with adult mentors.
Nashville's 'hidden treasures'
Nashville has a rich history of African-American artists.
Aaron Douglas — known as the father of African-American art and a major player in the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s — founded Fisk University's fine arts department and taught there for nearly 30 years. Several of his murals can be seen in Cravath Hall on Fisk's campus.
Folk artist William Edmondson was the first African-American artist to be featured in a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1937. Some of the Nashville native's sculptures can be seen at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art.
Turney-Turner says she hopes the show will make people realize that rich history is still alive and well in the city.
"People should come out and see the hidden treasures that Nashville has had walking among them all the time," she says. "There are quite a few really talented artists that really don't have an outlet and aren't well-known." She says she hopes the show will provide an outlet for those artists.
And this is just the beginning. The cooperative plans to host similar artist showcases every quarter, with the eventual goal of monthly exhibitions. "The ultimate goal would be to have a permanent place to display," Turney-Turner says. "A place to nurture young artists and grow the art community."
Contact features reporter Claudia Pinto at 615-259-8277 or cpinto@tennessean.com.
“Men commonly think according to their inclinations,
speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions,
but generally act according to custom” ~Francis Bacon, Sr.
speak according to their learning and imbibed opinions,
but generally act according to custom” ~Francis Bacon, Sr.
6 COMMENTS:
Carlton - 1:44 PM on March 4, 2011
Would this liberal rag run an article about "The Rebirth of White", which showcased local European-American artists? I think we all know the answer to that. When will the hypocrisy and double standards end? Why isn't it racist to harp about "Black"? We all know if this was reversed it would be considered racist. Why the difference?
1 reply - damyth - 2:47 PM on March 4, 2011
Carlton....you are correct to a point. Also ask the question why "black" artist are not included in art shows showcasing european-americans. Oddly no one questions Chinese, Italian, British, Korean, Mexican or any other nationality when it comes to labeling an art form, dining experience or even race!
artsfour - 6:51 PM on March 4, 2011
I have to agree with Carlton. I live in a neighborhood where I am the minority and in eight years I have lived here, have never been invited to join any artists groups since I am white. I am a teacher in the public school and teach at a title one school and have taught here in Nashville for over ten years. This is a double standard. I do back alley work and trash pick up and have done a few murals for free. I applaud these artists but don't think the quality of the product is specific to race. I think we need to appreciate and learn from each other. I am glad that my teacher friends that are white and black don't mind teaching whatever child that arrives. I moved here thinking it would be an open minded community and that I might have something to offer. I have taught free art lessons the entire time I have lived here. I have my own non profit group called, ArtsAlive and base the most of my approach to services through the concept of sharing. I have met wonderful people here where I live and I love my students and appreciate their gifts and talents.
The issue with blacks that I do applaud is that they are not in the back ground waiting to be welcomed into the arts of all sorts. They have proven themselves, and have much to be proud of and offer to the community. Their claim to fame is not the exclusion of the rest of our citys population.
TamaSC15 - 1:52 AM on March 5, 2011
I too can relate to the eye pleasing & thought stimulating effect of stained glass art. Life seems to be infused into it when the sun radiates through. What a talent to be blessed by our Creator with what enables a person , (being made in God's image as we all are), to illustrate life's moments so vivdly w/materials such as colored glass, solder and such.I very much enjoyed Claudia Pinto's descriptive and engaging article up to the point where her focus became , (and unfortunately remained), aimed towards a person's skin color ie. "Nashville Black Artists 12", African American Art, African American experiences, etc... It is commendable the Big Brother and Big Sister organizations should benefit from contributions made by those who create with their talents and gifts.
I would submit however, on behalf of our talented artists of all race and heritage backgrounds that each artist would have their efforts appraised, valued, or simply appreciated, based soley on the merit of the art alone, be it stained glass, music, writtings...
It is most dissapointing to regard the art work refferenced by Ms. Pinto in the context of the color of the artist's skin,as she does a great injustice to the artists themselve's,as well as perpetuating an unflattering and distracting observation of the art mentioned in her article as if race or skin color has anything to do with the worth or appreciation of the artist's creative ability.
I dare to extend myself further on behalf of these talented individuals (and of all races and heritage), by simply saying they want their art, their works of creative and self expression, to be valued for what IT is, not what THEY are.
If an outlet is going to be provided (as Ms. Pinto states in her article), that outlet should exclude NO artist, (especially an exclusion based on skin color or heritage) for ALL talented artists who aren't "well known".
Yes Ms. Pinto, "A place to nurture young artists and grow the art community&q
mwm2651 - 10:50 AM on March 5, 2011
such a ridiculous double standard. Why can we have a rebirth of all artists.
CSWYGal797 - 10:03 PM on March 5, 2011
One thing this article didn't point out very well is that this event was part of a larger Art Crawl held every Saturday. There are at least half a dozen art galleries along this stretch of 5th Ave North and many kinds of mediums and artists are displayed in the various buildings. This particular gallery was featuring African-American artists, but there were many others in the other locations. On a side note, as a Big Sister, I'd like to thank them for contributing some of the proceeds to our program. It would be great if the entire Art Crawl would consider supporting a charity each month!
