Black History Month Has Come and Gone, But Not the Artists
Once again, black history month has come and gone, but thankfully not the art or the artists.
This year it didn't seem as though the usual speeches were trotted out to make the people of Black America proud to be black.
That in itself was a gift.
Instead we were all treated to new ways to be proud to be Americans that happen to be from the African Diaspora.
If you watched channel 5, there was Wendy Williams who talked about a famous black inventors or filmmakers or scientists.
Sure there have been other people, like Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis on Channel 7 who have spoken about other accomplishments in the past, but it was nice to see someone smiling at us instead of being somber about the greatness that runs through the Diaspora.
This year I had the privilege to go to an artist opening at the Dwyer Cultural Center up in Harlem.
It was for invited guests only the evening before the actual opening to the public.
There was of course the press from The Amsterdam News and other archivist with cameras to take note of the painters and their brand of art.
It could be said that the glitterati of Manhattan Valley was there.
I noticed at least ten different people who are members or go on a regular basis to Riverside Church.
One of the artists invited me to this wonderful event and I was able to talk to him in depth about his work and how he came to be an artist.
After more than 25 years in academia, as a high school teacher, he decided to go back to his first love, art.
His name is Robert Daniels.
As a young boy he started off using whatever he could get his hands on to draw in the kitchen while his mother was cooking dinner.
Often when his mother was not at home he scoured her room for lipstick to use as his colored pencils and draw on whatever was not nailed down.
Mr.
Daniel's art has developed from the early days of using chalk and lipstick to going on to using Photoshop and everything else in between.
His artwork is gorgeous to say the least.
Mr.
Daniels is a part of the Weusi* Group, in which 12 of the 50 members is being showcased now through September 3rd 2010.
Starting after September 4th or so another 12 will be on display to show off their wonderful talents.
At the Dwyer there is a 20 minute short that showcases the present artists in the show and how they became affiliated with the Weusi Group.
It can also be seen on their website via YouTube.
Weusi is a Swahili word which means both blackness and togetherness, quite poignant for the art that is on display.
I met several other artists there as well, part of the Weusi Revisited: 2010 series.
Emmett Wigglesworth, Okoe Pyatt, Otto Neals, Perry Cannon, and Gaylord Hassan.
Mr.
Hassan, walks with a walker, but still manages to produce gorgeous canvases almost twice his height of 5'- 10".
Perhaps you know of them and their works, if not check them all out at the Dwyer Cultural Center.
You will not be disappointed.
Most of the artists have had to lead a completely different life from being an artist, but is shows that through persistence and determination, their natural abilities had to shine through.
That, I think, is most what Black History Month wants to proclaim.
These artists are doing their best to do just that.
To see a full length, in depth interview with Mr.
Daniels check out Maxine's Corner, which will launch on Monday, April 26th as an Internet TV blog, hosted by this author, CharLena Pearson.
This year it didn't seem as though the usual speeches were trotted out to make the people of Black America proud to be black.
That in itself was a gift.
Instead we were all treated to new ways to be proud to be Americans that happen to be from the African Diaspora.
If you watched channel 5, there was Wendy Williams who talked about a famous black inventors or filmmakers or scientists.
Sure there have been other people, like Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis on Channel 7 who have spoken about other accomplishments in the past, but it was nice to see someone smiling at us instead of being somber about the greatness that runs through the Diaspora.
This year I had the privilege to go to an artist opening at the Dwyer Cultural Center up in Harlem.
It was for invited guests only the evening before the actual opening to the public.
There was of course the press from The Amsterdam News and other archivist with cameras to take note of the painters and their brand of art.
It could be said that the glitterati of Manhattan Valley was there.
I noticed at least ten different people who are members or go on a regular basis to Riverside Church.
One of the artists invited me to this wonderful event and I was able to talk to him in depth about his work and how he came to be an artist.
After more than 25 years in academia, as a high school teacher, he decided to go back to his first love, art.
His name is Robert Daniels.
As a young boy he started off using whatever he could get his hands on to draw in the kitchen while his mother was cooking dinner.
Often when his mother was not at home he scoured her room for lipstick to use as his colored pencils and draw on whatever was not nailed down.
Mr.
Daniel's art has developed from the early days of using chalk and lipstick to going on to using Photoshop and everything else in between.
His artwork is gorgeous to say the least.
Mr.
Daniels is a part of the Weusi* Group, in which 12 of the 50 members is being showcased now through September 3rd 2010.
Starting after September 4th or so another 12 will be on display to show off their wonderful talents.
At the Dwyer there is a 20 minute short that showcases the present artists in the show and how they became affiliated with the Weusi Group.
It can also be seen on their website via YouTube.
Weusi is a Swahili word which means both blackness and togetherness, quite poignant for the art that is on display.
I met several other artists there as well, part of the Weusi Revisited: 2010 series.
Emmett Wigglesworth, Okoe Pyatt, Otto Neals, Perry Cannon, and Gaylord Hassan.
Mr.
Hassan, walks with a walker, but still manages to produce gorgeous canvases almost twice his height of 5'- 10".
Perhaps you know of them and their works, if not check them all out at the Dwyer Cultural Center.
You will not be disappointed.
Most of the artists have had to lead a completely different life from being an artist, but is shows that through persistence and determination, their natural abilities had to shine through.
That, I think, is most what Black History Month wants to proclaim.
These artists are doing their best to do just that.
To see a full length, in depth interview with Mr.
Daniels check out Maxine's Corner, which will launch on Monday, April 26th as an Internet TV blog, hosted by this author, CharLena Pearson.