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Growing up in the inner city of Boston, Massachusetts, always want to see Black artists and the work that they
a city steeped in history and culture, I was fortunate produce. I love it…even if the art is not obviously “ethnic”
enough to be exposed to all aspects of the visual arts. in subject matter. One of my favorite pieces is an acrylic
Mom had close friends who were artists: their original landscape painting, full of fall foliage colors like burnt
paintings hung on our living room walls. She, along with umber, yellow ochre, orange and green, depicting trees,
my aunts, took me to the museums––The Isabella Stewart bushes and the land around them. It is a painting totally
Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. devoid of any human images, and it is simply and plainly,
When I was a young girl, art was my favorite subject in beautiful. Is it African-American art? Most certainly it is.
school. In second grade, I realized I was much better at The artist is Samuel Benson from Chester, Pennsylvania.
drawing and painting than my classmates. I decided then Mr. Benson is an African-American.
and there that I would be an artist when I grew up. “Movin’ On” by Irma Gean
Working with October Gallery over the years has been
Many years later in high-school art history classes, my an enormous pleasure as well as an enormous learning
interests were piqued when I saw and learned the origins experience. I am constantly exposed to new and up-
of African-American art, Greek art, African art, Chinese art and-coming artists who continue to create some of the
and art from the Egyptian periods. I loved learning about most beautiful and provocative artwork I will ever see in
these ancient periods. The art was primitive, yet beautiful. my lifetime.
My connection to African-American art begins and Stephanie A. Daniel
ends with my own heritage – Native American, African- Educator
American and Portuguese American. I will always be Philadelphia, PA
drawn to images of people who resemble me. I will
Untitled by Paris
256 257
Growing up in the inner city of Boston, Massachusetts, always want to see Black artists and the work that they
a city steeped in history and culture, I was fortunate produce. I love it…even if the art is not obviously “ethnic”
enough to be exposed to all aspects of the visual arts. in subject matter. One of my favorite pieces is an acrylic
Mom had close friends who were artists: their original landscape painting, full of fall foliage colors like burnt
paintings hung on our living room walls. She, along with umber, yellow ochre, orange and green, depicting trees,
my aunts, took me to the museums––The Isabella Stewart bushes and the land around them. It is a painting totally
Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. devoid of any human images, and it is simply and plainly,
When I was a young girl, art was my favorite subject in beautiful. Is it African-American art? Most certainly it is.
school. In second grade, I realized I was much better at The artist is Samuel Benson from Chester, Pennsylvania.
drawing and painting than my classmates. I decided then Mr. Benson is an African-American.
and there that I would be an artist when I grew up. “Movin’ On” by Irma Gean
Working with October Gallery over the years has been
Many years later in high-school art history classes, my an enormous pleasure as well as an enormous learning
interests were piqued when I saw and learned the origins experience. I am constantly exposed to new and up-
of African-American art, Greek art, African art, Chinese art and-coming artists who continue to create some of the
and art from the Egyptian periods. I loved learning about most beautiful and provocative artwork I will ever see in
these ancient periods. The art was primitive, yet beautiful. my lifetime.
My connection to African-American art begins and Stephanie A. Daniel
ends with my own heritage – Native American, African- Educator
American and Portuguese American. I will always be Philadelphia, PA
drawn to images of people who resemble me. I will
Untitled by Paris
256 257
