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Te gentleman said, “I don’t know anything about
art, but folks are telling me that my wife and I should

check you guys out.” Tey looked around, and based
solely on October Gallery’s having been recommended
to them, and the fact that African-American art was

the exciting “new thing,” they purchased three Romare
Bearden lithographs for $2100 ($700 each).

A number of years later the gentleman came back
Artist Reba Dickerson Hill (left) and TV personality Lancaster Avenue head picture framer W. Sandford
to the gallery and asked if we could resell two of the Trudy Haynes at 3805 Lancaster Avenue. Redcross (right) with Mercer Redcross.
Beardens he and his wife had purchased. About ninety
days later we sold them both. When we informed the
gentleman of this development, he gave us the following Terri Fletcher “working” at 3805
instructions: He needed a certifed check and it had to Lancaster Avenue.

be made payable to a particular Historical Black College
and University (HBCU). Mercer said something about
it being a shame that he had to sell such nice pieces
of art, then added: “But one does what one needs to

do.” Te gentleman said, “No, it’s not like that.” He
explained that his son was going to attend an HBCU
that September, and that this check would help pay his Ishana and Glenda, our frst real sales team.
fees. He was delighted that his family had enjoyed and

treasured the art as part of their living environment over
a number of years.
Dr. Selma Burke (left) visits 3805 Lancaster Avenue
Tese pieces of Black art had enhanced this family’s and talks to Artist Reba Dickerson Hill.
life and now would help pay for their son’s college

education. Te gentleman indicated he could not have Patrons Shirley and Junious Rhone Sr., visit October Gallery.
realized such a recompense from the sale of, say, his
Mercedes. Te fact that African-American art, a facet

of African-American culture, could help send his son to
an HBCU was exhilarating. By the way, the check was
for $3500. What a smart investment!

We told this story over and over again in our seminars

to demonstrate art’s value and its ability to enhance
one’s life and beneft one’s fnancial situation. People
would say to us that trying to teach people about art is
a tall order. It could take forever, they would say, and Former State Representative Gordon Linton

one could go broke in the process. (center) at October Gallery.
Weddings and other social functions are Head picture framer Jeremy Sustare at
held at October Gallery. Here Stanley and the Philadelphia International Art Expo.
Pearl Anderson exchange vows.
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