Harlem-fine-arts-show-returns-for-second-year

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By Jon Schuppe




MANHATTAN — A national showcase of African-American artists is returning to Harlem in February, a weeklong affair that will coincide with Black History Month.

The second annual Harlem Fine Arts Show will be held at Riverside Church from Feb. 25 to 27 with a mission to develop “the long-neglected area of African-American culture, history and economic development,” organizers say. This year’s show will emphasize both known and emerging artists from around the country.

Curator Andrew Nichols said he wants the Harlem Fine Arts Show to fill the void left by other former New York shows that once focused on black artists, namely the National Black Fine Arts Show. He said he expects the new show to become the genre’s premier event.

The Harlem Fine Arts Show kicked off for the first time last year at the 369th Armory on Fifth Avenue. Organizers wanted to make it an annual event, but couldn’t reach a deal with that venue. So they turned to Riverside Church, which agreed to host the show for five years, Nichols said.

The goal is to allow artists to sell their work and reach a wider audience, and give buyers a chance to meet artists in person, Nichols said.

He hopes the event will help inject some life into a local arts community damaged by the recession.

“We want to bring it back,” he said.

There will be several promotional events leading up to the 2011 show, including a reception by the Black and Latino State Legislative Caucus in Albany, and a preview hosted by The New York Times.

A portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention on Madison Avenue and 124th Street. Proceeds from the arts show’s $70-a-head opening night preview will benefit Jazzmobile, a Harlem center dedicated to preserving and performing jazz.


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Explore African-American music and culture at the Danforth

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The Danforth Museum of Art will present a free “Educator’s Evening” with Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D., one of the nation’s leading experts on African-American music and culture, on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m.

Dr. Price is an associate professor of music and African American studies at Northeastern University where he also serves as chairman of the Department of African American Studies. He is also the executive editor of the Encyclopedia of African American Music, author of HIP HOP Culture, and editor of The Black Church, Hip Hop Culture and the Dilemma of the Generational.
The evening will concentrate on how to stimulate student learning through captivating teaching. Dr. Price will offer many practical tips in how to use Black Creative Expression as a catalyst for connecting with students and inspiring more focused learning. Through his interactive presentation, audience members will be inspired to learn more about the Power of Black Creative Expression and how its power can be used to transform the lives of young people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures.
Special attention will be paid to the work of longtime Framingham resident Meta Warrick Fuller, a visionary leader among the giants of the art world and generally considered one of the first African-American female sculptors of importance. She studied under a number of different sculptors, including a one-on-one critique with Auguste Rodin. She is often described as an influential precursor to the Harlem Renaissance who is best-known for her groundbreaking depictions of the African and African-American experience.
This free event open begins with a meet and greet at 4 p.m. and Dr. Price’s talk at 4:30 pm. Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for a question-and-answer session and tours of the Meta Warrick Fuller sculpture collection. This may also be the last chance to see the current Danforth Museum exhibitions of Rhoda Rosenberg, Brice Marden, Sachiko Akiyama,and Carol Keller, which will be closing on Feb. 6.

African-American art collector Vivian Hewitt recalls how works were found

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by: Virginia Linn, Pittsburgh post-gazette


Vivian Hewitt turns 91 on Feb. 17, but she seemed unfazed last week about leaving her Upper West Side apartment in snow-buried New York City to travel here this week to talk about her lifelong passion.

Mrs. Hewitt, a New Castle native who was the first black librarian in Pittsburgh, went on to make a mark in the world of African-American art with her late husband, John.

Vivian Hewitt’s lecture

Where: Geneva College, 3200 College Ave., Beaver Falls, 15010.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Admission: Free, but tickets are required and can be reserved by calling 724-847-5559 or e-mailing cynlcook@geneva.edu.

Art on display: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon Friday in Skye Lounge.

Through their travels, family connections and friends in New York, they amassed one of the most renowned collections of African-American art, which today serves as the cornerstone of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture in Charlotte, N.C.

But she’s coming here to talk about the 40 pieces of original Haitian and other African-American art they donated over the years to Geneva College, her alma mater.

Formerly scattered across the Beaver Falls campus in McCartney Library, Alexander Hall, and various faculty and staff offices, the pieces will be on display together in the upper level of the Student Center in Skye Lounge. The exhibit will be free and open to the public 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

Mrs. Hewitt is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Skye Lounge.

The art collection happened by chance, she said last week. She met her husband when she was a librarian and instructor at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), and he was an English teacher at nearby Morehouse College. They married in 1949, and looking for ways to decorate their faculty suite, they picked up a print at a New York City museum during their honeymoon there.

They soon started purchasing original Haitian art, traveling to the Caribbean country from 1960 to 1965, as well as works by black and folk artists in Mexico and other places. Although both drew modest salaries, they made a point in giving each other original art on every gift-giving occasion.

When they moved to New York City in 1952, they visited galleries and shows and were introduced in the waning days of the Harlem renaissance to the Market Place Gallery, which was operated by Mr. Hewitt’s sister, Adele Glasgow. There they became friends with black artists and began collecting work that hadn’t yet hit the mainstream.

“We started investing in our own heritage and culture,” said Mrs. Hewitt. “Their work was affordable then,” she said of the black artists.

Among the pieces in their collection at the North Carolina center are works by Romare Bearden, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Elizabeth Catlett, Jonathan Green, Jacob Lawrence, Ann Tanksley, Hale Woodruff and Margaret Burroughs.

Mrs. Hewitt says an article in The New York Times in the early 1970s put a spotlight on the emerging prominence of African-American art, which was beginning to be purchased by white collectors.

“In essence it said that African-American art was here to stay, and [collectors] better get on the bandwagon,” she said last week. “It was a turning point for people recognizing the importance of African-American artists. Because of racism and the tenor of the times, this is what happened to exist.”

In 1998, Bank of America acquired the John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art. The exhibit toured the United States for 10 years during construction of the $18 million Gantt center in North Carolina that became its permanent home in 2009. Mrs. Hewitt, in her late 70s and 80s by this time, visited the 25 to 30 cities on the tour. Her husband died in 2000.

Earlier in her life, of course, Mrs. Hewitt was a pioneer in Pittsburgh. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Geneva in 1943 and a master’s in library science from the Carnegie Tech Library School (later folded into the University of Pittsburgh). She was the first black librarian hired by Carnegie Library and worked at the Hill District and Homewood branches before moving to Atlanta.

She’s particularly proud of the couple’s contributions in bringing awareness to black artists.

Today, she said “there are fine African-American artists in every region of the United States.”

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Antebellum and Civil War eras

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by: Harriet Powers


From its early origins in slave communities, through the end of the 20th century, African-American art has made a vital contribution to the art of the United States.[1] During the period between the 17th century and the early 19th century art took the form of small drums, quilts, wrought-iron figures and ceramic vessels in the southern United States; these artifacts have similarities with comparable crafts in West and Central Africa. In contrast, black artisans like the New England–based engraver Scipio Moorhead and the Baltimore portrait painter Joshua Johnson created art that was conceived in a western European fashion for their local markets.[2]

Many slaves arrived from Africa as skilled artisans, having worked in these or similar media in Africa. Others learned their trades or crafts as apprentices to African or white skilled workers. It was often the practice for slave owners to hire out skilled artisans. With the consent of their masters, some slave artisans also were able to keep wages earned in their free time and thereby save enough money to purchase their, and their families’, freedom.[3]

G.W. Hobbs, William Simpson, Robert M. Douglas Jr., Patrick H. Reason, Joshua Johnson, and Scipio Moorhead were among the earliest known portrait artists, from the period of 1773–1887. While there were no schools during this period in the United States where an African-American artist could learn to paint, patronage by some white families allowed for private tutorship in special cases. Many of these sponsoring whites were abolitionists. The artists received more encouragement and were better able to support themselves in cities, of which there were more in the North and border states.

Harriet Powers 1837–1910 was an African American folk artist and quilt maker from rural Georgia, United States born into slavery. Now nationally recognized for her quilts, she used traditional appliqué techniques to record local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events on her quilts. Only two of her late quilts have survived: Bible Quilt 1886 and Bible Quilt 1898. Her quilts are considered among the finest examples of 19th-century Southern quilting [4], [5]. Like Powers, the women of Gee’s Bend developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional American (and African American) quilts, but with a geometric simplicity. Although widely separated by geography, they have qualities reminiscent of Amish quilts and modern art. The women of Gee’s Bend passed their skills and aesthetic down through at least six generations to the present.[6] At one time scholars believed slaves sometimes utilized quilt blocks to alert other slaves about escape plans during the time of the Underground Railroad,[7]Quilting remains alive as form of artistic expression in the African-American community. but most historians do not agree.

Connecting People with Art – October Gallery Art Book -BlackStream Renaissance.

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BlackStream Renaissance

Here is an excerpt from the October Gallery Art book “Connecting People with Art”
See if you agree or disagree with this:

Our national and international patrons and artists have witnessed firsthand the creation and development of the African-American art industry, which prior to the 1970s was almost nonexistent. This group of patrons and artists are part of what we call the BlackStream Renaissance.

The term “blackstream” was used by Black artists in the 1900s who were denied admission to the art mainstream. More recently, fine art appraiser Edward S. Spriggs of Atlanta, Georgia brought the term “blackstream” to our attention. Feeling there was a need to identify this important time of formative awareness of, belief in and commitment to African-American art, we coined the phrase BlackStream Renaissance.

We further define this growth period as being marked by a collective community conscientiousness that recognizes the creative, cultural and financial viability of African-American visual expression.

The interplay between artists, community members and available resources has created a fabric-like cohesion characterized by:
 • Artists willing to create
 • A community that can inspire its artists
 • A community that accepts its own cultural
 creations as having value
 • Sufficient community resources to sustain the
 exchange of value

The patrons and artists of the BlackStream Renaissance purchased and sold art, displayed it at home and at work and shared it with friends, family, co-workers and the general public. In short, they have made African-American art an indispensable part of their everyday lives. The African-American community is effectively supporting and building an art industry, perpetuated primarily by its own members.

Artists, galleries, museums and others in the art business realize that because of proper education, focused marketing and love of culture, African-Americans have shifted their habits and allocated to the visual arts a portion of the more than 750 billion dollars they spend each year. This group has invested precious time and valuable resources in African-American art and has thereby continued to give it value.

To be clear, the BlackStream Renaissance welcomes the mainstream but does not have to rely on it for content, aesthetic validation or financial continuance.

Educator and curator David C. Driskell said, “The boom in Black art has come about not in the market of galleries of the auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, but from ordinary Black people.”

Most African-American artists market and exhibit in the African-American community. Successful Black art festivals and expos, where artists sell and exhibit, recognize the importance of marketing to this special community. It is in this community where the strength and the value of African-American art begins. It is this community that has provided the foundation for the Blackstream Renaissance.

Vegan Mainstream provides marketing solutions to vegan and vegetarian businesses

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Vegan Mainstream provides marketing solutions to vegan and vegetarian businesses. It is a strategic planning and marketing company ready to exceed your marketing ambitions for your business.

Vegan Mainstream was founded by Stephanie Redcross, a dedicated vegan with over 11 years’ marketing experience with small businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Stephanie heads up a team of people who are extraordinarily talented in strategic planning, market intelligence, social media, design, search engine optimization and public relations. As a result Vegan Mainstream excels in its ability to combine expertise and provide a custom marketing solutions service.

The word ‘vegan’ was invented over 65 years ago and while veganism was once considered extreme, going vegan or vegetarian is now becoming a greatly admired and popular life choice. There’s no doubt that ‘less-meat-a-tarian’ consumers are increasing – but whether vegan, vegetarian or non-vegan, more people than ever insist on buying animal cruelty-free products. Vegan Mainstream uses innovative marketing tools to spread awareness of your animal friendly business to both vegan and non-vegan consumers.

Vegan Mainstream can help you if you want to increase customer volume; improve your web traffic; manage a Twitter campaign; identify new customers; or if you need creative product promotions; detailed market intelligence; campaign management; and PR mastery. Vegan Mainstream is here to make your vegan or vegetarian businesses succeed, so it can propel your business into the mainstream — request a proposal.

Email: marketing@veganmainstream.com

Phone: (858) 523-8345

Address: P.O. Box 12076, La Jolla, CA 92039

The Mountain of Miracles by Cleous Young

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Young David and his grandfather, on their daily trek to find medicine to treat his grandfather’s worsening illness, suddenly stumble upon a thriving, prosperous village one day. Filled with warm, personable individuals, the village is rife with the spirit of community and shared responsibility, and the two of them are instantly welcomed. Fitting right in, over the next few years the village ultimately becomes their new home, and all of them – David, his grandfather, and the villagers alike – couldn’t be happier.

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Pimps in the Pulpit – the Stage Play – Shannon Bellamy

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Take a look at the video, tells us what you think of this new stage play.

PHILADELPHIA, PA–(Marketwire – September 30, 2009) – Based on a true story, Shannon Bellamy writes about her experience with a church scandal and exposes the church whose choir won the 2009 Steve Harvey Hoodie Awards for best Choir, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In her book “Pimps in the Pulpit” she talks about her nearly three-year love affair with her Philadelphia Pastor and former Bermuda Radio Personality.

The subtitle of Shannon’s book, “He was my… Counselor, Friend, Confidant and Lover, ‘Her’ Husband, ‘Their’ Father and ‘Our Pastor'” is a strong message about the secret lives a lot of Pastors lead in today’s churches. A series of trials and tribulations has uniquely prepared Shannon Bellamy to tackle and subsequently overcome some of life’s most insurmountable odds. Her story tells what happened to cause this strong woman to be broken and blindly trusting; become weak, vulnerable and get manipulated into an intimate relationship with her Counselor/Pastor who is also married. She exposes the secret life of her Pastor and the five other Pastors in their “Boys Club” in the church. Her story is not about tearing down the church but rather to expose inappropriate relationships between Pastors and Parishioners and how it can affect these wounded victims’ lives, self esteem, spirituality and soul.

In her tell all book she gives a tantalizing play-by-play analysis of the endless late night rendezvous, orchestrated lies and deception. Shannon also discloses the details of her near death experience as a result of undergoing extensive cosmetic surgery that he coerced her to endure for his own personal enjoyment.

Ms. Bellamy hopes her story will bring same sex counseling as a mandate in the church to protect both the Pastors and parishioners from “human nature” and allow the church to get back to the business of saving the lost, sick and broken without the distraction of the “flesh” and decrease inappropriate church relationships within the church! A real page turner of what really goes on behind the pulpit when church is not in session. Don’t be a victim of the “Pimps in the Pulpit” who prey on vulnerable women, single or married!

Share in her struggles and Triumphs as she finds herself and breaks away, from who she believed was the love of her life, in order to save her life. Feel the gravity of her pain; agonize with her through her moments of self doubt; experience her slow journey to personal redemption and unfolding triumph.

“Pimps in the Pulpit” can be ordered online at www.shannonbellamy.com or bookstores nationwide.

Shannon Bellamy has appeared on the national syndicated Michael Baisden Show and a host of other radio programs and speaking engagements go to her website for a list.

Shannon Bellamy
Tel. 201-759-8561
Email Contact
www.shannonbellamy.com

Top 10 home decor trends for 2011

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(ARA) – Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue. While typically the refrain for most brides, this adage holds equally true for the top home decorating trends for the coming year.

What’s old is new again
Whether they’re genuine period pieces being repurposed or home furnishings reproduced from popular items from the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s, vintage will be hot next year, according to Kenneth Ludwig of Kenneth Ludwig Home Furnishings, Ltd. Examples include chair frames redone in new upholstery, traditional lighting fixtures in newer brass or pewter finishes, or products imported from Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic such as chairs done in old grain sacks, or old carts from factories used for end tables or coffee tables.

A spectrum of colors
Color trends will carry over from 2010 to 2011 with the soothing aqua and green hues that draw their inspiration from the verdigris deposits found on weathered copper statues, predicts design expert, TV host/spokesperson and best-selling author Kathy Peterson. For outdoor furniture and accessories, she sees sassy colors like lime green, bold orange and Caribbean blue, along with more subdued hues such as sage green, barn red and mocha brown.

The mad, mad world of furniture
Taking a nod from the award-winning AMC series “Mad Men,” Linda Fougerousse of Interior Transformation, Inc. also sees furniture styles returning to the ’50s and ’60s with round tapered legs on angles, geometric accents and seating with curved backs. Jase Frederick of Jase Frederick Sustainable Interiors adds that classic wood pieces made from sentimental stock like fallen trees or scrap wood from ancestral or historic structures will become heirlooms to pass from one generation to the next.

A trend that will stick around
A small change in a room can make a huge difference – and wall coverings make a dramatic, yet cost-effective statement. With their innovative new SmartStick repositionable wall murals, Murals Your Way has made it easy for homeowners, renters and even college students to add a fresh new look to indoor and outdoor walls, floors, doors and windows. “Easily replied and removed, SmartStick murals boast a high quality, lightly textured finish and can be reused and reinstalled hundreds of times,” says Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way. “It’s a perfect temporary – or long-term – decorating solution for consumers.”

Illuminating insights
As living green becomes more ingrained in our lives, LED lighting will continue to light the way, according to Jeff Dross, senior product manager of Kichler Lighting, who will introduce several new under-cabinet systems and landscape products with an ultra-efficient technology next year. For a casual, contemporary twist, Dross also suggests hanging chandeliers in new areas such as bathrooms, bedrooms and closets, and embracing today’s art glass applications, which are much more chic and casual than the Tiffany lamps of the past.

There’s nothing bland about neutrals
In a recent video posted on her website, Michelle Lamb – co-founder and chairman of Minneapolis-based Marketing Directions, Inc. and editorial director of The Trend Curve – spoke about a resurgence in neutrals in 2011. These more complex “chameleon” neutrals will have more color, and will shift and change based on the light and whatever’s around them. Lamb claims that these neutrals will be “the likes of which we haven’t seen in 20 years or more.”

You’ve gotta have heart
The kitchen remains the “heart of the home,” according to Andrea Vollf of Andrea Vollf Interiors. Consumers interested in remodeling their kitchens should consider a well-designed, open, airy layout that integrates the kitchen into the rest of their homes. Dross also suggests new countertop materials in lieu of granite, such as quartz stone or binding crushed recyclable glass underneath a solid, smooth surface for those seeking green alternatives.

Underfoot … but not underrated
M. Grace Sielaff of M. Grace Designs, Inc. envisions rich-looking herringbone-patterned hardwood floors in an ebony oak finish – paying attention to board thickness and giving special consideration to products that meet industry LEED requirements. For a green touch, Frederick suggests hardwood flooring from reclaimed wood or sustainably grown and harvested sources. To add warmth, Marta Cullen of Dream Interiors suggests round rugs – the bigger, the better.

Things are definitely looking up
According to Janet Davidsen of Details in Design, Inc., homeowners are casting their eyes upward. The ceiling will be embellished and noticed more as the “fifth wall,” and may be painted or architecturally enhanced to play more of a focal point in a space. Sielaff also suggests homeowners consider a painted metallic ceiling with a large, eye-catching chandelier.

Green continues to be keen
According to Kathy Hoffman of Susan Fredman Design Group, products and materials such as bronze, copper, clay, cotton, linen and hemp – which are environmentally friendly, contribute to healthy indoor air quality, and can be repurposed or recycled at the end of their lifespan – will be in high demand. Vollf adds that using such natural textures as hemp, jute, organic cotton, recycled polyester, bamboo fiber, organic wool and linen, and soy silk will help keep it simple but still green.

For more information on top trends, go to www.muralsyourway.com.

How to bring the outside in when the weather cools

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(ARA) – For many folks, connecting with nature has calming and inv
igorating effects. However, cold and short days make getting outside a little more difficult. If you find yourself coming down with a case of cabin fever every winter, try bringing the outside in and decorating your home in a way that will make you feel more connected with the outdoors in the comfort of your own living room.

There are many ways to make your home seem less like a sheltered fortress and more like a cozy connector to the natural world. From incorporating natural elements in your home decor to splashing your walls with open air scenes, here are a few ways to beat the winter doldrums through earthy embellishments:

* Landscape indoors through art. A great way to make your home feel cozier in the winter is to decorate with landscape art that reminds you of the beauty of the season. If you live in a warmer destination and are missing the white wonderland created by snow, decorate to get your fix of winter.

Take it a step further and transform an entire room of your home with a wall mural. From holiday-centric Santa scenes to beautiful snowy landscapes, Murals Your Way offers numerous holiday wall murals that can transform your living room into a lovely winter escape. Their SmartStick repositionable wall fabric allows easy install and removal. Just store your mural with the holiday decorations and reapply it year after year.

* Feed the fire. There’s nothing better than the natural heat and aromas created by a flame burning in a fireplace during a cold winter day. Don’t have a fireplace? Not to worry, as there are other ways you can create a toasty ambiance. Download a fireplace application that can be displayed on your TV or computer screen; just the vision of dancing flames may be able to warm your soul. Or find some candles that emit earthy aromas that will have you feeling comfortable and cozy.

* Bring the forest inside. There’s a reason why people go to the trouble of cutting down trees and lugging them into their homes for the holidays. The natural smell of pine is invigorating and reminds us of being outside. Take it a step further and gather a bundle of sticks from birch or aspen trees for a winter-themed arrangement of your choosing. Potted trees and plants can also add life to an otherwise lackluster room.

* Making scents. In addition to scented candles, you can also use other natural elements to create scents that can tie you back to nature. For example, venture outside and collect perfect-looking pine cones and embellish them with natural oils or spices to give your home a warmer fragrance.

Winter can be cold and dreary in some parts of the country, but if you spend more time connecting yourself with nature and celebrating the season, you’ll be shocked at how the time flew by when you hear the first birds chirping in the spring.

Portraits to Consider – The art work of Donald Stephens

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by J. Dorene Picker for October Gallery

As an artist I began my formal training centered around graphite and charcoal drawing. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for this medium and the work of Donald Stephens seems to reflect everything I enjoy about it. The key to creating an expressive drawing lies almost entirely in technique and skill.

Donald’s work is not only expressive but well detailed. His portrait work contains emotion and movement. The decision to include more free formed elements in some pieces are part of his unique style. This is truly a series of work anyone can appreciate. If his intent was to “convey a certain moment in time and space,” than he has successfully done so in these works of art.

Having spent a great deal of time learning, implementing and admiring similar works myself it is always refreshing to see another artist add their own twist to a classic art form. I would like to see more of Mr. Stephen’s works in a series. There are moving themes of pride and thought consistently portrayed here. This artist is well suited for creating some eye opening and memorable themes. I’d also love to see them manifest into multiple piece displays available for collectors. Two pieces titled “introverted” and Extroverted” for example make a great set to be displayed and admired side by side. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

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Donald Stephens – New Artwork

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Donald Stephens resides in Burlington County NJ since 1987. He has attended Burlington County College obtaining an AAS 90’. Mr. Stephens then furthered his yearning for the arts at Temple University Tyler School of the Arts, where he has achieved his BFA 96’; simultaneously completing a full term in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a Communicator. Lately, he has displayed his work in various locations in the Delaware Valley area and Northern New Jersey Area. To add, the role of Artist/Instructor/Lecturer has been carefully added to his list of creative skill; teaching in the area art centers of Southern NJ: Markiem Art Center, Perkins Art Center, Burlington County College Community Enrichment, Art Teacher at Garfield Park Academy and several other locations throughout the New Jersey , Philadelphia area. Mr. Stephens’s unique expressive quality enables him to create in several modes of material manipulation from wet to dry but has a deep passion for charcoal drawing. Within his observations Donald has formulated his own visual syntax that has been described as expressive, informative and imaginative simply by maneuvering material and experiences to convey a certain moment in time and space.

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Colours of My Soul – Labarron Person

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You’re invited to the online world of Labarron Person! He was born August 28th, 1965. He began his brilliant artwork at the tender age of four. A self taught artist, who never received any formal training. He creates work from the soul that continues to push limits beyond what any formal training can teach. With his “heart and soul”, Person creates portraits, spirituals, abstracts, landscapes, sketches, and many more! The ultimate goal of Colours of My Soul is to create quality art that is positive, soulful, beautiful, and art that brings hope to all people.

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Pimps in the Pulpit by Shannon Bellamy – The Play

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“PIMPS IN THE PULPIT” STAGE PLAY
AT THE TEMPLE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA JANUARY 21 & 22, 2011!

West Philadelphia author Shannon Bellamy writes about a very sensitive topic. Her first published book “Pimps in the Pulpit,” received national attention, as she wrote about those in church leadership who abuse their positions. Now, she is planning the release of her sequel titled “Breaking the Silence,” that continues her exposure of West Philadelphia clergymen she says are not being faithful to their flock.

Bellamy revealed the details of her relationship to a West Philadelphia pastor in her first book. This pastor was married at the time Bellamy became involved with him. “Breaking the Silence” now continues the saga.“The books deal with how a woman can find herself in an inappropriate relationship,” said Bellamy. “I personally found myself in a relationship with my pastor, who was married, because he was my counselor.”

Since the West Philadelphia pastor served as her spiritual adviser, she was easy prey for this form of emotional and spiritual abuse, according to Bellamy. “This man learned my vulnerabilities. He (had access) to learning about them because I was in a therapeutic environment and he was counseling me on life issues. Somewhere down the line there must have been a shift on his part emotionally,” she said.

As a result of public attention, the pastor was forced to resign from his position in one of the area’s well-known mega-churches. A lawsuit is now pending against both the pastor and his former church. Bellamy said that since the lawsuit is still pending she was unable to comment about the details.

“Breaking the Silence” will fill in many details not included in her previous book and will cover personal accounts of her life not then explored. Among the issues she feels led to her becoming vulnerable to her pastor was the experience of being molested by her mother’s boyfriend between ages 11 to 14.

Bellamy feels her books can provide life lessons to younger girls and inexperienced women. The book, she said, is designed as much to empower other women and encourage them to speak out against immorality in the church. These girls and women should not suffer in silence, according to the author.

“Other women have come forward and said, ‘We want to tell our story,’ so I’m taking those stories and bringing them into one place,” said Bellamy. “I’m taking those stories national.”

Yet penning her own story and those of women like her has not been without repercussions. She said some of the women from the church have berated her. She has also received threats. Currently she has had to hire security to ensure the protection of herself and her children. Nevertheless, she said she will continue her mission to raise awareness and change church practices that support this type of abuse.“

Bringing awareness to this on a national level and demanding some changes, that is my journey,” said Bellamy. “ From the time ‘Pimps in the Pulpit’ came out until now, my journey — all of the radio interviews, the backlash, the nasty e-mails, having to walk around with security, having churches respond by this, local radio stations attempting to prostitute the book, this was all in my effort to raise awareness and implement changes.”

Those interested in learning more about Shannon Bellamy or her new book “Breaking the Silence,” can visit her Web site at: www.shannonbellamy.com .