Art for Sale Page 2

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Humphrey employs visual metaphors to channel her experience growing up as an African American woman. Everyday objects become recurring symbols in her prints: zebras embody the strength of her heritage; a plate of yams represents nourishment or survival. Whether celebrating her childhood or confronting her personal fears, Humphrey’s artwork navigates her life story to convey hope, possibility, and love.

Margo Humphrey presents over forty-five color plates, from the artist’s early abstract art through her groundbreaking lithographs in the figurative narrative style. The text by Adrienne L. Childs considers the memories and events that inspired Humphrey’s powerful oeuvre, and the foreword by David C. Driskell places Humphrey in the forefront of contemporary printmaking.

Since Humphrey’s first solo exhibition in 1965, her art has been exhibited and collected worldwide and now resides in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Humphrey has lectured and taught across the world and is currently a tenured professor of art at the University of Maryland, College Park.

ADRIENNE L. CHILDS is curator-in-residence at the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her PhD in nineteenth-century European art from the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as an MBA from Howard University and a BA from Georgetown University. Dr. Childs specializes in twentieth-century African American art, as well as race and representation in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European art. She teaches African American and European art history and is the author of Evolution: Five Decades of Printmaking by David C. Driskell (Pomegranate, 2007).

DAVID C. DRISKELL is Distinguished University Professor of Art Emeritus, University of Maryland. A noted artist, curator, scholar, and lecturer, Driskell received the National Humanities Medal from President Bill Clinton in 2000. His paintings were exhibited in 1993 at the American Academy of Arts and Letters and are in many public and private collections worldwide.

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First is an overview of the history of African American art–which in this country predates the Civil War–and a detailed explanation of the raison d’etre behind the Cosby collection. Part 2 discusses five prominent postcolonial African American artists who lead the way for future black artists and the struggles they overcame to promote cultural emancipation and acceptance in the American mainstream.

Subsequent parts reveal how African American artists continued the quest for recognition, culminating in the turning point of black culture in the twentieth century in the United States: The Harlem Renaissance. Throughout the discussions within each of the book’s six parts, beautiful full-color artworks from the Cosby collection highlight and validate Driskell’s writing. Rene Hanks’s biographies add even more information about the featured artists as well as indicate the locations of the major collections of their works.

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DETROIT (AP) — Singer, songwriter and record producer Harvey Fuqua, an early mentor of Marvin Gaye, has died. Fuqua was 80.

Ron Brewington of the Motown Alumni Association says Fuqua died of a heart attack Tuesday at a Detroit hospital.

The Louisville, Kentucky, native founded the R&B-doo-wop group the Moonglows, which signed with DJ Alan Freed. The group’s first single was the 1954 hit “Sincerely.”

Fuqua added Gaye and others in 1958 to a reconstituted group that he called Harvey and the Moonglows. It had the 1958 hit “Ten Commandments of Love.”

He started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records in 1961, recording the Spinners, Junior Walker & the All Stars, and Shorty Long.

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy later hired Fuqua to develop recording talent.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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At its sixth biannual specialist sale, Swann sets four new artist records

By Viv Lawes | Web only
Published online 9 Mar 10 (market)

Hot on the heels of resurgent sales of impressionist, modern and contemporary works in London, auction records for African-American artists continued to stack up as Swann held its sixth dedicated biannual sale on 23 February in New York.

Sales were patchy but healthy enough: of 162 works offered, 118 sold (73% by lot) at a premium-inclusive total of $1.24m, just under the $1.3-1.9m total estimate. The top seller was auction virgin Malvin Gray Johnson’s best-known and celebrated oil painting Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, 1928-29, for which a collector paid $228,000 (estimate $200,000-$250,000). Four new artist records followed as institutions, collectors and dealers competed for the best works—this included a record for Sargent Claude Johnson’s tan painted terracotta figure Untitled (Standing Woman), 1933-35, which went to an unnamed institution for $52,800.

Swann’s inaugural sale of African-American art took place in February 2007, growing from specialist-in-charge Nigel Freeman’s observation of the frisson caused by African-American artists’ works on paper during regular prints and drawings sales.

“Three years ago, there was no auction market for African-American artists that even came close to their fair market value, with the exception of works by Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden and Henry Ossawa Tanner”, said Mr. Freeman. “Now we have set auction records for many more important artists and have introduced over 100 African-American artists to auction”.

Swann’s market for printed and manuscript African-Americana is significantly more mature. Specialist annual sales were launched 16 years ago by Wyatt Houston Day. The latest took place on 25 February, two days after the African-American fine art sale—with matching sales statistics of 73% sold by lot (287 of 390).

Institutional interest was spurred by an African-American art history archive built over five decades by artist-writer James Amos Porter, author of the groundbreaking Modern Negro Art, 1943. Packed with correspondence, photographs, catalogues and other data, four major institutions examined it before the sale. One anonymous institution secured it for $50,400 (estimate $30,000-$40,000), described by Wyatt Day as “a very good but still modest price [considering] the richness of the prime research material”. The result was second only to the departmental record of $57,600, set last February for five hours of original 16mm film of black life in the 1920s, shot by Reverend Solomon Sir Jones.

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With all the aspects of a highly collectible and rare offering, collectors and enthusiasts anticipate high demand for this First Lady Edition. Artfully detailed, the figurine captures the essence of Michelle Obama…elegant, sophisticated yet disarmingly down-to-earth, traits she is certain to pass on to her own lovely daughters.

Ripon, CA (BlackNews.com) — Limited to only 3000 pieces worldwide, Thomas Blackshear’s figurine of Mrs. Obama is an heirloom quality work of art that can be passed down for generations. Mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins, girlfriends and co-workers, who appreciate value and true character, will want to own this significant piece of modern history. However, considering the popularity and limited production of Blackshear’s soon-to-be-released First Lady Edition, it is expected that this figurine won’t be available long. Orders should be placed now at Collector Hub to guarantee delivery of First Lady Edition of Michelle Obama.

In the likeness of her official White House portrait, Thomas Blackshear’s interpretation of the First Lady is sure to impress. A lovely complement to the President Barack Obama figurine; Michelle wears a classic sleeveless dress resembling the one designed for her by Michael Kors. As in the official photograph of Mrs. Obama taken in the Blue Room of the White House by Joyce N. Bognosian, the First Lady Edition figurine bares her delicately sculpted arms to show off her signature style.

Much like the highly sought after Presidential Edition of the Barack Obama figurine, collectors will be lining up to purchase the First Lady Edition Michelle Obama. Both pieces are part of Blackshear’s Ebony Visions(TM) Collection and pay honor to America’s first African-American Couple in the White House. Order both figurines today at Collector Hub and begin a personal legacy that can be handed down from mother to daughter or other members in the family tree.

America’s infatuation with its First Ladies is not at all a passing trend. President’s wives are an intricate part of this nation’s history. Serving their country silently, the presidential wives have remained loyal and supportive from the past to the present. First and foremost a mom and wife, Michelle Obama is an inspiring example of one who believes it is also her duty to serve her country.

“I believe that each of us – no matter what our age or background or walk of life – each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.” — Michelle Obama, Speech at the Democratic National Convention

Kicking off her campaign Let’s Move, Obama practices what she preaches by working with parents and community to help fight obesity in children. A motivating example of hope, commitment and determination, First Lady Michelle Obama is sure to be an unforgettable figure in American history and Blackshear’s First Lady Edition figurine is an excellent way to celebrate this remarkable woman.

About Thomas Blackshear:
Widely known for his dignified and uniquely powerful depictions of African-Americans, Thomas is one of the hottest contemporary collectible artists in the world. His imaginative portrayals are full of lifelike details that transcend stereotypes and resonate with universal truths. Thomas has helped bring the African-American experience to life in a way that’s never been conceived of before. A touring exhibit of his Black Heritage works premiered at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. He has been honored with the coveted International Collectible Artist award. He has also been featured on The 700 Club, Ebony/Jet Showcase, and in The Saturday Evening Post. Blackshear has created works for Disney, Coca-Cola, National Geographic, the United States Postal Service and Universal Studios; and these are just a few of his accolades.

About Collector Hub
Formerly known as Blackshear Online, Collector Hub, established in 2001 is the Internet’s preeminent gathering place for collectors of internationally acclaimed African American artist, Thomas Blackshear. Our goal is to continue to be the most comprehensive Thomas Blackshear community by providing the essential link collectors need to interact and share ideas and information, and conveniently and confidently purchase Thomas Blackshear products online. Visit our web site at www.CollectorHub.com or call us at (209) 599-8599. And don’t forget to bookmark our new web site.

All trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.

PRESS CONTACT:
Larraine Covington
info@CollectorHub.com
209-599-8599

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The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the world’s largest institution dedicated to the African American experience. The Museum provides exhibitions and programs that explore the diversity of African American history and culture. The Museum houses over 30,000 artifacts and archival materials and is home to the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, Coleman A. Young Collection and the Sheffield Collection, a repository of documents of the labor movement in Detroit. The Museum features:

• Seven exhibition areas devoted to African Americans and their stories.
• The Core Exhibit: And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture. The interactive, multi-level exhibit opened to rave reviews in November 2004.
• A Glass Dome, 100 feet in diameter and 55-feet high. The architectural wonder is two feet wider than the State Capitol dome.
• The terrazzo tile creation, Genealogy, by Hubert Massey located in the Ford Freedom Rotunda floor.
• The Louise Lovett Wright Research Library.
• The General Motors Theater, a 317-seat facility for live performances, film screenings, lectures, presentations and more.
• A Museum Store that sells authentic African and African American art, books and merchandise.

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The African American Heritage Preservation Cultural Complex (AACC) originated in 1984,as a hobby, by Dr. and Mrs. E.B. Palmer, then opened in 1989 as the Black Heritage Park. The Palmers’ and George Barner incorporated AACC in 1994. The Palmers’ entered into a Lease Agreement in 1991 for $1.00 per year. The park occupies approximately 3 acres of the wooded land to the rear of the Palmer House at 119 Sunnybrook Road. The AACC was chartered and granted 501 (c)(3) tax status in October 1994. The AACC currently has 3Exhibit Houses located along a natural trail beside a creek, a Mini-Amphitheater, a Bird Sanctuary, Nature Preserve and a Picnic Area and Botanical Gardens. There is no admission fee, however, visitors and friends have donated small sums of money. Friends and organizations have also donated labor and artifacts.

The AACC is striving to be self-sustaining. Plans for the acquisition of additional land for the construction of a major museum complex are being developed. A permanent and mobile exhibit of, “Women of Note” is one of the museum’s new outstanding expansion projects. Plans for the display of a reproduction of the “Amistad” Slave Ship are being developed. The mutiny on the “Amistad” symbolizes the first Civil Rights Case in America and a pronounced example of how the judicial appellate system worked in America and North Carolina. A drama, telling the Amistad Story will be produced during July and August annually. The history of The Benjamin Spaulding Family (NC Mutual Life Insurance Co.) will be presented and preserved in a 4th exhibit house.

Groups which have visited the Complex have come from schools, churches, sororities, fraternities, community organizations and organized group tours. Individuals have come as a result of referrals by tourist center tours and individual testimony. With increased volunteers, staff, upgraded mobile and permanent exhibits, electronic lectures and brochures, the AACC will be able to provide more service to a broader and larger society.
Dr. Tonea Harris Stewart, Actress, was designated “National Spokesperson” for the AACC, while Christopher Coombs, Jr. (nine years old-Durham) was designated “National Youth Spokesperson” for the Amistad Project.

Non-Profit Founded in 1984, the Organization for African American Heritage Preservation Cultural Complex (AACC) is a Chartered organization by the state of North Carolina (October 13, 1994) and tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), with a Foundation Classification of 509(a)(2). AACC operates with a lease agreement at 119 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh, NC (a site zoned “museum” by the Raleigh City Council in February 1995). The AACC Enjoys a $1.00 per year rental agreement with options to extend or to buy (thanks to Curators Dr. E. B. and Mrs. Juanita B. Palmer).