NCAnewyork HOSTS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art; a NCA opening exhibition, at the new Kalahari Harlem and a day of panels and exhibition opening, “Reflexions of Conferences Past” highlighting events from NCA conferences, at the pre-eminent research library,  The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.

Also adding to the Black art activities was the 13^th annual “National Black Fine Art Show at their new location, New York’s newest conference center at 7 West 34^th Street featuring several panels conducted by The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts.

The pre-conference opening ceremony consisting of youth from several Harlem schools;  a talk by Alison Saar, creator of the monument and one of this year’s “NCA Black Art History Maker’s Award” recipients; a libation by NCA National Board member and member of the Board of NCAnewyork, noted scholar Dr. Rosalind Jeffries; members of NCAnewyork including Ed Sherman (NCAnewyork Board member and former National President), Kwame Brathwaite, NCAnewyork Executive Director (and former National President) and guests.

Jeremiah Kyle Drake, who would receive a “Black Art History Maker’s Award for his campaign, “Restoring the Icon” later that day, related experiences that he had had by some who feared the power that the artist has had in influencing thought many situations.   His passionate presentation on behalf of the artist, especially those using art as an instrument for social change, showed why he had be selected as the awardee for his work promoting the use of art in influencing how the public relates to social issues.

Burroughs, a schoolteacher, related “how the expression of my militancy necessitated my being hauled down to the Board of Education to be questioned concerning my views, political and otherwise” and what she thought about Robeson. “Even though my job was on the line, I knew I had to stand with Paul”, she said, “I have nothing but admiration for Mr. Robeson,  I think he is the greatest artist that America has produced. I’m proud that I belong to the same race of people as Paul Robeson.”

A reception followed at the NCA exhibition at The Kalahari Condominiums in Harlem’s “Little Africa” section on 116th Street, where many Senegalese business flourish. The Kalahari Harlem is a luxurious “green building” and it reflects the same commitment to the preservation and sharing of the earth's fragile resources that the Kalahari's San people have practiced for 50,000 years. Kalahari Harlem is designed and built to the US Green Building Council's LEED Silver Standards with the goal of limiting the building's impact on the environment while still providing luxurious and modern resources. The lobby features a permanent art collection of mainly African and African American artists. The NCA exhibitions were held in one of the penthouse suites and conference goers and guests along with awardees led by Dr. Burroughs viewed the works of NCA artists produced by NCAnewyork Exhibitions Director Gloria Aziza Lawyer who currently directs the gallery offerings at the well-appointed jewel of Harlem, whose residences range from half a million to a million and a half.

Saturday’s conference and panels were held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the pre-eminent institution for the study of Black culture. It opened with Dr. Burroughs dialoging and advising a group of students from the College of New Rochelle’s Bedford Stuyvesant campus who study art and art history with NCA artist Professor M.L.J. Johnson.