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NCANY
ON-LINE NEWSLETTER
Vol. 1 No. 4
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Publisher:
Kwame Brathwaite
Chief Writer:
Joan Banks
Reporter:
Surya Peterson |
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NCA’S DR. ROSALIND JEFFRIES
ENSTOOLED IN GHANA
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Dr. Rosalind
Jeffries during her enstoolment in Ghana during
PanaFest this
summer.
Photo by Al Surya Peterson |
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NCA’s
Dr. Rosalind Jeffries was
made Queen Mother in an elaborate ceremony celebrating Queen Mother’s
Day, in July during the PanaFest and Emancipation Ceremonies
in Ghana. Rosalind was named Nana Essie Abibio, Queen Mother of
Education, Development and Social Services of the Edina Traditional
Area in Elmina where the infamous slave castle was built in
1482 and where tens of thousands of our ancestors were imprisoned before
shipment to the U.S. and the Caribbean to be enslaved. Paramount Chief
Nana Conduah VI performed the enstoolment, Rosalind’s second. She
was awarded the honor in 1986 in Agogo, along with her husband,
noted scholar and NCAer, Dr. Leonard Jeffries.
Witnessing
the ceremony were NCA members, Charlie T. Johnson, Director of
Regions, Al-Surya Peterson, liaison with the NCA 4th
International Conference (to be held in July 2002 in Ghana) Dr.
Acha Debela, co-chair of the Ghana Conference, and head of the Ghana
Chapter, Claudia Joan Hurst, former President New York Chapter, and
other NCA family members including Prof. James Small and wife Dr.
Carol Small. Both Dr. Leonard and Prof. Small have been previously
enstooled as Divisional Chiefs of Agogo in Asante.
Charlie
and Surya were there on a site tour and to get a first hand look at
facilities for our conference next year. We are looking forward to their
official report. From what I’ve heard, things are looking very, very
good.
All
NCA members, friends and family should be making their conference plans
NOW to ensure that they will have a place next year for the conference and
PanaFest and Emancipation ceremonies that will occur during the conference
tour.
For
information contact: NCA New York (212) 410-7892.
KB
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Tunde
Allen Samuel
July
23, 1949 – August 18, 2001
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Horsedrawn
carriage carries the remains of
Tunde Samuel through the streets
of his beloved Harlem, as
Pres. Mandela waves from the Schomburg in background.
Kwame Brathwaite photo
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Tunde, producer of the
National
Black Theatre’s theatrical productions for the past 32 years, died
at Harlem Hospital, from a
massive stroke, suffered while on assignment working
on Harlem Week activities. This was the second stroke within a
year. Tunde, who performed in every production that NBT produced, was one
of the most talented producers and marketing experts in New York. Samuel
met NBT founder and CEO shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin
Luther King and was mesmerized by her vision for Blacks.
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It was at NBT that Tunde said he truly began to understand what it
is to love a people and a culture. Tunde traveled to Africa with NBT to
Festac
’77, a most profound journey that strengthened his life purpose. |
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In
addition to his cultural and artistic endeavors, Columbia University
offered Tunde a teaching position in their Community Educational Exchange
Program because of his exceptional mind and mathematical skills.
Tunde’s work at NBT flourished. Under his 15 year “producership”,
NBT garnered 39 awards for excellence in Black theatre Tunde’s work at NBT flourished.
Under his 15 year “producership”,
NBT garnered 39 awards for excellence in Black theatre. He won two
AUDELCO Awards for his performances in “The Legacy” and “Soul
Fusion”.
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He produced the hit show “The Fruits of Miss Morning”
which won Best Dramatic Production of the Year and “Song of
Sheba” which won 8 AUDELCO Awards including Best Musical of the
Year. In the ’90-91 season, Tunde produced no less than 6 works
including the very popular “Homegrown” and “Easy Living”. He
also received AUDELCO’s for “Do Wop Love”, “Endangered
Species”and “Blues Train”.
His “Power Play” and “Testify” were nominated
for 16 awards in ’96. Tunde had just returned from the
National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina presenting
two productions, “The Further Adventures of Gussie Mae in
America”, and “From Hoofin 2 Hittin.” The Further
Adventures of Gussie Mae in America”, and “From Hoofin
2 Hittin."
CultureFest Rescheduled
for October 19th
The National Conference of Artists, The National Black Theatre and New Dove Productions have joined in an historic joint venture
CultureFest, The First Annual Celebration of Global Arts & Culture to be presented at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
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Originally planned for September, it was rescheduled because of the World Trade Center tragedy. The gala event will be held on Friday, October 19, 2001. The event will feature awards in various areas of the arts.
Honored will be Pearl Primus (dance and Bob Marley
(music) both
posthumously, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer (institution building),
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Dr. David C. Driskell (art), Voza Rivers (theatre), Moshood, (fashion), The Dinizulu Dancers (longevity in dance), The Last Poets (poetry), and the International African American Arts Festival (30 years of producing quality African arts festivals).
Baba Chuck Davis, producer of Dance Africa,
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will make a special
acknowledgement and announce an honor he has created for the late Ms Primus, pioneer in African dance.
CultureFest will feature entertainment in the Grand Lobby, the Art of the Americas Gallery, the Arts of Africa Gallery and the Cantor auditorium.
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Featured will be
an NBT Institute of Action Arts preview from the play Oya, Atiba Kwabena Wilson & Songhai
Djele, Kimati Dinizulu, Abiodun Oyawole and The Last Poets, Louis Reyes Rivera, Tom
Mitchelson, Calvin Anderson, the "Poet Laureate of the Liberation struggle George Edward Tait, Marie Brooks Dance Company and
FashioNations, wearable art fashions. Featured designers, Brenda
Brunson-Bey (Tribal Truths, Moshood, Adunni Oshupa Tabasi (Alekebu-lan Fashions), Everette Clarke and Khalil (Threads by
Khalil.)
There will be entertainment throughout the museum including a Carnival Parade by Cheryl Byron & Something Positive, , and dancing to the sounds of Superior Style and The Parker Brothers. The awards and libations are sponsored by Hennessy with refreshments and open bar.
For tickets call: NCA (212) 410-7892· NBT (212) 722-5354 · New Dove Productions (914) 285-0419.
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JUST
FOR THE RECORD
by
Joan D. Banks
IT’S TIME TO SHIFT GEARS
The city is one big soundstage in the summer, with outdoor
concerts everywhere. But the daylight hours are dwindling, and that
signals the imminent shift from the aural events to the visual arts
circuit. Galleries that closed for vacation in August have put out their
welcome mats.
Bogolan
Brooklyn
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One modest, but appealing shows on display
through the summer was in the Lobby Gallery of the Brooklyn Central
Library. Javaka Steptoe introduced library patrons to his
artwork with a sampling presented by the Skylight Gallery of Bedford
Stuyvesant Restoration Center. “Windows” aptly
describes his colorful collages depicting vignettes of family life,
set into found window frames. He is the author/illustrator of the
children’s books “In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall” and “Do
You Know What I’ll Do?” On July 14 he gave his artist talk,
relating his background and signing copies of his books.
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Now showing, thru Sept. 30 at
Clinton Hill
Simply Art, photographs by Adrienne Odom. “Harlem’s
Past on My Mind” is the theme. 583 Myrtle Ave., near Classon.
718.857-0074. In the next issue I’ll have a report on a milestone
celebrated in August, by proprietor Lurita Brown.
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MoCADA
was
well ahead of the pack in announcing their new offering. They have
already begun their season with the opening on August 18 of “A
Visual Journey.” It features the work of 8 photographers, each
of whom focused on the indigenous people of a particular country –
Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico or Trinidad
– capturing aspects of personal and public life. They are also
offering a novel extension of the show’s
theme through photography tours with several of the exhibitors.
Sounds like fun! Space is limited, register by calling
718.602-4041. Registration fee = $12 per person, per tour / $20 per
couple. B.Y.O.C. Tours: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2 PM- Photographer Wayne
Clarke – Prospect Park/ Eastern Parkway/ Park Slope.
Photographer Ansel Pitcaim – Youth Tour – Fort Greene Park/
Bogolan (Fulton St.) / Flatbush Ave.; Saturday, Oct. 6, 2:M
Photographer Lenny Gittens Bedford-Stuyvesant/ Fulton Park/
Brownstone Row; Photographer Rachelle Gray – Youth Tour/
Brooklyn Promenade/ Cadman Plaza/ Brooklyn Heights.
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Another
noteworthy facet of MoCADA’s program is the Children’s Writing
Workshop, which offers an essay contest: “A Picture is Worth a
Thousand Words”. Writing is a skill very much in need of attention
from today’s youth. (Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2PM).
The
closing event occurs Sunday, Oct.28 at 2PM, when you’ll see the results
of the artist-led photography tours.
MoCADA is at 281 Stuyvesant Ave.: open Sat. 11-6 and Sun. 1:30 - 6PM.
A
Cause for Celebration!
The
really exciting news from MoCADA is in the invitation to their 2nd
annual Masquerade Ball, set for Friday, Sept. 14, 6 –10PM. It announces
the realization of the dream of Director Laurie Cumbo and all her loyal
supporters.
MoCADA recently
celebrated its first year of exhibiting contemporary works of art by
artists of African descent. The success of the organization has been
phenomenal with well over six thousand visitors taking part in our
exhibitions and public programs. Recently, MoCADA was invited by the
Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Local Development Corporation to take part
in the creation of a 10-year $560 million effort to create a cultural
district surrounding their opera house. MoCADA has been selected to take
part in phase one of the expansion project, and by 2004, MoCADA will move
into a world-class, state-of-the-art museum. The creation of a larger
facility will allow the organization an opportunity to broaden the mission
of the Museum in order to encompass more people and a wider exhibition
scope. This is certainly a cause for celebration.
This time the
festivities will be in a more accessible location, Litchfield Villa
(headquarters of the Prospect Park Alliance) at 5th St. on
Prospect Park West.
Gala
tickets $75. 718.602-4041
Skylight
Gallery
re-opened on Sept. 8 with its “Challenge Exhibition 2001.” The
Challenge Exhibition serves as a platform for emerging artists and
showcases multiple pieces of their most current art so they can make a
statement with their presentation. Al Loving is the curator.
Artists selected include: Tracey Bey, Ralph Fleming, Tahir Hemphill,
Richard Lewis and Wangechi Mutu.
New York, New York
Chelsea
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SKOTO Gallery,
opened Sept. 6 with “Confluences”, paintings by Danny
Simmons and Diako. Diako is from Cameroon and Danny from N.Y., but it is
amazing how similar their work is. Thru Oct. 13. Reception will be on
Friday, 9/14, 6 – 8 PM.529 W. 20th St. 5th Fl.
212.352-8058 Hours Wed -Sat. 11-6.
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| UFA Gallery began their new season Sept. 7, with
Black
Print Masters: Past and Present. The roster of 15 artists includes Charles Alston, Romare Bearden, John
Biggers, Robert Blackburn, Betty Blayton, Elizabeth Catlett, Eldzier
Cortor, Oubré Hayward, Wilmer Jennings, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis,
Samella Lewis, Ann Tanksley, John Wilson and Hale Woodruff. WOW! Show
ends Oct. 13. 508/526 W. 26th
St. suite 317. 212.633-2735.
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SoHo
| June Kelly Gallery
resumed operations Sept. 1 with “Interaction”, the wood
sculptures of Kathleen Spicer (thru Sept. 28). 591 Broadway, near
Houston; 212.226-1660. Tues. – Sat., 11 – 6.
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Harlem
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Fire Patrol No5 Art.
305
W. 121st St. Head up to Harlem for a Solo Show of Recent
Works by Danny Simmons, Presented by E. Kassim Bynoe.
Sept. 19 thru Oct. 13. Artist Reception Sat.Sept. 22.
Hours: Wed – Sat 1-7PM & by appointment.
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Gallery M unveils the
Manhattan Project: paintings
by Hulbert Waldroup. Sept. 7 – Oct. 27. Reception Sat. Sept. 15,
4 – 8PM. 123 W. 135 St. 212.234-4106.
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Tribeca
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| The Gallery @ Manhattan Borough President’s Office.
After the Labor Day extravaganza of the West Indian Carnival Parade,
there was a quiet reception on Sept. 5, to celebrate the creativity of
some of the many fine artists brought here by the Caribbean Diaspora. The
art exhibit in the offices of Manhattan Borough President C.
Virginia Fields, was
organized by Marilyn Hawthorne of
SATTA Gallery, and will be displayed thru Sept. 28. This group - Bianca Dorsey, Laura James, Glen Martin, Karl McIntosh, Ansel
Pitcairn, Robert Reid, Vernal Reuben and Dudley Vaccianna –
traces its roots to Jamaica, Trinidad and Antigua.
Municipal
Bldg. 1 Center St. (at Chambers) 19th Fl. Mon.- Fri., 10-4PM.
On
Wed. Sept. 19th 6:30 8PM, the Boro Prez hosts Caribbean
Heritage 2001, a formal reception honoring Caribbean – Americans, at The Museum for African Art in SoHo,
593 B’way, just below Houston St. R.S.V.P.: 212.669-4451
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Cinque
Gallery presents
the paintings of Kimyon Huggins with opening reception on Fri.
Sept. 28th. 6-9 PM. thru Oct.
560 Broadway, 5th fl. 212.966-3464.
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Museum Mile
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The
Metropolitan Museum of Art
has announced the acquisition of an early major work by Jacob Lawrence. “The Photographer”,
a painting on paper, depicts busy street
life in Harlem in 1942, the same year the artist –at age 25 – achieved
national recognition. That year, the Met acquired its first work by
Lawrence – “The Pool Player”, a prize-winner in its wartime
exhibition, Artists for Victory- and the Museum of Modern Art and
the Phillips Collections shared the acquisition of his series “The
Migration of the Negro.”
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East Village
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SAVACOU
Gallery will
lead us “Beyond The Figure” with six abstract painters of
diverse national origins., Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico, USA . Daniel
do Amaral, Edgar Barbosa, Carl Davis, Hilton Plummer, Morena Saenz and Debbie Strothers–Sept. 14 – Oct. 6: Artist Reception- Fri.
Sept. 14, 6-9PM - 240 E. 13th St. Bet 2nd and 3rd
Aves.212.473-6904.
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Kenkeleba/
Wilmer Jennings Gallery –
(Sept. 26-Oct. 27) features work by 3 Haitian-born artists. Enock Placide,
(who works in oils), Ludovic Booz (bronze & oils)
and Maxi St. Felix. (Mahogany wood). Maxi, who
once
studied with Booz, is familiar to many of us from seeing his sculpture of
the “boat people” in the lobby of Bed-Stuy Restoration Center.
I wondered what had become of him. Corinne Jennings informed me
that he was teaching in Haiti. Wilmer Jennings/Kenkeleba Gallery, 219 E. 2nd
Ave. near Avenue B. Hours: Wed.-Sat., 11-6.
212.674-3939
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New’Ark, New Jersey
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Newark residents were afforded the opportunity to enjoy the
work of Leroy Campbell during the month of August. A variety of his
creations were hung in the new studios of WBGO, our favorite jazz station.
The exhibit ended with a reception on Thursday evening, Aug. 30.
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Coming
Attractions:
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The
art of photography is still in the spotlight. From Oct. 4 to Dec. 16, the Studio
Museum in Harlem will exhibit work from the Smithsonian’s African
-American Photography archives: “Art and Black Activism.”
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Mark
your calendars for the 5th semi-annual SONYA(South of the Navy
Yard Artists) Open Studio Tour on the week-end of Oct. 20 & 21
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After 27 years at the corner of 94th
St. and Fifth Ave., the International Center of Photography (ICP) has
sold their building, which will revert to a private residence. They are
consolidating their operations in midtown at 43rd St. The IPC
gallery, bookstore and archives are already located at 1133 Avenue of the
Americas and the new school facility opens this month diagonally across
the avenue, beneath Grace Plaza.
Access
to the school will be through a glass pavilion at the corner, which will
also serve as exhibition space. The new quarters will offer more expansive
work areas, as well as the latest technology in three digital labs.
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Megar Evers College, CUNY 30th
Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner. Thurs. Oct. 4- Honoring: Randy Daniels, Sec.
Of State; Charles J. Flamm, Independence Community Bank; John
Esposito, Schieffelin & Somerset Co.; Iyanla Vanzant, Inspirational
Speaker. The Marriott Hotel, 333 Adams St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
212.571-6559 Ext. 11. Tix
$150
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LIBERATION BOOKSTORE TURNS 34
To
list the legion of individuals, organizations, and institutions that have
directly or indirectly benefited throughout the legendary lifetime of Liberation
Bookstore and the peerless proprietorship of Una Mulzac is to
list the Who’s Who and What’s What of the liberation movement over the
last thirty-four years. To list the names of those who have been
influenced or impacted by this institute of information and inspiration is
to write down the roster of the race. Let us show our gratitude in
tangible terms by buying books.
Join
the community and celebrate this grand occasion by buying books on Sat.,
Sept.15 from Noon to 4:00 pm at 421 Malcolm X Blvd. at 131st
Street.
For
info call (212) 281-4615
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