The afternoon session featured such
notables as Dr. Lee Ransaw, President of the National Alliance of Artists
from Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), who spoke on the
Origin and Purpose of NCA; Ms Henrietta Antoinin, Vice President - Group
Sales Atlanta Life Insurance and Investment Company who spoke on their
Corporate Collection and The New Realities; Attorney, Dr. Lemone Pierce,
former Associate Professor of Legal Studies at Morris Brown College who
spoke on Giving Back: Guidelines for Donating Your Black Cultural
Valuables- Art, Books and Personal Papers; and Morehouse’s Dr. Charles on
The Visual Arts Initiative and NCA.That evening, Dr. Charles and his wife
Dr. Darlene (who conceived the idea of the Visual Arts Initiation and
Center), hosted a reception at their stunning home for NCA and guests. The
house, in which every room is a gallery, has a world-class gallery built
right into it along with a sculpture gallery of Shona sculpture from
Zimbabwe on the grounds. Some of Atlanta’s top artists, collectors,
educators and art world luminaries were present, along with Dr. Walter
Massey, President of Morehouse.
The second day featured a youth
session Vision of A New Generation with Madam DeVan and Chairman Davis
presiding. The first presenter was Dawud Anya Buille, illustrator,
cartoonist and animator and creator of the “BrotherMan” series of comics,
who showed examples of his work and spoke on the challenges on his way to
success.
www.ArtByDawud.com
The second presenter was William L.
Pettiford III, Art Director and Graphic Designer, who started as a student
of Bing Davis, now runs a successful graphic design firm in Dayton, Ohio.
He spoke of his route to success that was fueled by his faith in God.
The keynote address was delivered by
Dr. Rosalind Jeffries, Art Historian and author and member of the NCA
Board of Trustees. On of the most exciting and informative speakers on
Black art, Dr. Jeffries spoke on “Ancestral Holy Art vs. Cultural
Pollution: The Concept of the Khemetic Revisited, Historical Perspective
in Contemporary Art”, complete with slide illustrations that dated from
ancient Khemet through today’s popular art that in many cases degrades our
people.
The 16th National Black
Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the largest celebrations of arts
and artists of African descent in the nation, this year featured “the
sisters.” The theme “Sister Fire - and Next Generation”, featured several
programs headed by African American women, “sheroes”- (as opposed to
heroes), phenomenal women whose pioneering spirits, stellar achievements
and creative influences have impacted art and culture in significant ways.
“Next Generation” introduced tomorrow’s legends- performers and artists
creating innovative work using unconventional and imaginative methods. It
seems that Atlanta is making an effort to surpass New York in the area of
Black arts and culture with this annual festival that celebrates the
richly diverse artistic contribution of people of the African Diaspora and
their impact on world cultures. With the hundreds of events, art
exhibitions, gallery tours and talks, theatrical performances, concerts,
lectures and panel discussions, dance, poetry, artists and vendor markets,
it vies for the title of the pre-eminent festival of festivals.
Among the highlights of
this star studded cultural convention were the Living legends Celebration
of poet Sonia Sanchez; exhibits and talks by visual artists Faith
Ringgold; Carrie Mae Weems; artist, author of Hottentot Venus and Sally
Hemings, Barbara Chase-Riboud, renowned Cuban born composer Tania Leon and
legendary jazz diva, the fancy Miss Nancy, Nancy Wilson.
Not content with providing us with the giants
who have already proven their genius, NBAF saluted the new voices of
creativity through the Next Generation programs, included spoken word and
Hip-hop with Toni Blackman hosting “Beyond the Bling: Female MC Summit,
and visual artist Radcliffe Bailey” and “Black Women Rock!” a concert in
tribute to rock ‘n roll legend Betty Davis.
Also featured were jazz pianist extraordinaire
Cyrus Chestnut, Rennie Harris PureMovement Dance Company and a Pan African
Film Festival, not to mention Ebony JoAnne in “Tambourines to Glory” and
Diane Carroll in “Bubbling Brown Sugar.” Add to all this, the pre-festival
National Conference of Artists 45th Annual convention at
Morehouse College and master artists exhibitions at Clark-Atlanta and
Spelman College’ Cosby Center. Hats off to Executive Producer Stephanie S.
Hughley (formerly of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJPAC), and
her amazing staff for a tremendous ten-day spectacular. They took over the
entire city of Atlanta and then some, the Woodruff Arts Center, Alliance
Theater, Rich Auditorium, The High Museum, 7 Stages, The Fox Theater,
Hammonds House, the Auburn Avenue Research Library, the new Georgia
International Convention Center, Variety Playhouse, Studioplex, Chastain
Park, Greenbriar Mall and Underground Atlanta.
World-renowned poet and activist, Sonia
Sanchez, one of the most important figures in African-American and women’s
literature, opened the festival with a riveting premier performance of her
first recorded CD, “Full Moon of Sonia”, that featured appearances of
legendary poet laureate of the state of New Jersey, Amiri Baraka, (whose
duet with Sanchez rocked the house), his poet wife Amina, T. C. Carson and
Toshi Reagon, Patdro Harris, Dara Jomani Stevens, Karen Davis, Marcus
Nelson and Kufunya Berkley rounded out the show under the guidance of
Musical Director William Knowles.
At Spelman Colleges’ Cosby Center, Carrie Mae
Weems, who produces art that addresses formal and political issues focused
on the ways in which images shape our perception of color, gender and
class, was exhibited and gave a talk, as did legendary artist, quilt
maker, Faith Ringgold. Carrie’s work explores existing genres of
photography, particularly documentary imagery, and manipulates these
conventions with complexity and wit. Two of her most recent works were
exhibited: The Louisiana Project which incorporates still
photography, narrative and video projection, explores how perceptions have
been shaped by history, Black women, race relations and sexual identity;
and Dreaming in Cuba a series of silver prints that is inspired by
the history and people of Cuba and raises questions about the essence and
spirituality of social revolution.
Ringgold, who began her artistic career more
than 35 years ago as a painter, is best known for her painted story quilts
- art that combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling - and her
involvement with the Experimental Printmaking Institute at Lafayette
College in Easton, Pa. Her Lasting Impressions: Master Artists and
Master Printmakers, encompasses works by 16 artists, presented by EPI,
including Ringgold who is paired with printmaker John Phillips of London
Print Studio. Faith’s works have appeared in major museums in the U.S.,
Europe, South American, Asia, Africa, and what is called the Middle East.
Ringgold was selected to create the 2004 NBAF Collector’s Guild print.
Faith gave a detailed lecture on her career as and artist, followed by a
book signing.
One of the many interesting things to do during
the festival was the gallery crawl, that is a tour of art galleries.
The NBAF, which stuck through the hard times
years ago, has shown five years of financial profits and has now
established a long term partnership with the Woodruff Arts Center, thanks
to the generosity of an anonymous donor through the Kendeda Fund and the
consistency of dedicated sponsors which enables them to present such an
extraordinary festival. Originally held every other year, it now is an
annual event under the chairmanship of Curley Dossman, Jr., president of
the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, and NBAF’s founding artistic director and
executive producer Hughley. They are now backed by Turner Broadcasting
System, Inc., the Fulton County Commission through the Fulton County Arts
Council, the Coca-Cola Company, UPS, Georgia Power, the National Endowment
for the Arts, Public Super Markets Charities, American Express, Altria and
Michael H. Ross’ MHR International.
This should truly be a vacation destination for
all interested in the arts. Look for NCA’s New York chapter to conduct a
tour of the festival in 2005.
