NCANY ON-LINE NEWSLETTER
Vol. 1 No. 1

Publisher:  Kwame Brathwaite
Chief Writer:  Joan Banks
Reporter:  Surya Peterson 

5th ANNUAL BLACK FINE ART SHOW
ASSISTS STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM

Joscelyn "Josh" Wainwright of Keeling Wainwright Associates,
 producers of the National Black Fine Art Show

Joscelyn "Josh" Wainwright of Keeling Wainwright Associates, producers of the National Black Fine Arts Show. The National Black Fine Art Show, was, as in the past, just that - a fine, very fine, art show It featured over forty galleries that sell the very best in Black art, with most of the masters represented, as were a host of today's best known and many up-and-coming artists. It is the only art show of its kind, and brings together the finest work produced in the last hundred years. The show is celebrating it's fifth anniversary, and it keeps on getting better and better. The galleries, that come from all over the U.S., feature paintings, fiber art, photography, sculpture, tribal art, mixed media, outsider art, limited edition prints and whatever you can think of in the world of fine art. The show drew thousands of excited attendees and buyers, over the four days. 

Artist Lorenzo Pace and curator and specialist on contemporary African artists, 
Bara Diokhane share a moment i front of the work of the late Mor Faye at Triangle Arts booth.

Lowery Stokes Sims, PhD., Director of The Studio Museum in Harlem, state, "The SMH is entering a new era, in a new Harlem and Thelma Golden, Deputy Director of Exhibitions and Programs, and Sandra Jackson, Director of Education and Public Programs have been brought on board to revitalize the distinguished record of exhibitions, adult, family, student and teacher 

Artists from all media were represented at the show. Here photographer/ painter Adger Cowans, 
ceramicist Dudley Vaccianno and painter Leroy Campbell pose pretty for the NCANY camera.

programming, and the SMH signature Artists-in- Residence program. While the SMH continues to present ambitious thematic projects, it is now introducing more focused presentations of the work of individual artists, expanding the exhibition program to be truly international as are today's artists of African descent. We are also in a new era of affirming our unique location and in the spirit of our Artists-in-Residence program we are encouraging exhibiting artists to view Harlem as a site for specific work, enhancing our ability to respond to events within the community. 

We continue,  also,  to  provide  our  audiences with opportunities to explore ideas about African-American identity, and the implications of creating a collective unity with all people of African heritage." In recognition of the current increase in interest in art, and the changes taking place in Harlem today, the museum is preparing itself to be truly a major player. These changes have called for a reexamination of the Museum's mission to reflect this new landscape in which African peoples have a more pervasive presence, in 2000, the mission of the SMH was revised to assert its priorities to exhibit, collect research, and interpret the work of African-American artists and artists of African descent locally, nationally and internationally. In 2001, the trustees approved the addition, as well as the work that reflects the experiences of peoples of African descent." 

Ms Sims continues "The most important challenge facing The Studio Museum in Harlem is developing individual sponsorship. The most direct route to individual support is through membership and the SMH has enhanced its benefit structure for members and created several new membership groups to allow for greater access to the institution and the staff. These include the Contemporary Friends (a group for young professionals 25-40 years old), the Curator's Circle and the Director's Council."