Thorton Dial, Purvis Young, and Lonnie Holley in The Collection of Bill Arnett.

Some would say that in terms of Black art the works of these gentlemen are definitive of the Black experience in its most authentic form. I happen to disagree, but will concede that the combined talents of these men represent the articulation of a segment of our society that shares the African American experience plus its harsh realities, and transforms it into some of the most heartfelt expressions in the…

I got a call early in the morning from John Brathwaite. He was feeling down for several reason and I couldn't immediately discern what he was talking about, because our phone connection was not very clear.  Eventually he directed me to an article in the New York Times about Mr. Merton D. Simpson who had died at age 84 on March 9, and is still lying in a funeral home, because the family can not raise enough funds to bury him. Mr. Brathwaite was at another funeral in New York while the New…

Hello,



I just wanted to let my art friends and art lovers know that I've been accepted as an Arts Ambassador for the Mississippi Arts Commission, I and others who've been accepted will attend training and then we will spread the word about the Mississippi Arts Commission's programs and resources, opportunities, dates and deadlines of programs offered by MAC. We will also volunteer at  MAC events (workshops, conferences, town hall meetings, etc.)

The hope of the…

The Taller Portobelo Norte Art Colony is a three week summer residency program that attracts a diverse and talented set of individuals to work independently or in collaboration on the continuation of their current projects or the realization of new small works.

The 2013 Taller Portobelo Summer Art Colony is open to emerging and professional Visual, Literary, Musical and Performing Artists in all disciplines, mediums and genres, and Scholars and Researchers…

On August 16, 1859. a letter was written by Harriet Newby wife of Dangerfield Newby believed to be the real life story that the character for Django the movie is modeled after. Below is a copy of the letter, a story I want to share with you with the focus of the art work being on the wife. (the text around the piece is the entire letter written below)

This is the title of my latest work. It's based on that feeling intuition. Female intuition in particular. The eyes closed on the model shows how we can be blind to a situation. The open eyes see the reality of a situation. I used my female model because I'm always hearing about female intuition whereas we guys get a gut feeling. Plus women just have that mystique that after all these decades I feel as though I'm still on page one!

Earlier this month, PonderArt donated "Tiger Sand Storm II" to the Women's Fund of New Jersey's live auction, held during the organization's "Power of  the…

By Jabulani Leffall

As this site and others examines the life and work of Thornton Dial, who I just recently discovered, I am immediately struck by the title of Mr. Dial's exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art: Hard Truths.

As the African diaspora examines a long history of degredation and pain, I think about the hard truths that I myself live with and endure through - this along with what I…

At the age of ten, having further refined his drawing ability through the study of books on the human figure, William Tolliver was catching the attention and praise of all who viewed his work.  Though he never drew for profit, usually giving his drawings away to anyone who wanted them, a member of the Vicksburg First Baptist Church finally insisted that Tolliver take five dollars for a drawing he wanted for the parsonage. At which time, Tolliver had reluctantly made…

It was a terribly sad moment when we received the announcement of Mert's passing. He was so very many good things to so many people that it would be impossible to list all his positive efforts. Mert was a visionary whose interests encompassed a myriad of fields, including American furniture and folk art, African art and African American art. He was a mentor to many and a resource for all. To say that it was a pleasure and privilege to know and work with him is…

Speak Out: “A State of Art: Maine’s Influence on African-American Artists”

By Leigh Donaldson

ART TIMES Spring 2013…

Picasso's African-influenced Period - 1907 to 1909

Picasso's African Period was the period when Pablo Picasso painted in a style which was strongly influenced by African sculpture. This period lasted from 1907 to 1909. This period, which followed his Blue Period and Rose Period, was also called the Negro Period or Black Period.

As Henri…

         Posted by Avisca Fine Art Gallery on February 1, 2011 at 2:00pm