In Celebration of "Black Art in America"

In Celebration of “Black Art in America” (BAIA, www.blackartinamerica.com)

Celebrations are a major part of the human process. A celebration is an impromptu or planed time to express high emotions and pronouncements. To repeat a particular celebration assigns it to an even greater significance. When celebrations are dedicated to birthdays, wedding anniversaries, historical people and events, as well as, our social and cultural organizations, we most often commemorate them in given cycles. These cycles may occur monthly, annually, and in yearly multiples of ten, twenty-five and fifty. In addition, major remembrances are observed by centuries and millennia.

The owners and developers of the “Black Art in America” web site have provided us with reason to celebrate. They have provided us with an expertly designed platform to share, with ourselves and the world, our unique and highly developed cultural expressions (Art). Within this vehicle of “BAIA”, the full scope of our individual and collective thoughts, emotions and productivity have been given a place for an ongoing cultural conversation of the highest order. It is a celebration, a new celebration, a celebration worthy of continued observance.

BAIA is a celebration of community identity and responsibility. It is a way for African American visual artists to affirm our place of importance. It is an education and recognition of the highest standards of proficiency manifested in our artwork. BAIA is an exemplary expression of our dedication to our people’s development through, collecting art, education, research, writing, promoting art, and the development of cultural institutions.

It is a celebration, that the web site BAIA is now here, and developing on a daily basis. The celebration can be as often as one may choose to visit the web site and see how many new members have joined, with their images, personal profiles, career objectives, varied cultural/political perspectives and words of wisdom and encouragement.

We must make it our mission that BAIA will be a celebration a year from now, ten years from now, and on and on.

We can have intelligent debate and find solutions. We can learn and teach. We can promote Black commerce. We can seek and find the peace and successes of this lifetime. We can celebrate ourselves.

Thank You “Black Art in America” (BAIA)

Akili Ron Anderson