Sargent Claude Johnson – ‘Chester’
1930
–
A collection of African American artworks, primarily focused on ceramic and sculptural pieces. As I delved into the various Afro American art genres that I was able to source, I was reminded of Ernie Barnes iconic album cover “Sugar Shack “ for Marvin Gaye’s 1976 recording “ I want You”. The tapestry of black dancers depicted a writhing sensual embodiment of the human soul, captured by a collective primordial rhythm in motion. The newer art is still an affirmation of enthralling movement and colours and it was gratifying to discover it again, still exuding natural expression in the spirit of this transcendental dynamic aesthetic.
‘Ghetto Voice In Orange’ – Willie Bing Davis
Doyle Lane – ( 1925 – 2002 )
Doyle Lane, whose work is in the collection of the California African American Museum in Los Angeles and will be featured in a Venice Biennale show in 2015, was apparently a modest man. “I don’t think an artist should really put his work on a pedestal because he isn’t the one to determine the aesthetic value,” he said in a 1981 interview with Studio Potter magazine. “When someone buys a piece of work, that is the only compliment. Anything else could just be flattery.” ( via LAtimes ) As a clay artist, Doyle Lane liked the mobility of ceramic art, “Why not take paintings out of doors,” he also declared in that 1981 interview, “where one may sit and watch the changing play of sunshine on the glazes and thus have changes of mood during the day?”
Doyle Lane globular vessel with a textured volcanic glaze.
Doyle Lane ribbed bottle
Doyle Lane abstract textured bottle
Doyle Lane weed pots
Doyle Lane – contemporary ovoid pod vessel
Doyle Lane mid-century pottery
Doyle Lane round wall art
( at a recent exhibition at Refom Gallery )
Doyle Lane ceramic mosaic
Doyle Lane giving a pottery throwing demonstration
( 1925 – 2002 )
Cheryl Foster
Cheryl Foster outdoor sculpture
Maryland’s Bounty mosaic mural by Cheryl Foster
‘Wishing Vessel – Pulsating with Life’ – Cheryl Foster
Nancy Ellen Churchville – Philadelphia. PA
Nancy Ellen Churchville – ‘Joy Unspeakable’
‘Freedom’s Dance’ sculpture
Nancy Ellen Churchville – 12″ height
‘Freedom’s Dance’ sculpture Nancy Ellen Churchville View 2
‘Blackbird’ – Nancy Ellen Churchville
Full body sculpture – Nancy Ellen Churchville
‘Praise Vase’ – Nancy Ellen Churchville
Ceramic sculpture – Nancy Ellen Churchville
‘Prayer Warrior’ – Nancy Ellen Churchville
Dudley Vaccianna
The illustrative decorations of Dudley Vaccianna weaves a fluid tapestry of rich tradition, colour and culture imbued with spirit and movement.
Dudley Vaccianna painted glass dish
Dudley Vaccianna vase
Dudley Vaccianna dancing women plate
Vase-#10 Dudley Vaccianna
Dudley Vaccianna
Handpainted plate Dudley Vaccianna
Dudley Vaccianna
Dudley Vaccianna painting
Watercolor by Dudley Vaccianna: “ Salsa”
Dudley Vaccianna vase with face motif
Dudley Vaccianna beaker
Dudley Vaccianna handpainted bottle
Afro American photographer Gordon Parks for Life magazine
Kara Walker
Kara Walker with her sculpture superJumbo
“Marvelous Sugar Baby” by Kara Walker – at the old Domino sugar refinery in Brooklyn
Grandmaster Taijay
Grandmaster Taijay – painter/poet
Head Of Queen Mother Alpha Lioness Brown Sugar Spinx
Ms. Kara Walker’s…Spinx,
FROM MY PURVIEW, has taken
the image of the sugar cane
hack’n, no history have’n, GRINNIG, SLAVE…and lifted her back up to her rightful
place as the never before seen, Ancient Queen, Royal Mate of the Alpha Lion King AKA The Spinx.
Ms. Walker’s image is not grin’…she has time-less secrets/ who
understands the mysteries of the Spinx and his/her equal?
Her head wrap bears secret symbols and Royal seals…
just like when the Soul Sisters Of All Shades today
choose to wrap their heads
in exotic wrap’ns
I thought that I heard somebody say that,”some good folks
found the bones of a woman who
may just be the mother of all of us…” Can I get a…can I… uh…can ah’ git ah…witness?
-Grandmaster Taijay Harlem 7/5/14
Grandmaster Tajjay painting
Kimmy Cantrell – Atlanta
http://www.artjaz.com/artists/kimmy/
Kimmy Cantrell’s ideal is to show the beauty within flaws. In his own words, “Imperfections tell stories far more compelling than perfection. I’ve always loved primitive art, and I try to reflect that raw, primitive style in my own interpretations. Some of my work is tribal, and some is more universal. We all have roots, and the roots tend to come out in the works we create.” Written in the eyes and titles, vibrantly colored faces tell stories which reflect the artist own experiences. Another signature of Kimmy’s work is his series of mixed media collages. The unique composition of elements such as clay, copper and sometimes stainless steel evolved from his series of masks. “I want to move people with the passion expressed in my work”
What If sculptured mask – Kimmy Cantrell
Kimmy Cantrell
Kimmy Cantrell – ” Green Hair “ abstract ceramic
Kimmy Cantrell
Kimmy Cantrell
Kevin Snipes
Lidded vessel by Kevin Snipes
Kevin Snipes
Kevin Snipes
Footed, lidded vessel – Kevin Snipes
Footed vase with handpainted decoration – Kevin Snipes
Wasentha Young
River stone wall mosaic – ‘Pathway To The Moon’ by Wasentha Young
‘Black Beauty’ Mosaic wall panel – Wasentha Young
Sargent Claude Johnson
‘The Politician’ – Sargent Claude Johnson
1954
Between 1945 and 1965, the Sargent Johnson made a number of trips to Oaxaca and Southern Mexico where he became acquainted with the Zapotec Indians and Mexicans in the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, where the famous black clay pots are made.
Johnson worked this material in his hotel room making grotesque and interesting black clay figures. A favorite theme of his for these pieces is the do-nothing politician. He produced about 100 of these pieces. ( via fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us )
‘Mother and Child’ —Sargent Claude Johnson
circa 1930
Sargent Claude Johnson – -monumental frieze, created in 1942. This modernist, multicultural carving of athletes covers the entire retaining wall across the back of the football field, and still stands today.
George Washington High School, San Francisco
California
Mixed selection :
Hebron Chism
Mambu Badu photography
‘Nightlife’ – Archibald John Motley, Jr
‘Dreamkeeper’ – Robert McKnight sculpture
‘Minor Effigy’ – Robert McKnight
“Walking Away From the Fire” by Mr. Imagination ( Gregory Warmack – 1948-2012 ), Chicago
30 x 23 x 9″ — concrete / cement sculpture.
http://shopbaiaonline.com/
Mr. Imagination guitar sculpture
Sculptor Selma Burke
Nnamdi Okonkwo posing with his sculpture
Illustration with elements of afrofuturism and mixed digital medium – Manzel Bowman
‘Le Noble Savage’ – Wangechi Mutu
‘Noah’s Ark’ – Aaron Douglas
1936
‘Charleston’ – Aaron Douglas
c 1928
Aaron Douglas–Harlem Renaissance Artist – ‘Congo’
1927
‘Birds in Flight’ – Aaron Douglas
1927
Art Deco painting – ‘Ascent Ethiopia’ – Loïs Mailou Jones
1932
Augusta Savage – ” Gamin’ “
1929
‘Player In Town’ – Willie Torbert
Roderisk Vines – ” Bebop “
Nigerian sculptor Theophilus Owusu Quame
( Black Art In america )
‘The Harp’ ( Lift Every Voice and Sing ) by African American Augusta Savage
A sculpture for the 1939 New York World Fair
See video below
1946 sculpture bust by William E Artis
‘Emancipation’ by Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller
Woodrow Nash
Woodrow Nash weaves undulating lines over the surface of his sculptures combined with natural motifs which emulate the flowing style of Art Nouveau infused with the traditional, graceful African forms derivative of 15th century Benin. With both his full length pieces and busts, he successfully creates a sense of comfortable intimacy and inclusiveness with his sculptures. The depth of his exploration of the spirit of his culture is palpable.
American sculptor Woodrow Nash
Life size carved bust – Woodrow Nash
3 African Women – Woodrow Nash sculptural figures
Woodrow Nash
Wooodrow Nash ceramic bust
Woodrow Nash – African sculpture
Sculptures of children – Woodrow Nash
Woodrow Nash
Woodrow Nash sculpture bust
Bust of African girl with wings – Woodrow Nash
Carved ceramic vase – Woodrow Nash
Preston Jackson
Preston Jackson – ‘Emancipation’
Connecticut River in Hartford
‘The Souvenir’ – Preston Jackson
2008
http://www.prestonjacksonart.com/
‘Flight of the Cakewalkers’ by Preston Jackson
‘About Ancient Beliefs’ Preston Jackson
2009
‘Andelle Dancing’ -Preston Jackson – 2009
Julieanne’s Garden
Elizabeth Catlett
‘Mother and Child’ – Elizabeth Catlett
1980
In 1942 Elizabeth Catlett received private instruction from Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine who urged her to add abstract elements to her figurative work.
Abstract couple sculpture – Elizabeth Catlett
Sculptor Elizabeth Catlett working in Mexico City, c. 1947
\
Elizabeth Catlett
Selma Burke
‘Sugar Shack’ – Ernie Barnes
At 41st and Drexel, Bronzeville mural, Chicago
Corey Barksdale
“A lot of my images are representative of the experiences that I have had and how I identify myself. These subjects reflect my community. The bold colors that I use have been with me since the beginning. Initially I focused on a few primary colors. Now I am blending them in different ways to create my secondary colors. “Do I have a spiritual connection to my art? At some point I do, but it takes a while to get to that point. When I first start a painting I have to achieve a certain mindset. And then if it starts to feel good and involving, then maybe I do go to a spiritual realm. But this is not a major consideration of the way that I think about my art. On the other hand, I do know there is a higher power outside of me that affects all of creativity. ”
Corey Barksdale doing a wall mural
Corey Barksdale working at the Live Painting Event – Atlanta
Contemporary artist – Corey Barksdale
Corey Barksdale
http://www.coreybarksdale.com/
Meet Augusta Savage the Most Important African-American Sculptor from Timeline on Vimeo.
