art, culture and humanities

Clark Atlanta University Art Museum’s “Woman in Blue” Is Signature Marketing Image for MET’s “Harlem Renaissance” Exhibition

Published

8 months ago

September 7, 2023

Daily News Staff

ATLANTA /PRNewswire/ — Clark Atlanta University Art Museum is among several HBCU museums and galleries to have artwork featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibition, “The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism.” The exhibition is scheduled to run from February 25 through July 28, 2024.

“Through some 160 works, it will explore the comprehensive and far-reaching ways in which Black artists portrayed everyday modern life in the new Black cities that took shape in the 1920s–40s in New York City’s Harlem and Chicago’s South Side and Nationwide in the early decades of the Great Migration when millions of African Americans began to move away from the segregated rural South. The first survey of the subject in New York City since 1987, the exhibition will establish the Harlem Renaissance as the first African American–led movement of international modern art and will situate Black artists and their radically new portrayals of the modern Black subject as central to our understanding of international modern art and modern life.” The MET News Release

CAU Art Museum’s Woman in Blue, a painting by William H. Johnson, is the signature image for all media and banners for the exhibition. The portrait is of a Black woman in a vibrant blue dress, staring straight ahead but facing forward, seated sideways on a wooden chair.

“The colors are striking,” said Danille K. Taylor, director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, in an article appearing in the New York Times announcing the exhibition. “It’s the angle that she looks at you. The colors and texture give it a three-dimensional quality.”

The CAU Art Museum loaned the MET four additional paintings: Woman with Kerchief by William Artis, Mr. and Mrs. Barton by John N. Robinson Jr., Friends by Margaret Taylor Goss, and Pickets by Roy DeCarava. Denise Murrell, the Merryl H. & James S. Tisch Curator at Large at the MET, researched and traveled to several HBCUs over a two-year period identifying pieces for the exhibition. The MET provided funding for conservation of Woman in Blue. Fisk University Galleries, Hampton University Art Museum, and Howard University Gallery of Art Howard, Fisk also loaned pieces to the exhibition.

About Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College, both of which hold unique places in the annals of African American history. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with nearly 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium. It is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. Notable alumni include James Weldon Johnson, American civil rights activist, poet, and songwriter (Lift Every Voice and Sing, “The Black National Anthem”; Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist; Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for NASCAR; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Recording Academy. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.

SOURCE Clark Atlanta University

actors & performers

Reflecting on the 2024 Oscars: A Night of Wins, Laughter, and Fashion Statements

The 2024 Oscars: A night of wins, laughter, and elegant fashion. No mentions of past controversies, just a focus on cinematic excellence.

Published

2 months ago

March 11, 2024

Hal Machina and Daily News Staff

The 2024 Oscars night was a whirlwind of excitement, surprises, and elegance as the film industry’s finest gathered to celebrate cinematic achievements. Among the standout moments was the triumph of “Oppenheimer,” a biopic that not only captivated audiences but also dominated the awards, clinching seven accolades, including Best Picture. Christopher Nolan’s directorial prowess shone through as he claimed the Best Director title, while Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. were honored for their outstanding performances as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

While “Oppenheimer” led the pack, “Poor Things” also made a mark with four wins, with Emma Stone’s portrayal earning her the coveted Best Actress award. The night was further enriched by captivating performances, including Ryan Gosling’s comedic surprises during his rendition of “I’m Just Ken” and the mesmerizing display of a dozen drummers in the performance of “Wahzhazhe.” The ceremony also featured memorable presenter antics, such as John Cena’s daring walk across the stage clad in nothing but an envelope.

The red carpet was ablaze with a stunning array of black, red, and metallic ensembles, showcasing the stars’ fashion prowess as they graced Hollywood’s grand event. Despite a few mishaps, like Emma Stone’s dress incident and Al Pacino’s potential oversight, the glamour and allure of the evening remained undiminished.

What truly stood out about this year’s Oscars was the absence of any reference to past controversies, notably the infamous Will Smith and Chris Rock incident from two years prior. Unlike previous telecasts, where the incident was repeatedly revisited, this year’s ceremony seemed to signal a collective move towards letting bygones be bygones. Host Jimmy Kimmel’s subtle nod to a bygone era of Oscars antics hinted at a shift in focus from past controversies to celebrating the artistry and talent that define the film industry.

As the curtain fell on the 2024 Oscars, it was evident that the night was not just about accolades and glamour but also about embracing new beginnings and a renewed focus on the magic of storytelling that unites us all. The 2024 Oscars will be remembered as a night of triumphs, laughter, and a subtle nod to moving forward—a celebration of cinema at its finest.

Source: AP

https://apnews.com/live/2024-Oscars-updates-winners

City

Historic Moment: Space Shuttle Endeavour Takes Its Place at the California Science Center

Witness history as Space Shuttle Endeavour is lifted into its California Science Center home. Streaming live on Space.com at 12:30 a.m. EST.

Published

3 months ago

January 30, 2024

Charles Elliot

On the early morning of January 30, a monumental event is set to unfold as the space shuttle Endeavour is lifted into its new museum-exhibit home at the California Science Center. This complex operation, involving a towering 450-foot-tall crane, marks a historic achievement in exhibit installation, breaking new ground outside the realms of NASA or Air Force facilities.

Scheduled to commence at 12:30 a.m. EST (0530 GMT), viewers can witness the live action on Space.com, courtesy of the California Science Center, or directly via the Los Angeles museum. The duration of the lift remains uncertain, adding an element of suspense to this unprecedented event.

However, eager spectators should note that the Endeavour display won’t be immediately accessible. The future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a significant expansion of the California Science Center, is slated to become Endeavour’s permanent residence. With an anticipated 18-month construction period and subsequent artifact and exhibit installation, an official opening date is yet to be announced.

Endeavour, NASA’s youngest shuttle, holds a remarkable legacy, having completed 25 missions before the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011. As it takes its place in this new chapter at the California Science Center, the Endeavour will continue to inspire and educate generations to come, embodying the spirit of human exploration and technological achievement.

Source: Space.com

https://www.space.com/space-shuttle-endeavour-museum-exhibit-stacking-webcast

art, culture and humanities

Life is Artistic, It’s Fantastic

Published

5 months ago

December 14, 2023

Daily News Staff

MIAMI (Newswire.com) – Welcome to the vibrant and chic world of Miami’s art scene, where creativity knows no bounds and the city itself becomes a canvas of expression. At the heart of this sizzling cultural hub is No Vacancy, Miami Beach. The program’s fourth edition presents twelve artists whose site-specific projects are displayed at twelve iconic hotels in Miami Beach.

No Vacancy coincides with Art Week Miami Beach and Art Basel Miami, the epitome of cultural sophistication and creativity, which will take place from December 4th through December 10th. The installations will be viewed from now through December 14th, 2023 to include three of South Beach Group Hotels boutique properties highlighting participants:

Samantha Modder in her series – Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks – at Catalina Hotel & Beach Club. It presents a subjective Black woman’s fairytale to process interlocking structures of oppression. Modder is a visual artist working figuratively in pen, collage, and digital media to portray larger-than-life Black, female characters taking up space in real and imagined worlds.

Marco Inzerillo’s exhibit – SOBEautiful – is displayed at Hotel Croydon. He presents a series of photographs in both color and black and white, highlighting and celebrating the cultural variety of Miami Beach.

Riviera South Beach hosts Carola Bravo – Yield to Immigrants – challenging the concept of migration as a norm and not a crisis. The work addresses the tension between migration issues and the authority of public signs as civic markers. It also questions how manipulating traditional public signs alters their meaning, reminding us about the value of inclusion and our critical role in society.

Against the backdrop of sun-kissed beaches and eclectic neighborhoods, this annual extravaganza transforms Miami into a global art destination, bringing together the world’s leading galleries, artists, and enthusiasts.

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Source: South Beach Group