Bearing Witness: Contemporary Works by African American Women Artists - Hardcover

Robinson, Jontyle Theresa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0847819620 ISBN 13: 9780847819621

Publisher: Rizzoli, 1996

Synopsis

To commemorate the opening of their new museum, Spelman College presents an unprecedented exhibition of the work of contemporary African American women artists.

Twenty-five of the most outstanding African American women artists have contributed their work to the exhibition "Bearing Witness," celebrating the opening of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and the 115th anniversary of the college. Works in all mediums are included here-- paintings, sculptures, fiber art, mixed mediums, and prints-- created by some of today's most exceptional artists, among them Lorna Simpson, Faith Ringgold, Carrie Mae Weems, and Betye Saar.

Because of its history as the first institution of higher learning for black women, Spelman has become a Mecca, a true wellspring of strength and sustenance for African American women. It is only fitting that these artists gather to honor Spelman College, which has long nurtured the creative and educational vision of black women.

The arts have always held a central place at Spelman. The college has an impressive fine arts tradition that began with the assemblage of one of the first college-held collections of works by black artists. The tradition continues with the opening of the college's new Museum of Fine Art, the centerpiece of the new Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center. The museum's 4,500 square feet of exhibition space is designed to house the college's internationally recognized collection of paintings, prints, and photographs, as well as an impressive grouping of African sculptures and textiles. The museum also includes a conservatory, one of the few in the country devoted to preserving African American artworks.

With the founding of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, the college has made certain that the arts will continue to play an integral part in the education of African American women well into the next century.

About this title

About the Author

Jontyle Theresa Robinson
Associate Professor of Art History at Spelman College

Tritobia Hayes Benjamin
Associate Dean, College of Fine Arts and Director of Howard University Gallery of Art

Pearl Cleage
Award-winning playwright and Spelman College artist-in-residence

Beverly Guy-Sheftall
The Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women's Studies at Spelman College

M. Akua McDaniel
Associate Professor of Art History and Acting Director of Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

Lowery Stokes Sims
Curator of Twentieth-Century Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Judith Wilson
Yale University Art Historian

Maya Angelou

Johnnetta B. Cole
Spelman College President

Reviews

Atlanta's Spelman College commemorates 115 years of educating black women and the opening of its Museum of Fine Arts with this catalog for a traveling exhibition of masterworks in every medium by living African American women. From Faith Ringgold and Betye and Alison Saar to Lorna Simpson and Carrie Mae Weems, the 25 artists are as notable as the catalog's nine contributors. Maya Angelou's foreword is followed by essays addressing the often-overlooked influence of African American women artists on the nation's aesthetics and cultural history by prominent curators and academics. Disappointingly, color reproductions are generally small and used sparingly, but overall, this slender volume packs a major wallop and is recommended for art and academic collections.?Russell T. Clement, Univ. of Tennessee Lib., Knoxville
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0847819620
• ISBN 13: 9780847819621
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176