January 13 – March 18, 2012
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Art in the Atrium, New Jersey’s premier annual African-American fine art show, is partnering with the Morris Museum to present the Celebrating Our Legacy exhibition and opening reception. The exhibition, which features the work of Abstract Expressionist artist Norman Lewis and twenty-nine other African-American artists, will be on view from January 13 through March 18, 2012. The guest curator for the exhibition is Tarin M. Fuller. The public is invited to a free Opening Reception on January 12 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. A lecture series is also scheduled (see details below). A catalog for the exhibition will be available at the Museum Shop.
About Art in the Atrium
Art in the Atrium, Inc. (ATA) is a non-profit arts organization located in Morris County, New Jersey, that showcases fine art by established and emerging African-American artists through an annual exhibition, the largest of its kind in New Jersey. ATA’s mission is to increase community understanding and awareness of African-American art and artists.
artintheatrium.org
About Featured Artist Norman Lewis (1909 – 1979)
Untitled, 1947, Norman Lewis, Collection of Tarin Fuller
Norman Wilfred Lewis was born in Harlem, New York, to Bermudian immigrant parents. A skilled painter, sculptor, tailor, pianist, dancer, puppeteer, and educator with a passion for drafting, calligraphy and needlepoint, Lewis was the first major African-American member of the art movement known as Abstract Expressionism. As such, he occupies a unique position in the canon of American art. Although he was active in the New York political culture for much of his life, he sought to develop an abstract painting style that transcended socio-political issues, stating, "I am not interested in an illustrative statement that merely mirrors some of the social conditions, but in my work I am looking for something of deeper artistic and philosophic content." Norman Lewis enjoyed a long and prolific career that spanned decades, achieving notable milestones and ground-breaking exhibits, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum.
Exhibiting Artists
Alonzo Adams, Benny Andrews, Romare Bearden, Terry Boddie, Barbara Bullock, Bisa Butler Leroy Campbell, Elizabeth Catlett, Willie Cole, Viki Craig, Jose Cruz, David Driskell, Sam Gilliam, Nora Green, Curlee Raven Holton, Norman Lewis, Thomas Malloy, Don Miller, Maceo Mitchell, Russell Aldo Murray, Rosalind Nzinga Nichol, Janet Taylor Pickett, Marsha Pickett, Faith Ringgold, William Tolliver, Cedric Smith, Jimmy Lee, Sudduth, Bisa Washington, Charles White, Deborah Willis
Enjoy light refreshments and a lecture by artist Janet Taylor Pickett about the history of Art in the Atrium.
FREE with museum admission. Registration is required, please call 973.971.3718.
Rosalind Nzinga Nichol
Photo Credit: O. Florian Jenkins
Session 1
February 4, 2012, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
CRAFT TRADITIONS: A survey of African origins of
African-American art and craft traditions
Rosalind Nzinga Nichol, artist and educator, will discuss the African origins of African-American arts and crafts
The rice industry and its fanners coiled baskets, shotgun houses, woven and appliquéd textiles, metal and wood works. Africans brought more to American culture than their lovely dark skin. Recent growing scholarship over the past thirty years is stripping away layers of misconceptions of an unwritten past to reveal the brilliance of African-American art and culture in the context of its African origins. Exploring these “Africanisms” are what some call an "alternate history." Come celebrate the legacy of these traditions as ATA celebrates its twentieth year.
Tarin M. Fuller
Photo Credit: WBGO Gallery
Session 2
Saturday February 25, 2012, 1 - 2 p.m.
FINE ARTS & ARTISTS: From early African-American Masters to the Harlem Renascence and mid twentieth century artists.
Rosalind Nzinga Nichol, artist and educator; and Tarin M. Fuller, guest curator for Celebrating our Legacy: The 20th Anniversary Exhibit of Art in the Atrium, will examine the early African-American masters of fine arts from the 18th century through the Harlem Renaissance.
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Portrait by Joshua Johnson of
Grace Allison McCurdy and
Her Daughters, Mary Jane and
Letitia Grace, ca. 1804 |
It was not until 1939 that the identity of the painter of elite 19th century Baltimoreans was brought to light by art historian and genealogist J. Hall Pleasants. The son of a white father and a black mother, Joshua Johnson was born into slavery around 1763 and freed in 1782. By the time 306 West 141st Street became the defining address of energy and creativity of the Harlem Renaissance, African-American artists had been conducting a silent but very visual revolution for more than a century. This second session will survey some of the most noted artist of these eras, from Joshua Johnson through ATA's 2012 featured artist Norman Lewis.
Session 3
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Collecting African American Art
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Halima Taha |
Interested in starting an art collection but don't know how to start? Or just fine tuning the collection you already own? Bring your questions to an open forum panel discussion. A wonderful opportunity to hear art discussed from the artist, adviser/appraiser, and a gallery owner's point of view. Panelists will include: mixed media artist and educator Rosalind Nzinga Nichol, an artist working in various mediums and communities across the country for over forty years; adviser, appraiser and speaker Halima Taha, author of Collecting African American Art Works on Paper and Canvas (1998, Crown Publishers); and artist representative, galley owner, and guest curator of the 20th Anniversary Exhibition Tarin Fuller, daughter of this year's featured artist, celebrated Abstract Expressionist Norman Lewis (1909-1979). Today is the day to start building your own legacy by building a collection of arts and crafts to pass through the generations of your family,
while supporting the arts at the same time.
Additional funding for this lecture series by The Links Incorporated, and Craig & Pickett Esqs.
February 9, 2012 6:30 p.m. $7
Join Morris Museum Associate Curator Angela Sergonis for a highlights tour of featured exhibitions, including Celebrating Our Legacy.
February 17 at 1:00 p.m.
A museum educator leads a tour and discussion of the Celebrating our Legacy exhibition.
Saturday, March 3
11am-12:30pm for ages 6-8
1:00-3:00pm for ages 9-12
Pre-registration is required. Click for more information.
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