WOW
At the checkout at Whole Foods yesterday I noticed a display of 2006 wall calendars. One caught my eye, African American Artists. Great, I wondered to myself. I wonder what Romare Beardon will be in this calendar.
Not that I do not like or appreciate Romare Beardon. It's just that there has been a whole lot else going on in Black art other than Beardon, which for some reason, so many have missed. Grant Hill can collect whatever he wants and God Bless him for wanting to share it with the world. But for so many people of any race that saw his traveling exhibit, that was their only exposure to Black art, and his collection is heavy with Beardon paintings. For some collectors and even dealers, Romare Beardon has still in the past few years been treated as a contemporary artist. I mean, the man was born the same year as Roy Rodgers, Tennesse Williams, and Robert Johnson. People you read about in history books. People you've only seen in black and white photographs.
I am NOT saying Romare Beardon was not an outstanding painter, influential artist, and maybe even a nice guy to boot. He is certainly important to 20th century art, black or otherwise. I just wish with all the opportunites there are to expose the world to what Black American artists are doing today, the only thing mainstream folks are exposed to are the artists on the edge, or Romare Beardon the Poster Art.
So when I looked at the back of the calendar, I was not suprised at all to find Beardon as January, but there amidst them all a BETTYE SAAR!!!!!
I've never seen a Bettye Saar in mass market like that. Whoo Hooo!
Okay maybe I am a little too enthusiastic about this. I mean, I might be a little influenced by my partiality to the Mulatto Nation. And yes, the souvenirs in the gift shop are for real.
Not that I do not like or appreciate Romare Beardon. It's just that there has been a whole lot else going on in Black art other than Beardon, which for some reason, so many have missed. Grant Hill can collect whatever he wants and God Bless him for wanting to share it with the world. But for so many people of any race that saw his traveling exhibit, that was their only exposure to Black art, and his collection is heavy with Beardon paintings. For some collectors and even dealers, Romare Beardon has still in the past few years been treated as a contemporary artist. I mean, the man was born the same year as Roy Rodgers, Tennesse Williams, and Robert Johnson. People you read about in history books. People you've only seen in black and white photographs.
I am NOT saying Romare Beardon was not an outstanding painter, influential artist, and maybe even a nice guy to boot. He is certainly important to 20th century art, black or otherwise. I just wish with all the opportunites there are to expose the world to what Black American artists are doing today, the only thing mainstream folks are exposed to are the artists on the edge, or Romare Beardon the Poster Art.
So when I looked at the back of the calendar, I was not suprised at all to find Beardon as January, but there amidst them all a BETTYE SAAR!!!!!
I've never seen a Bettye Saar in mass market like that. Whoo Hooo!
Okay maybe I am a little too enthusiastic about this. I mean, I might be a little influenced by my partiality to the Mulatto Nation. And yes, the souvenirs in the gift shop are for real.
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