Gallery Celebrates Black History

(Beacon) - On Saturday, February 3, the Howland Cultural Center began its thirteenth annual celebration of the nationally recognized “African-American History Month.”

Nine African-American artists from the Hudson Valley are exhibiting their work, which includes paintings, sculpture, photography, and pottery. An added feature to the celebration is the photography of “African-American Musicians Through The Decades” which is mounted on the gallery’s balcony.

The photography is the work of Bibiana Huang Matheis and is presented by Ned Moran’s Avalone Archives Museum of Rock & Roll.
February was officially designated nationally as African-American History Month in 1976, although celebrating the contributions of black Americans to the development of America started much earlier in 1926. At that time, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a professor at Columbia University and the “father” of African-American history, believed it was long overdue for black Americans to be formally recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to every area of life in America: music, science, education, literature, sports, theatre, journalism, politics, religion, law & the judiciary, military, government, inventions, medicine, business, art, and more. February was chosen as the month for the recognition due to the birthdays of two men: Abraham Lincoln’s and Frederick Douglas’, two giants in American history.

The nine artists featured in this year’s exhibition are Maryam Ali of Poughkeepsie, Ronald E. Brown of White Plains, Shelita Burchett of Beacon, Waveney Harrington of Beacon, Robert Lee Jones, New York City, Richard Outlaw of Newburgh, John T. Spencer of New York City, Eleanor Thompson of Beacon, and Donald Whitely of Tarrytown. In addition to the artists, African-American folk art will be on exhibit, courtesy of Barbara Simmons from B. J.‘s Soul Food Restaurant in Beacon.

Ronald Brown says of his art, “I seek to capture the spiritual essence of those who long ago made the Africans works of art, which are dispersed throughout the world today. My works are African inspired and are part of a continuum that reaches back into the time that Africans came to the New World with a history of ceramics and other artistic expressions. My work is a continuation of those who came before me.”
Eleanor Thompson states, “Painting has been a part of my creative journey for over thirty years; on the other hand, sculpting is my unplanned futuristic aesthetic journey. It is an unforgettable and overpowering experience each time my hands touch the softness of clay or the cold hardness of stone as it assumes a personality of its own.”

The Howland Cultural Center is located at the east end of Main Street (477) in Beacon. The exhibition will run through Sunday, February 25. Regular gallery hours are from 1:00 - 5:00 PM every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. During February, the art gallery will be closed to the general viewing public as the Howland Chamber Music Circle will present a piano concert on February 18th.

Pictued Above Clockwise: Eleanor Thompson gazes at her artwork on display, Sky and Sea and Sunrise on the Hudson.

Freedom by Richard Outlaw hangs on display at the Howland Cultural Center.Publish

Ned Mran, Susan Wallach Fino, Ron Brown, Eleanor Thompson, Mayor Gould, and Richard Outlaw are a few of the featured artist in this year’s exhibition. Return to top of page