Samella Lewis and the African American Experience [antikvár]

Appreciation I met Samella Lewis in my senior year at Scripps College, as 1 was preparing to go to graduate school in art history at Columbia University. Three years of humanities and art history courses had given me a solid foundation, yet all but one focused on European culture. Had 1 studied with Samella, my education would have been expanded by her courses in Chinese and African American Art. As a scholar, Samella showed students the importance of primary source research; and, as an artist, she was interested in the artist's voice. With Ruth G. Waddy, Samella wrote two volumes, published in 1969 and 1971, entitled Black Artists on Art, which provided the first such anthology of artists' writings. Samella reflected artists' voices in her 1976 book. Art: African American, also the first survey of its kind to be published. Her pioneering scholarship demonstrated that black art was a rich subject for art history. Samella also taught by example, and was creative in different arenas, as an artist, professor, curator, and filmmaker. In addition to teaching, she was an active painter and printmaker. Her imagery drew on her youth in Louisiana, her memories of segregation, and her experience of the civil rights movement. Moreover, Samella not only made art but also presented it. At Scripps, she directed the Clark Humanities Museum, organizing exhibitions related to courses. Samella also mounted shows that featured work by black artists, including Howard Smith and others. In addition, Samella knew the value of art as a teaching resource; and, to that end, arranged a gift to Scripps of African sculpture. Samella also showed students the documentary importance of new media. In 1969 and 1971, she made films highlighting African American artists Richmond Barthe, Bernie Casey, and John Outterbridge. Students also learned from Samella that when exhibition spaces do not exist, one has to create them. Samella began several galleries in Los Angeles, and in 1976, founded the Museum of African American Art, where she curated exhibitions until 1986. In these ways, Samella encouraged African American students to pursue their own path. One student who was greatly influenced by Samella was sculptor Alison Saar, who recognized Samella as her mentor.