Historic 1998 Photo of Renown African-American Artists
We’ve received a copy of this photo of renown African-American Fine Artists taken by Hakim Mutlaq in the 1990s at the Schomburg Cultural Center in Harlem. I asked the sender, and Hakim, if it was possible to identify the participants in the photo. I was told that no such list exists. So perhaps you can help us identify the participants? I can identify some individuals beginning with the (L-R) row1: 1,1: Bob Blackburn, 1,2: Ernest Chrichlow.
The upper left (under HMPW) (L-R) 2,1: Ademola Olugebefola
Identification of individuals could be a group project. Many of the artists are no longer with us. So for the sake of posterity, we should if possible, identify them all. If you are able to identify someone in the photo, you can either enter (follow position table below) the name(s) in the comment section below or send it/them to ronn@routes-mag.com.
Row 1 (L-R) 1,1: Bob Blackburn • 1,2: Ernest Chrichlow • Ed Clark: • Benny Andrews • 1,5: • 1,6: • 1,7: • 1,8: • 1,9: • Alvin Hollingsworth
Row 2 (L-R) 2-1: • James Sepyo • 2,2: Otto Neals • Herb Gentry • Emma Amos • 2-6: • Ann Tanksley • Tsefe • Kay Brown • William T. Williams • Francs Deceus • Adger Cowans
Row 3 (L-R) 3-1: • 3-2: • Lorraine O’Grady • Dinga McCannon: • Diane Davis • Jamillah Jennings: • Ellsworth Ausby • Vincent Smith
Row 4 (L-R) 4-1: • 4-2: • 4-3: • 4-4: • 4-5: • 4-6: • 4-7: • 4-8: • 4-9: • 4-10: • 4-11: • Nanette Carter • 4-13: • 4-14:
Row 5 (L-R) 5-1: •5-2: •5-3: •5-4: •5-5: •5-6: •5-7: •5-8: •5-9: •5-10:
Left Standing:
Row 1: (L-R) Schomburg Director Howard Dodson • 1,2:
Row 2: (L-R) Ademola Olugebefola • 2,2: • 2,3:
Right Standing: (R-L)
Victor Smythe • 2,1: • Camille Billops
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Historic 1988 Photo of Renown African-American Artists — and Victor Smythe
I am the widow of the artist Herbert Gentry. I remember this period. The gentleman standing on the far right (1,1) is Schomburg art curator Victor Smythe. He was also an artist, a kind person and dear friend. You can read that there was a book published that year coinciding with the exhibition. The date of the photo is 1998. (Your website has a typo for 1988).
Black New York artists of the 20th century : selections from the Schomburg Center collections / [compiled by Victor N. Smythe ; foreword by Howard Dodson].
Author/Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Publication:
New York, NY : New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations, c1998.
Format/Description:
Book
96 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.
James Sepyo sitting behind Bob Blackburn. Otto Neals next to Sepyo.
I was and remain a student and protege of Sepyo who was my friend and guide and family for several decades.
I have a beautiful oil on canvas of an African village, people, chores, etc. the colors are brilliant, the trees have such detail. The artist name appears to be Motebo, dated 1998.
Has anyone any information?