Works by Top African-American Artists on Display Alongside Freshman Projects

In celebration of Black History Month, The City College of New York is hosting an exhibit of eight renowned artists alongside pieces produced by City College freshmen. The exhibit, “Shots, Strokes, Threads and Clay,” presented by the CCNY Libraries and the Black Studies Program, runs through February 28. It is on display in the CCNY Libraries Archives, Room 5/301 in the North Academic Center Building. 

The artists whose work is being shown are: Kwame Brathwaite, Robert Daniels, Gilbert Fletcher, Laura James, Dindga McCannon, Sana Musasama, Diane Pryor-Holland and Shirley Taylor. Ms. Taylor is a CCNY alumna, MFA’86.

“The work of these nationally and internationally known artists encompasses many media including wood, canvas, clay, ceramics, and a variety of fiber techniques, including tie-dying, batik, quilting, and Kente cloth weaving,” said Pamela Gillespie, Associate Dean and Chief Librarian of The City College Libraries. 

"The vibrant and intricate artwork on display illustrates the multi-faceted background of these artists, ranging from works reflecting African-American culture, New Orleans, spirituality, women, the family, and issues related to human rights the world over,” said Dr. Jo-Ann Hamilton, Professor of English at CCNY. 

Also part of the exhibit is artwork by CCNY students crafted in Professor Hamilton’s Fall 2010 Freshman Inquiry Writing Seminar, “Literature, Art, the Blues Aesthetic and the Apollo Theater.” 

Complementing the exhibit, the Libraries Archives is hosting weekly talks by the exhibiting artists every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Professor Hamilton, co-curator of the exhibit along with Professor Ching-Chung Chen, Visual Resources Librarian, is serving as moderator. Speakers for upcoming talks are:

February 8, Robert Daniels and Dindga McCannon.

February 15, Sana Musasama with Chamber Ensemble of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra.

February 22, Kwame Brathwaite and Laura James. 

Gilbert Fletcher and Shirley Taylor participated in the first talk, on Tuesday, February 1. 

The exhibit is funded, in part, by the City College SEEK program, and is open to the public 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Please call Archivist Sydney Van Nort at (212) 650-7609 to make an appointment. 

For more information, please call the Cohen Library at (212) 650-7271. City College is located at 138th Street and Convent Avenue in Manhattan.