Athraigh Printmaking
Studio’s series of small exhibitions continue today with its series of exhibits
of African-American printmakers. The issues addressed by these artists are
still current. I had not learned of many of these amazing printmakers in school
and therefore, sadly, I did not expose my students to them. I hope that by
bringing these artists to you now, you might have a better understanding of the
long battle against racism, artists of color have fought and continue to fight
today.
The Cinque Gallery was
founded in 1969 by artists Romare Bearden (1911–1988), Ernest Crichlow
(1914–2005), and Norman Lewis (1909–1979) to exhibit the work of both new and
established African–American artists, and to provide community educational
programs. The gallery was named after Joseph Cinqué, the leader of the Amistad
slaveship mutiny of the 1830s. For more than three decades, Cinque sponsored
more than 300 exhibitions in a number of New York City venues, as well as
regional travelling exhibitions before closing in 2004.
1. Cinque Gallery
brochure
Date: 1959-1981
Rendering of the Amistad,
slave ship on which Joseph Cinqué led the historical uprising.
Cinque Gallery. Cinque
Gallery brochure, 1959-1981. Cinque Gallery records, 1959-2010. Archives of
American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Today’s exhibit will
feature Ernest Crichlow (1914–2005) who describes his art:
“… I think I know now
that this is valid and this is me and this is all that really counts. As I say,
the styles will go by and I will hope that I'll have a place and that is all
you can do…”
2. Untitled,
oil on masonite, circa
1942
3. Lovers
lithograph, 1938
…interior scene with Ku
Klux Klansman struggling with African American woman in a bedroom.
4. Untitled
aquatint, 1988
5. Waiting
lithograph, 1965
…a lone child peering
through a barbed wire fence.
For more on Ernest
Crichlow, please go to:
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