Sweet 16 - Celebrating Les Amis' Milestone Anniversary
On December 14, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney will celebrate sixteen years of honoring Beauford's brilliance through the Les Amis blog.
This anniversary is important because it marks a major transition in the life of the blog, which has grown into both a beloved source of stories for casual readers and a valuable reference for scholars wishing to explore Beauford’s life and art.
To honor this journey and better serve our worldwide community, we are bringing Les Amis into a new era.
We’re working on a major upgrade: moving the blog (which has approximately 750 posts to date) to a modern platform that will improve accessibility, allow interactive features, and safeguard our content for the future.
This platform will be hosted by the Wells International Foundation (WIF).
WIF is the U.S. nonprofit that raised the money for and organized the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition, which launched Beauford's renaissance in 2016.*
Great progress has been made on this project, and as of this writing, we are on track to complete the transition by the end of December 2025.
Once this has been accomplished, we will perform a final series of tests for functionality and go live early in 2026.
Today, we want to reflect on and celebrate what has transpired since our first post on December 14, 2009.
How It All Began
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is a small, French non-profit organization (Association 1901) that was created in November 2009.
(1953) Carl Van Vechten
The goals of the organization are as follows:
1) Placement and maintenance of a tombstone for the grave of painter Beauford Delaney, who is buried at the Parisian Cemetery of Thiais
2) Payment of the renewal fees for his grave
3) Organization of commemorative or educational events in his honor
4) Informing the press and the media of his life and accomplishments.
For several years, the French nonprofit pursued all four goals on its own.
We launched the blog to raise awareness of Beauford's story in support of the fundraising effort to place a tombstone at his previously unmarked grave at Thiais Cemetery outside of Paris.
With the support of the U.S. Embassy and numerous private donors, we succeeded in this effort and laid the stone over the summer of 2010.
We organized a graveside ceremony, which was followed by a U.S. Embassy-hosted reception in Paris on October 14, 2010.
Gathering around the tombstone
© Discover Paris!
Because of the passion ignited by this effort, we continued to delve into his life and art and bring these stories to the public through the blog.
Beginning with the 2016 Resonance of Form exhibition, we have partnered with WIF on various events.
When the blog is transferred to the new platform, we will work with WIF in an advisory capacity on the selection of content that will be uploaded alongside the blog.
We are excited that what started as a modest online publication has grown into a key resource supporting the global renaissance of interest in Beauford’s work.
Sixteen Years of Milestones and Achievements
Across these sixteen years, Les Amis has supported and documented major developments in the reclamation and expansion of Beauford’s artistic legacy.
We have
- Featured exhibitions of his work around the world and highlighted new acquisitions of his works by major museums
- Reported on the sale of his work by numerous auction houses and celebrated record breaking transactions
- Shared anecdotes from personal friends and acquaintances that shed light on Beauford's personal life
- Documented initiatives to preserve Beauford Delaney archival materials
- Exposed readers to the vast depth and breadth of his artistic practice
- Provided support for scholars wanting to investigate his life and work as well as the life and work of his famous mentee, James Baldwin.
© Entrée to Black Paris
(1944) Oil on canvas
Acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2022
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator,
Image: Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY
(1967) Oil on canvas
Record-breaking sale by Christie's in November 2025
$1.2 million (hammer price)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY
Through these efforts, Les Amis has played a significant role in shifting Beauford from the margins to the center of conversations on 20th century artists.
Moments That Resonated the Most
Among the many posts that have filled the blog over the years, certain stories have left an enduring mark.
These include profiles and posts about
- Beauford’s friendships, particularly his life-changing bond with James Baldwin
- Projects inspired by Beauford's life and work, including the Classes Duo partnership with the City of Paris and the play, Amazing Grace is Yellow
- Lesser-known moments of Beauford's life in Knoxville and Boston
- Deep dives into specific paintings that helped newcomers connect emotionally with his work
- Scholarly commentary and exchanges about Beauford's œuvre.
These posts remind us that the blog is more than an archive—it is a space for discovery, memory, conversation, and connection.
The Community That Keeps the Blog Alive
We cannot honor this milestone anniversary without recognizing the vibrant community that has sustained this project:
- The readers who come back year after year
- The students and scholars who find information and images to support their work on the blog
- The educators who use our posts in their classrooms
- The friends of Beauford who read the blog and are inspired to contribute their own stories about him
- The museum curators, auction houses, and archivists who share research or request information.
Cover Art: Portrait of James Baldwin
(1965) Oil on canvas
Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY
We especially thank the Estate of Beauford Delaney, the Knoxville Museum of Art, Galerie Intemporel, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the University of Arizona, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery for their unwavering support over the lifetime of the blog.
Looking Forward
Sixteen years is a milestone, but it is also a beginning. We continue to work—joyfully and intentionally—to expand Beauford's legacy.
Because Beauford deserves more ...
... more recognition, more scholarship, and more space in the global conversation about modern art.
Looking ahead, Les Amis aims to
- Launch new digital features, examples of which include exclusive interviews, digital stories, and curated reading lists.
- Expand access to resources for students, educators, and Black and other cultural institutions.
- Support new research that deepens our understanding of Beauford’s artistic evolution.
- Continue collaborating with museums and scholars on exhibitions and archival projects.
- Continue nurturing the community of Beauford's supporters around the world.
Our overarching mission remains the same: to keep the light shining brightly on Beauford’s work and to ensure his story is never again pushed to the edges of art history.
In Gratitude
To everyone who has walked this sixteen-year journey with us—thank you!
Your curiosity, your engagement, your passion, and your love for Beauford’s art make this blog a living tribute.
His legacy continues because you choose to be part of keeping it alive.
(1965) Oil on canvas
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY
*WIF is raising $3200 to support the cost of transitioning the Les Amis blog to its new home.
If you'd like to donate, click HERE to access WIF's giving page.
Enter "Beauford Delaney" in the donor note so your gift is directed to this project.
Finding Higher Ground: Beauford at the Bistro at the Bijou
The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) has the largest public collection of Beauford's work in the world.
© Wells International Foundation
It has created a space dedicated to works by Beauford and his brother, Joseph, as part of its permanent exhibition entitled Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee.
© Wells International Foundation
As part of its public programming to increase awareness of the exhibition, KMA has organized an event in collaboration with a local downtown restaurant called Bistro at the Bijou, where Knoxvillians will celebrate Beauford's life, his art, and his...
GUMBO!
In 2012, Les Amis published an article about Beauford's gumbo recipe, which appeared in a 1949 edition of the Greenwich Village Gourmet.
Bistro at the Bijou will reproduce this recipe during dinner service from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm on November 18, 2025. Attendees will enjoy a live performance of jazz by the Greg Hardy Trio.
To read the gumbo recipe, click HERE.
The Bistro at the Bijou
807 South Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 544-0537
From Paris to Knoxville - Part 3
After my visit to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, I had lunch with the docents at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Over soup, sandwiches, and iced tea, I spoke with them about my "Beauford Delaney journey" - beginning with the story of the tombstone. They eagerly posed question after question about Beauford's life and work and I responded just as eagerly. By the time lunch was ending, the room was abuzz with talk of planning a KMA docent trip to Paris!
KMA Docent Lunch
© Wells International Foundation
That afternoon, Link Sylvia Peters and I went to the East Tennessee History Center. This magnificent building houses the Museum of East Tennessee History, the McClung Historical Collection (the genealogy and history research branch of the Knox County Public Library), and the Knox County archives. Steve Cotham, manager of the historical collection, gave us the grand tour of the facility. He shared information about not only the content of the museum exhibitions and the library stacks, but also anecdotes about the history and architecture of the building itself. He explained that the History Center wants to become the permanent home of the Beauford Delaney archives in Knoxville.
East Tennessee History Center
© Wells International Foundation
That evening, I was honored to attend a dinner at the home of Patricia and Alan Rutenberg. Invitees included several persons who visited Paris for the opening of Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color in February; members of the Knoxville chapter of The Links, Incorporated - including Chapter President Avice Reid, who serves as Senior Director of Community Relations for the Knoxville mayor's office; and educators from Knoxville schools. Once again, I shared my "Beauford Delaney journey" and responded to questions from the guests. Several of the attendees told me that they planned to attend the presentation that I was scheduled to give at the Knoxville Museum of Art the following evening.
Monique (seated, third from left) and Knoxville Links
© Wells International Foundation
Next week: the KMA presentation.
Read Part 1 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
Read Part 2 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
© Wells International Foundation
That afternoon, Link Sylvia Peters and I went to the East Tennessee History Center. This magnificent building houses the Museum of East Tennessee History, the McClung Historical Collection (the genealogy and history research branch of the Knox County Public Library), and the Knox County archives. Steve Cotham, manager of the historical collection, gave us the grand tour of the facility. He shared information about not only the content of the museum exhibitions and the library stacks, but also anecdotes about the history and architecture of the building itself. He explained that the History Center wants to become the permanent home of the Beauford Delaney archives in Knoxville.
© Wells International Foundation
That evening, I was honored to attend a dinner at the home of Patricia and Alan Rutenberg. Invitees included several persons who visited Paris for the opening of Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color in February; members of the Knoxville chapter of The Links, Incorporated - including Chapter President Avice Reid, who serves as Senior Director of Community Relations for the Knoxville mayor's office; and educators from Knoxville schools. Once again, I shared my "Beauford Delaney journey" and responded to questions from the guests. Several of the attendees told me that they planned to attend the presentation that I was scheduled to give at the Knoxville Museum of Art the following evening.
© Wells International Foundation
Next week: the KMA presentation.
Read Part 1 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
Read Part 2 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
From Paris to Knoxville - Part 2
An important part of my visit to Knoxville was having the occasion to visit places important to Beauford's life there.
I had long since learned that the original family home at 815 East Vine Street had been destroyed and that the Delaneys moved to a house on Dandridge Avenue.
What I didn't know was why the original home was destroyed. I learned all about this through a visit to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center (rear)
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president and CEO, Rev. Reneé Kesler, welcomed Link Sylvia Peters (my gracious hostess for this trip) and me to the Center on Wednesday morning. Rev. Kesler explained how the process of urban renewal, also known as "urban removal," decimated the geographical area occupied by African Americans in Knoxville from 1959 to 1974. The original Delaney home disappeared along with hundreds of others, as did the Delaney barbershop, which was run by Beauford's older brother, Emery. It was located in the front room of the Vine Street house.
The urban renewal of Knoxville is featured in one of several permanent exhibitions at the Center.
"Urban Removal" in Knoxville
Image from Beck Cultural Center Web site
Rev. Kesler gave us a complete tour of the Center, including "The Gallery," where several works of art are displayed. Many of these were created by Beauford's brother, Joseph. There is also a portrait of Beauford in that room, inspired by the first meeting for the Beauford Delaney in America project that took place at Beck on June 2, 2016.
Portrait of Beauford Delaney
Daniel Craft
(2016) Acrylic on canvas
© Wells International Foundation
We then went next door, where it just so happens that the "new" Delaney home is located. The family relocated there at some point between 1964 and 1969 and resided there when Beauford returned to Knoxville for a Christmas visit in 1969. Beck currently owns this property and is making plans to restore it.
Delaney home on Dandridge Avenue
© Wells International Foundation
Rear of Delaney homestead (left) viewed from Beck Center
© Wells International Foundation
The family's place of worship - the Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church - is located just a block down the street. Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit it.
I found the Beck Cultural Exchange Center to be a treasure trove of information and artifacts that preserves the legacy of Knoxville's African-American community. It is well positioned for the vital role it will play in the Beauford Delaney in America initiative.
Beck is a Charter Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
1927 Dandridge Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37915
Telephone: (865)524-8461
Internet: http://www.beckcenter.net/
Beck Cultural Exchange Center sign
© Wells International Foundation
Read Part 1 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
I had long since learned that the original family home at 815 East Vine Street had been destroyed and that the Delaneys moved to a house on Dandridge Avenue.
What I didn't know was why the original home was destroyed. I learned all about this through a visit to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president and CEO, Rev. Reneé Kesler, welcomed Link Sylvia Peters (my gracious hostess for this trip) and me to the Center on Wednesday morning. Rev. Kesler explained how the process of urban renewal, also known as "urban removal," decimated the geographical area occupied by African Americans in Knoxville from 1959 to 1974. The original Delaney home disappeared along with hundreds of others, as did the Delaney barbershop, which was run by Beauford's older brother, Emery. It was located in the front room of the Vine Street house.
The urban renewal of Knoxville is featured in one of several permanent exhibitions at the Center.
Image from Beck Cultural Center Web site
Rev. Kesler gave us a complete tour of the Center, including "The Gallery," where several works of art are displayed. Many of these were created by Beauford's brother, Joseph. There is also a portrait of Beauford in that room, inspired by the first meeting for the Beauford Delaney in America project that took place at Beck on June 2, 2016.
Daniel Craft
(2016) Acrylic on canvas
© Wells International Foundation
We then went next door, where it just so happens that the "new" Delaney home is located. The family relocated there at some point between 1964 and 1969 and resided there when Beauford returned to Knoxville for a Christmas visit in 1969. Beck currently owns this property and is making plans to restore it.
© Wells International Foundation
© Wells International Foundation
The family's place of worship - the Lennon-Seney United Methodist Church - is located just a block down the street. Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit it.
I found the Beck Cultural Exchange Center to be a treasure trove of information and artifacts that preserves the legacy of Knoxville's African-American community. It is well positioned for the vital role it will play in the Beauford Delaney in America initiative.
Beck is a Charter Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
1927 Dandridge Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37915
Telephone: (865)524-8461
Internet: http://www.beckcenter.net/
© Wells International Foundation
Read Part 1 of "From Paris to Knoxville" by clicking HERE.
From Paris to Knoxville - Part 1
I took my first trip to Beauford's hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee this week. What a great pleasure to visit this beautiful city, where Beauford was born and made his first strides as an artist!
I spent much of the first two days of my visit at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA).
Knoxville Museum of Art
© Discover Paris!
Here, I was thrilled to be able to stand before the three Beauford Delaney paintings* that are on permanent display in KMA's Higher Ground exhibition. Higher Ground showcases some of the best works by East Tennessee artists, including Beauford's first mentor, Lloyd Branson.
Portrait of Delia Delaney
(1933) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Dante Pavone as Christ
(1948) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Scattered Light
(1964) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
I also had the pleasure of meeting Derek L. Spratley, Esquire, the attorney who represents Beauford's estate. He graciously granted me access to Beauford's archives.
Derek Spratley and Monique Wells
© Discover Paris!
I saw countless photos, several paintings and works on paper, and a mere fraction of the documents that cast light upon the minute details of Beauford's life. There wasn't nearly enough time to go through the entire archive, so I definitely plan to return.
The week's activities included visits to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the East Tennessee History Center, the office of Mayor Madeline Rogero, and the L&N Stem Academy. It culminated with the kickoff event for the initiative to bring the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition to KMA as part of a larger movement to raise Knoxville's awareness of Beauford and to honor him there.
Look for more details in the next Les Amis blog post.
*Click HERE for details about Portrait of Delia Delaney and Dante Pavone as Christ. Click HERE for details about Scattered Light.
I spent much of the first two days of my visit at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA).
© Discover Paris!
Here, I was thrilled to be able to stand before the three Beauford Delaney paintings* that are on permanent display in KMA's Higher Ground exhibition. Higher Ground showcases some of the best works by East Tennessee artists, including Beauford's first mentor, Lloyd Branson.
(1933) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(1948) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(1964) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
I also had the pleasure of meeting Derek L. Spratley, Esquire, the attorney who represents Beauford's estate. He graciously granted me access to Beauford's archives.
© Discover Paris!
I saw countless photos, several paintings and works on paper, and a mere fraction of the documents that cast light upon the minute details of Beauford's life. There wasn't nearly enough time to go through the entire archive, so I definitely plan to return.
The week's activities included visits to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the East Tennessee History Center, the office of Mayor Madeline Rogero, and the L&N Stem Academy. It culminated with the kickoff event for the initiative to bring the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition to KMA as part of a larger movement to raise Knoxville's awareness of Beauford and to honor him there.
Look for more details in the next Les Amis blog post.
*Click HERE for details about Portrait of Delia Delaney and Dante Pavone as Christ. Click HERE for details about Scattered Light.
Beauford's Story Featured in the New York Times
Several months ago, through an introduction by global connector and Renaissance woman, Silver Wainhouse, I met journalist Jake Cigainero. The three of us sat at one of my favorite Paris meeting places and chatted for what seemed to be hours about why I am so passionate about Beauford Delaney. I told him about the grave site project, the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color , the fact that eleven persons from Beauford's home town came to the opening of the show, and much more.
When we parted, Jake told me he thought the story would be of interest to the New York Times. He said he'd pitch it and keep me posted.
In late July, I took Silver and Jake on the "Beauford Delaney's Montparnasse" walk that I created for the Paris exhibition. Jake confirmed that the Times was indeed interested in the story and told me that he would interview many others to write it. He would subsequently call me twice for fact-checking sessions regarding what I shared in our initial meeting as well as during the walk, which I greatly appreciated!
On August 6, I published a blog post about the Beauford Delaney in America initiative that would revive Beauford's legacy in his home town of Knoxville, TN.
On September 8, the New York Times published an article that picked up the thread of that post. I was thrilled to discover just how many people Jake interviewed and the research he conducted to write this expansive and thorough piece about Beauford's life and legacy.
Read the article here:
Beauford Delaney Returns to the Scene
The same day this article appeared, I booked a round-trip ticket to Knoxville so I can attend October events that will spearhead the fundraising campaign to bring Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color to the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Knoxville Museum of Art
I'm looking forward to seeing KMA's collection of Beauford's work as well as visiting his archives and seeing his hometown for the first time!
When we parted, Jake told me he thought the story would be of interest to the New York Times. He said he'd pitch it and keep me posted.
In late July, I took Silver and Jake on the "Beauford Delaney's Montparnasse" walk that I created for the Paris exhibition. Jake confirmed that the Times was indeed interested in the story and told me that he would interview many others to write it. He would subsequently call me twice for fact-checking sessions regarding what I shared in our initial meeting as well as during the walk, which I greatly appreciated!
On August 6, I published a blog post about the Beauford Delaney in America initiative that would revive Beauford's legacy in his home town of Knoxville, TN.
On September 8, the New York Times published an article that picked up the thread of that post. I was thrilled to discover just how many people Jake interviewed and the research he conducted to write this expansive and thorough piece about Beauford's life and legacy.
Read the article here:
Beauford Delaney Returns to the Scene
The same day this article appeared, I booked a round-trip ticket to Knoxville so I can attend October events that will spearhead the fundraising campaign to bring Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color to the Knoxville Museum of Art.
I'm looking forward to seeing KMA's collection of Beauford's work as well as visiting his archives and seeing his hometown for the first time!
Presenting Beauford at Paris Lit Up
************
© Discover Paris!
Several months ago, co-host and editor Emily Ruck Keene extended an invitation to me to be a featured speaker for PLU's Open Mic night. She wanted me to share my knowledge of black history, culture and contemporary life in Paris with PLU's audience and invited to select any topic that suited my fancy. Because of the tremendous reception that my presentation received at the Links National Assembly in Las Vegas, I thought it only natural to talk about Beauford and the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition.
We settled on July 14 (Bastille Day) as the date for my presentation.
The audience was delightfully eclectic that evening! Among those present were a software engineer, an art historian, and a "poet for hire."
I took the stage after watching several masterful recitations of poetry and prose, including a poem about Ferguson written by WIF intern and National Student Poet 2013-2014, Sojourner Ahébée. (Ahébée took a guided tour of Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color in February 2016 and requested to be considered for an internship as a result of what she saw and felt during that visit.)
© Discover Paris!
Part 1 of my talk focused on the story behind the founding of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney. The audience was captivated by the story of how I came to discover Beauford's gravesite and the work that Les Amis did to place a tombstone there. I explained how the non-profit's mission to organize educational and commemorative events in Beauford's honor and call the attention of the press to his artistic accomplishments led to the organization of the exhibition. I also spoke about study abroad and STEAM, both of which were important components of the exhibition.
© Discover Paris!
Part 2 of my talk focused on the Augmented Reality project. Because of PLU's focus on literary and performing arts, I decided to devote a good part of this section to the spoken word videos that rapper and spoken word artist Mike Ladd contributed to the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project.
© Discover Paris!
While I spoke, Keene downloaded the app to test it on several images in the exhibition catalog. She excitedly reported that she was able to access them all!
Following my presentation, more attendees took the stage to recite their poetry. Then, we left the cabaret and spilled into the street to watch the holiday fireworks display.
© Discover Paris!
We ended the evening at around midnight. Both the poetry recitals and the fireworks were truly inspiring!
Presenting Beauford at the Links National Assembly
On Friday, July 1, I had the honor and pleasure of presenting Beauford and the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition at the Links National Assembly in Las Vegas.
During the fundraising campaign that took place prior to the exhibition, Rita Henderson, National Chairperson for the Arts facet of The Links Incorporated, organized the Links' contribution to the show. The organization's logo appears in the catalog in the section devoted to sponsors.
At that time, Chairperson Henderson approached me about speaking at a program workshop for the Links National Assembly. She said that the Delaney exhibition would be the perfect topic for the session that she was organizing with two other persons who were responsible for the program: Susan Coleman-Parks, Co-Director of the Arts facet, and Joan Prince, National Chair of the International Trends and Services facet. The name of the workshop would be "Make the Connection: International Trends and the Arts as a Global Force for Peace, Friendship, and Healing."
An excerpt from the description for the workshop read as follows:
Make the Connection workshop sign
© Wells International Foundation
Susan Coleman-Parks, Joan Prince, and Rita Henderson
© Wells International Foundation
During the workshop, I spoke for about 10 minutes, talking about Beauford and citing the founding of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney as the catalyst for organizing the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition as the inaugural event for the Wells International Foundation.
Monique at the podium
© Wells International Foundation
I presented the highlights of the educational programming for the exhibition: the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project, the Global Educator Program, and the Blippar app, and invited attendees to come to my table after my talk to see the app in action.
Signs on table
© Wells International Foundation
The reception was overwhelmingly positive! A steady stream of attendees came over to the table to purchase catalogs and see the app in action. And six people gave me their names and contact information so we can communicate about exploring the possibility of bringing the exhibition to a museum in their city!
Monique and Link Stalfana Bello
© Wells International Foundation
I've already begun following up with these ladies and will share any positive news in future blog posts.
During the fundraising campaign that took place prior to the exhibition, Rita Henderson, National Chairperson for the Arts facet of The Links Incorporated, organized the Links' contribution to the show. The organization's logo appears in the catalog in the section devoted to sponsors.
At that time, Chairperson Henderson approached me about speaking at a program workshop for the Links National Assembly. She said that the Delaney exhibition would be the perfect topic for the session that she was organizing with two other persons who were responsible for the program: Susan Coleman-Parks, Co-Director of the Arts facet, and Joan Prince, National Chair of the International Trends and Services facet. The name of the workshop would be "Make the Connection: International Trends and the Arts as a Global Force for Peace, Friendship, and Healing."
An excerpt from the description for the workshop read as follows:
Experience how we leveraged our Linking with Jamaica initiative through a spotlight on chapter programming in Jamaican communities. Engage with the founder and CEO of a nonprofit, international arts foundation and learn how The Links, Incorporated joined forces to preserve the legacy of the late Beauford Delaney, a Paris expatriate who moved there in 1953 and died there in 1979.500 persons registered to attend.
© Wells International Foundation
© Wells International Foundation
During the workshop, I spoke for about 10 minutes, talking about Beauford and citing the founding of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney as the catalyst for organizing the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition as the inaugural event for the Wells International Foundation.
© Wells International Foundation
I presented the highlights of the educational programming for the exhibition: the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project, the Global Educator Program, and the Blippar app, and invited attendees to come to my table after my talk to see the app in action.
© Wells International Foundation
The reception was overwhelmingly positive! A steady stream of attendees came over to the table to purchase catalogs and see the app in action. And six people gave me their names and contact information so we can communicate about exploring the possibility of bringing the exhibition to a museum in their city!
© Wells International Foundation
I've already begun following up with these ladies and will share any positive news in future blog posts.
Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color: A Successful Exhibition!
After a hugely successful run (February 4-29) and a two-week extension (March 1-15) at Columbia Global Centers | Paris at Reid Hall, the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition has come to an end.
In previous blog posts about the exhibition, I've brought you information about the prelude (including the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project) and the catalog, as well as the opening, the round table discussion, and the Global Educator Program that comprised much of the event schedule.
Today, I'm sharing photos of the celebration of Beauford's life in Paris, the screening of the documentary Paris Noir, and some of the guided visits conducted by my co-curator, Laurence Choko, and me.
Celebration of Beauford's Life in Paris
(Sunday, 21 February 2016)
Attendees discussing the life of Beauford Delaney
© Discover Paris!
Monique Y. Wells giving presentation
© Discover Paris!
Geneviève Brouard points out friends in a photo
of an event that took place at the
American Cultural Center in 1969
© Discover Paris!
Making comments about and sharing memories of Beauford
Top (left to right):
Bob Tomlinson, Zuka Mitelberg, Arnaud du Closel
Bottom (left to right):
Jean-Loup Msika, Velma Bury, Marc Albert-Levin
© Discover Paris!
Screening of Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light
(Thursday, 25 February 2016)
Monique welcomes the crowd to the screening
© Discover Paris!
Julia Browne talks about the documentary
© Discover Paris!
Samuel Légitimus (left) and members of the
James Baldwin Collective
at the screening
© Discover Paris!
Guided Visits to Exhibition
(multiple dates throughout the exhibition)
Participants for February 27 visit
© Discover Paris!
Presentation of the "inks on paper" abstract
© J Rêve International
Laurence Choko talks about Beauford's contribution
to French art history
© Discover Paris!
Students admire a Delaney painting
© Discover Paris!
Viewing the works in the Salle de Conferences
© Discover Paris!
Talking about The Eye
© Discover Paris!
Several museums have expressed interest in hosting the exhibition. This is an exciting development! Les Amis will be studying these inquiries over the next few weeks.
Now that the exhibition has ended, I will take a break from blogging. Look for a new post in April 2016.
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Columbia Global Centers | Paris, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) have brought you this exhibition of Beauford Delaney works at Reid Hall in Paris.
WE STILL REQUIRE FUNDING FOR THE SHOW!
To contribute, click HERE.
In previous blog posts about the exhibition, I've brought you information about the prelude (including the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project) and the catalog, as well as the opening, the round table discussion, and the Global Educator Program that comprised much of the event schedule.
Today, I'm sharing photos of the celebration of Beauford's life in Paris, the screening of the documentary Paris Noir, and some of the guided visits conducted by my co-curator, Laurence Choko, and me.
Celebration of Beauford's Life in Paris
(Sunday, 21 February 2016)
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
of an event that took place at the
American Cultural Center in 1969
© Discover Paris!
Top (left to right):
Bob Tomlinson, Zuka Mitelberg, Arnaud du Closel
Bottom (left to right):
Jean-Loup Msika, Velma Bury, Marc Albert-Levin
© Discover Paris!
Screening of Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Light
(Thursday, 25 February 2016)
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
James Baldwin Collective
at the screening
© Discover Paris!
Guided Visits to Exhibition
(multiple dates throughout the exhibition)
© Discover Paris!
© J Rêve International
to French art history
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Several museums have expressed interest in hosting the exhibition. This is an exciting development! Les Amis will be studying these inquiries over the next few weeks.
Now that the exhibition has ended, I will take a break from blogging. Look for a new post in April 2016.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Columbia Global Centers | Paris, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) have brought you this exhibition of Beauford Delaney works at Reid Hall in Paris.
WE STILL REQUIRE FUNDING FOR THE SHOW!
To contribute, click HERE.
Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color: The Round Table
On February 18th, the Wells International Foundation and Les Amis welcomed Nigel Freeman, Director of the African American Fine Art department at Swann Auction Galleries; André Delpuech, Chief Curator of the Americas collection at the Musée du quai Branly; and Laurence Choko, owner of Galerie Intemporel to a round table discussion entitled "Multiculturalism in Today's Art World" at Columbia Global Centers | Paris at Reid Hall. Freeman and Delpuech were panelists and Choko served as moderator.
The Panel
© Discover Paris!
Laurence Choko, Galerie Intemporel - moderator
© Discover Paris!
Nigel Freeman, Swann Auction Galleries - panelist
© Discover Paris!
André Delpuech, Musée du quai Branly - panelist
© Discover Paris!
I sat in for Dr. Catherine St. John, Doctor of Arts and expert on Beauford Delaney's oeuvre, who was unexpectedly unable to attend.
Monique Y. Wells, Wells International Foundation and
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney filling in for Dr. Catherine St. John
© Discover Paris!
Attendees listened attentively as Freeman and Delpuech presented their positions on "The Rise of the African-American Artist" and "'We' and 'The Others' in Art: Leaving Colonial Ideology Behind", respectively, and I read a statement by Dr. St. John on "The Importance of Context and Collective History."
The audience
© J Rêve International
Rapt attention
© J Rêve International
Panelists posed questions to each other
Nigel Freeman and André Delpuech discuss a point of interest
© Discover Paris!
and the audience was then encouraged to pose questions to the panelists.
Richard Allen asks a question
© J Rêve International
Cinnamon Nolley makes a comment
© J Rêve International
The conversation was lively, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous.
André Delpuech ponders a comment
© Discover Paris!
Nigel Freeman having a chuckle
© Discover Paris!
Several members of the audience had traveled from the U.S. to attend this and other events organized for the exhibition. They included Anne Denise Stills of Smashing Daily and Jim Levis of Levis Fine Art. Both businesses sponsored the exhibition, along with Swann Auction Galleries.
After the formal discussion was over, participants and panelists lingered and enjoyed conversation over wine, water, and nibbles.
From left to right: Margaret Sergent and Malikka Karteron of J Rêve International's
Global Educator Program; Jim Levis of Levis Fine Art
© J Rêve International
Attendees posing next to refreshment table
© J Rêve International
A good time was had by all!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
I sat in for Dr. Catherine St. John, Doctor of Arts and expert on Beauford Delaney's oeuvre, who was unexpectedly unable to attend.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
© Discover Paris!
Her travel had been funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Attendees listened attentively as Freeman and Delpuech presented their positions on "The Rise of the African-American Artist" and "'We' and 'The Others' in Art: Leaving Colonial Ideology Behind", respectively, and I read a statement by Dr. St. John on "The Importance of Context and Collective History."
© J Rêve International
© J Rêve International
Panelists posed questions to each other
© Discover Paris!
and the audience was then encouraged to pose questions to the panelists.
© J Rêve International
© J Rêve International
The conversation was lively, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous.
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Several members of the audience had traveled from the U.S. to attend this and other events organized for the exhibition. They included Anne Denise Stills of Smashing Daily and Jim Levis of Levis Fine Art. Both businesses sponsored the exhibition, along with Swann Auction Galleries.
After the formal discussion was over, participants and panelists lingered and enjoyed conversation over wine, water, and nibbles.
Global Educator Program; Jim Levis of Levis Fine Art
© J Rêve International
© J Rêve International
A good time was had by all!
Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color: The Vernissage (Opening Reception)
Simply spectacular!
That sums up the vernissage (opening reception) for the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition that took place at Columbia Global Centers | Paris at Reid Hall on February 3, 2016.
Over 300 people came out for the event over the course of the evening. Art aficionados enjoyed refreshments in the Salle de Conferences, where many works are displayed. They flowed back and forth between this room and the Grande Salle, where more paintings and works on paper punctuate the rich wood paneling found there.
(1966) Oil on canvas
Private collection
Among the notables in attendance were sculptor, poet, and novelist Barbara Chase-Riboud, photographer Florence Gruère, documentary filmmaker Louis Messiah, and author Jake Lamar.
Brune Biebuyck, administrative director of Reid Hall, opened the evening by welcoming attendees to the exhibition and introducing me. She spoke warmly about the collaboration between Columbia Global Center Paris, the Wells International Foundation, and Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, and expressed her pleasure at being able to host the exhibition in the magical place that is Reid Hall.
For my part, I told the story behind Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and shared how the idea for the exhibition was born. I welcomed a contingent of eleven (11) persons from Knoxville, TN — Beauford's hometown — who were among the crowd to honor Knoxville's native son. Several of them were from the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Then the Wells International Foundation's two strategic partners for education / study abroad came to the podium to explain the projects that they had conceived in conjunction with the exhibition.
Jacqueline Cofield, founder of J Rêve International, spoke passionately about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and the Global Educator Program that she has organized for February 15-20. Eight teachers will explore ways to incorporate the arts into their teaching practices for their respective disciplines with a focus on Beauford's life and art.
Professor Bryan Carter and six students from the University of Arizona introduced themselves and their Augmented Reality project. One of the students, Tripp Twyman, demonstrated the process of downloading the Blippar application from the App store onto smart devices and then scanning paintings to activate the app so that attendees could view the video augments and access Web links associated with roughly half of the paintings in the exhibition.
Watch the video of the presentation here.
Once the demonstration was over, attendees went around the exhibition rooms to test the app for themselves.
The atmosphere was exceptionally convivial and attendees were present until closing time.
The Blippar app also works for images in the exhibition catalog, which sold "like hotcakes" in the vestibule outside the Grande Salle. Come back next week to learn why this publication is the first of its kind!
Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color: Before the Opening
The February 3rd opening of the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition was a huge success! Photos and a full report on the evening's happenings will come next week.
To whet your appetite for them, I'm sharing behind-the-scenes images of the preparation of the show.
It took three days to hang the exhibition.
Paintings ready for hanging
© Discover Paris!
Thierry hangs La Nativité
© Discover Paris!
Thierry hangs The Eye
© Discover Paris!
Tom Reeves photographs Thierry preparing a painting for hanging
© Discover Paris!
The Grande Salle
© Discover Paris!
Co-curators Monique Wells and Laurence Choko
© Discover Paris!
Monique showing the donor list
© Discover Paris!
Professor Bryan Carter and students from the University of Arizona spent the morning of February 1 video-ing spoken word artist Mike Ladd and me to create Blippar video augments for 20 of the 40+ paintings that are being displayed at the exhibition.
Professor Bryan Carter (far right), University of Arizona students, and Monique (front left)
© Discover Paris!
Professor Carter hangs green screen for video session
© Discover Paris!
Chatting during video session
© Discover Paris!
Mike Ladd
© Discover Paris!
Talking with Professor Carter in the Salle de Conferences
© Discover Paris!
In the meantime, J Rêve International founder, Jacqueline Cofield, was checking out the hotel where the teachers participating in her Global Educator Program will stay during the week of February 15.
Hôtel Le M is one of the two sites in Montparnasse that bears a Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque on the façade.
Hôtel Le M - Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque
J Rêve International is bringing eight U.S. teachers to Paris for a workshop on incorporating the arts into teaching practices for multiple disciplines. Beauford's life and art are the focal point for the workshop.
Among the activities planned are an educator meet-and-greet that will permit teachers in the French and U.S. systems to exchange information and ideas:
and a panel discussion on STEAM and Multiple Intelligences that is open to the public:
Next week - the opening!
To whet your appetite for them, I'm sharing behind-the-scenes images of the preparation of the show.
It took three days to hang the exhibition.
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Professor Bryan Carter and students from the University of Arizona spent the morning of February 1 video-ing spoken word artist Mike Ladd and me to create Blippar video augments for 20 of the 40+ paintings that are being displayed at the exhibition.
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
In the meantime, J Rêve International founder, Jacqueline Cofield, was checking out the hotel where the teachers participating in her Global Educator Program will stay during the week of February 15.
Jacqueline Cofield, founder of J Rêve International
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Hôtel Le M is one of the two sites in Montparnasse that bears a Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque on the façade.
© Discover Paris!
J Rêve International is bringing eight U.S. teachers to Paris for a workshop on incorporating the arts into teaching practices for multiple disciplines. Beauford's life and art are the focal point for the workshop.
Among the activities planned are an educator meet-and-greet that will permit teachers in the French and U.S. systems to exchange information and ideas:
and a panel discussion on STEAM and Multiple Intelligences that is open to the public:
Next week - the opening!
You're Invited! Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color
It's official! We have opened registration for attendance at the vernissage (opening) for the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition!
It is scheduled for
Wednesday, February 3 at 6 PM.
The venue is:
La Grande Salle
Columbia Global Centers | Paris
Reid Hall, 4, rue de Chevreuse
75006 Paris
Metro: Vavin (Line 4)
You must register to attend this event. Columbia Global Centers | Paris has provided links to English and French sign-up pages:
English registration page
French registration page
Even if you cannot attend the opening, sign up so that Columbia Global Centers can send you invitations for events associated with the exhibition that will take place subsequent to the opening. You will need to register for each event that you wish to attend.
I'm looking forward to welcoming you to the show!
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color - Event Schedule
We're only 18 days away from the opening for Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color!
If you haven't already done so, mark your calendar for February 3, 2016.
Here's the schedule of events:
3 February - 6 PM: Vernissage
8 February - 7 PM: Textes & Voix - spoken word artist Mike Ladd talks about jazz and the works presented in the exhibition
16 February - 6:30 PM: Private presentation of exhibition for AARO
17 February - 4 PM: Global Educator Program round table
18 February - 6 PM: Round table discussion - "Multiculturalism in Today's Art World"
20 February - 2 PM: Panel discussion on STEAM Education and Multiple Intelligences
21 February - 3 PM: Celebration of Beauford's life in Paris
25 February - 6:30 PM: Screening of Paris Noir - African Americans in the City of Light by Joanne Burke
To access a superb article on the exhibition and its back story, visit the following link:
Experience the Brilliant Art of Beauford Delaney in Paris
Paris Window
(1953) Pastel on paper
Whitney Museum of American Art
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
You must sign up through Columbia Global Centers' Web site to attend each of these events.
For the English-language sign-up page, click HERE.
For the French-language sign-up page, click HERE.
Your contribution will help make the exhibition a success!
Make your tax-deductible donation here: Wells International Foundation - Private Donor
Les Amis and our partners — Wells International Foundation and Columbia Global Centers | Paris — look forward to welcoming you to Paris and to Columbia University's facility at Reid Hall!
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
If you haven't already done so, mark your calendar for February 3, 2016.
Here's the schedule of events:
3 February - 6 PM: Vernissage
8 February - 7 PM: Textes & Voix - spoken word artist Mike Ladd talks about jazz and the works presented in the exhibition
16 February - 6:30 PM: Private presentation of exhibition for AARO
17 February - 4 PM: Global Educator Program round table
18 February - 6 PM: Round table discussion - "Multiculturalism in Today's Art World"
20 February - 2 PM: Panel discussion on STEAM Education and Multiple Intelligences
21 February - 3 PM: Celebration of Beauford's life in Paris
25 February - 6:30 PM: Screening of Paris Noir - African Americans in the City of Light by Joanne Burke
To access a superb article on the exhibition and its back story, visit the following link:
Experience the Brilliant Art of Beauford Delaney in Paris
(1953) Pastel on paper
Whitney Museum of American Art
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
You must sign up through Columbia Global Centers' Web site to attend each of these events.
For the English-language sign-up page, click HERE.
For the French-language sign-up page, click HERE.
Your contribution will help make the exhibition a success!
Make your tax-deductible donation here: Wells International Foundation - Private Donor
Les Amis and our partners — Wells International Foundation and Columbia Global Centers | Paris — look forward to welcoming you to Paris and to Columbia University's facility at Reid Hall!
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
32 days until the opening!
Along with our partners — Wells International Foundation and Columbia Global Centers | Europe Paris — Les Amis is excited to begin the countdown to the vernissage of the Beauford Delaney exhibition in Paris, which is only 32 days away!
Mark your calendar for February 3, 2016.
We've christened the exhibition with an official name - Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color.
As a brief reminder of what we have in store for you, we'll be displaying over 40 paintings and works on paper from Beauford's Paris period. All are being loaned by private collectors in the Paris area and most have never been seen by the general public before.
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Collage © Discover Paris!
In addition to the vernissage, we are co-hosting a round table discussion on "Multiculturalism in Today's Art World" on February 18 and a celebration of Beauford's life in Paris on February 21.
Visit the following link for additional details about the show: Beauford Delaney Exhibition in Paris
Want to contribute to the success of the exhibition?
Make your tax-deductible donation here: Wells International Foundation - Private Donor
We look forward to welcoming you to Paris and to Columbia Global Centers | Europe at Reid Hall!
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
Christmas Wishes from Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
The Christmas season is upon us once again! This year, I've selected a carol by one of Beauford's favorite singers - Marian Anderson - to wish you all a joyous holiday. It's "Silent Night."
Silent Night
Marian Anderson
(1965) Oil on canvas
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Click on the link above the image and enjoy.
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
(1965) Oil on canvas
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
University of Arizona to Augment "Beauford Delaney and Paris" Exhibition
Imagine yourself in the Grande Salle at Reid Hall, Columbia Global Centers | Europe in Paris. You are standing in front of this painting:
Nativity Scene
(1961) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
You hold up your smart phone, point the lens at the painting, and scan it. Within seconds, an overlay appears at the corner of your screen and a 30-second video gives you the "back story" about this work. You are then given the option to click through to a Web site that provides additional information.
This is what the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project will allow attendees of the Beauford Delaney and Paris: A Breathtaking Evolution to experience!
Dr. Bryan Carter, Associate Professor of the University of Arizona's Department of Africana Studies, conceived this project. He specializes in African-American literature of the 20th century with a primary focus on the Harlem Renaissance and digital culture. He has been bringing University of Arizona students to Paris since 2013.
Honors students enrolled in Dr. Carter's Harlem Renaissance course can apply to participate in this project as fulfillment of an "honors contract," while others can apply to participate as independent study students. Those accepted will come to Paris a week prior to the opening of the exhibition to video short segments of a docent explaining some aspect of the 20 paintings selected for the project. They will take high resolution images of these paintings, upload them to a digital platform, and upload the videos and other files as overlays.
The exhibition vernissage (opening) is scheduled for February 3, 2016 and the show will run from February 4-29, 2016. Those who are unable to attend will be able to use the Augmented Reality digital application to scan images in the catalog to access the overlays.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are pleased that the technology of Augmented Reality will expand the reach and scope of this groundbreaking exhibition. We are currently accepting donations to fund this study abroad experience.
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
(1961) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
You hold up your smart phone, point the lens at the painting, and scan it. Within seconds, an overlay appears at the corner of your screen and a 30-second video gives you the "back story" about this work. You are then given the option to click through to a Web site that provides additional information.
This is what the University of Arizona Augmented Reality project will allow attendees of the Beauford Delaney and Paris: A Breathtaking Evolution to experience!
Dr. Bryan Carter, Associate Professor of the University of Arizona's Department of Africana Studies, conceived this project. He specializes in African-American literature of the 20th century with a primary focus on the Harlem Renaissance and digital culture. He has been bringing University of Arizona students to Paris since 2013.
Honors students enrolled in Dr. Carter's Harlem Renaissance course can apply to participate in this project as fulfillment of an "honors contract," while others can apply to participate as independent study students. Those accepted will come to Paris a week prior to the opening of the exhibition to video short segments of a docent explaining some aspect of the 20 paintings selected for the project. They will take high resolution images of these paintings, upload them to a digital platform, and upload the videos and other files as overlays.
The exhibition vernissage (opening) is scheduled for February 3, 2016 and the show will run from February 4-29, 2016. Those who are unable to attend will be able to use the Augmented Reality digital application to scan images in the catalog to access the overlays.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are pleased that the technology of Augmented Reality will expand the reach and scope of this groundbreaking exhibition. We are currently accepting donations to fund this study abroad experience.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, Reid Hall, and the Wells International Foundation (WIF) are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! WE VALUE YOUR SUPPORT!
To contribute to the show, click HERE.
To sign-up to receive the latest behind-the-scenes news about the show, click HERE.
Beauford at Reid Hall - An Update
In February 2015, I announced that Les Amis had entered into discussion with Reid Hall regarding the organization of an exhibition of Beauford's work. We envisioned this to be the second of a series of exhibitions celebrating the history of African-American artists in Paris (the first being the Romare Bearden exhibition that took place in February 2015).
Courtyard at Reid Hall
© Discover Paris!
Today, I'm thrilled to announce that we have made tremendous progress in organizing the show!
Our working title is Beauford Delaney et Paris: Une évolution prodigeuse (Beauford Delaney and Paris: A breathtaking evolution). It will be held from February 4-29, 2016.
This major exhibition will consist of over 40 paintings and works on paper from Beauford's Paris years. It will hang in La Grande Salle at Reid Hall. This ~1400 sq. ft. room will house Beauford Delaney oils, gouaches, inks, and aquarelles, most of which have never been shown before! All are being loaned by local collectors.
La Grande Salle - Reid Hall - during Bearden exhibition in February 2015
© Discover Paris!
Les Amis is pleased to welcome the Wells International Foundation (WIF), an American non-profit organization, as a partner for the organization and fundraising for the show.
Our collaboration with WIF began with the photographing of Beauford’s works for the catalog. We have engaged Stéphane Lariven of Franconville, France to undertake this critical task. Two out of three planned photo sessions are now complete.
Preparing La Fleuve
© Discover Paris!
Photographing La Fleuve
© Discover Paris!
Part of WIF’s mission is to provide an opportunity for university students to attend the show to explore the influence of African Diaspora culture in France and throughout the world and to promote the benefits of study abroad in Paris for students across the globe. For this reason, we are incorporating a study abroad component into the exhibition.
We have entered into discussion with the University of Arizona regarding the development of an Augmented Reality project that will involve several of the paintings in the exhibition.
If you'd like to support our exhibition with a financial contribution, send e-mail to
Your donation (through WIF) is tax deductible!
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and Reid Hall are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! To sign-up to receive information about this show, click HERE.
© Discover Paris!
Today, I'm thrilled to announce that we have made tremendous progress in organizing the show!
Our working title is Beauford Delaney et Paris: Une évolution prodigeuse (Beauford Delaney and Paris: A breathtaking evolution). It will be held from February 4-29, 2016.
This major exhibition will consist of over 40 paintings and works on paper from Beauford's Paris years. It will hang in La Grande Salle at Reid Hall. This ~1400 sq. ft. room will house Beauford Delaney oils, gouaches, inks, and aquarelles, most of which have never been shown before! All are being loaned by local collectors.
© Discover Paris!
Les Amis is pleased to welcome the Wells International Foundation (WIF), an American non-profit organization, as a partner for the organization and fundraising for the show.
Our collaboration with WIF began with the photographing of Beauford’s works for the catalog. We have engaged Stéphane Lariven of Franconville, France to undertake this critical task. Two out of three planned photo sessions are now complete.
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Part of WIF’s mission is to provide an opportunity for university students to attend the show to explore the influence of African Diaspora culture in France and throughout the world and to promote the benefits of study abroad in Paris for students across the globe. For this reason, we are incorporating a study abroad component into the exhibition.
We have entered into discussion with the University of Arizona regarding the development of an Augmented Reality project that will involve several of the paintings in the exhibition.
If you'd like to support our exhibition with a financial contribution, send e-mail to
Your donation (through WIF) is tax deductible!
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and Reid Hall are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! To sign-up to receive information about this show, click HERE.
Beauford Delaney Plaque Installed at Hôtel Odessa
The first Beauford Delaney plaque to be approved for installation in Montparnasse is now in place at the Hôtel Odessa on rue d'Odessa in Paris' 14th arrondissement.
Hôtel Odessa entrance
© Discover Paris!
The Odessa was one of the first places that Beauford stayed when he came to Paris in 1953. It was recommended to him during an evening of merriment after a serendipitous encounter with Earl Kirkham, a painter friend from New York, and several other Americans at the Dôme Café. He moved into the Odessa on his second day in town.
The installation of the plaque on the hotel’s freshly painted façade went smoothly. Patrick Fillere of J. Poulain et Fils*, the company that created the plaque, was on hand to supervise.
Patrick Fillere looks on as placement of the plaque is verified
© Discover Paris!
During the installation, two passersby spotted Beauford's name on the plaque. They stopped and begin to discuss between themselves why his name seemed familiar. After asking me a few questions, they came to realize that they had interviewed Beauford for a documentary that they made about Henry Miller in 1971!
Claude Gallot directed the documentary and released it as edition No. 15 of his video magazine Variances. Florence Gruère, award-winning photographer, conducted the interview.
They graciously consented to pose for this photo in front of the plaque.
Florence Gruère and Claude Gallot
at Beauford Delaney plaque installation
© Discover Paris!
Finally, the installation was complete.
Plaque installation complete!
© Discover Paris!
The inscription on the plaque reads:
BEAUFORD DELANEY,
portraitiste et peintre expressioniste abstrait,
né à Knoxville, Tennessee, USA,
a vécu à cette adresse en 1953.
Translation:
BEAUFORD DELANEY, portraitist and abstract expressionist painter, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, lived at this address in 1953.
A second plaque, which commemorates the Mille Colonnes restaurant where Beauford frequently took meals, was installed at Hôtel le M in June 2015. Hôtel Odessa and Hôtel Le M are stops on the Beauford Delaney memorial walk created by Discover Paris! entitled "Beauford Delaney's Montparnasse."
*J. Poulain et Fils
19-21 boulevard de Ménilmontant
75011 Paris
Tel: 01 43 79 04 32
************
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and Reid Hall are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! To sign-up to receive information about this show, click HERE.
© Discover Paris!
The Odessa was one of the first places that Beauford stayed when he came to Paris in 1953. It was recommended to him during an evening of merriment after a serendipitous encounter with Earl Kirkham, a painter friend from New York, and several other Americans at the Dôme Café. He moved into the Odessa on his second day in town.
The installation of the plaque on the hotel’s freshly painted façade went smoothly. Patrick Fillere of J. Poulain et Fils*, the company that created the plaque, was on hand to supervise.
© Discover Paris!
During the installation, two passersby spotted Beauford's name on the plaque. They stopped and begin to discuss between themselves why his name seemed familiar. After asking me a few questions, they came to realize that they had interviewed Beauford for a documentary that they made about Henry Miller in 1971!
Claude Gallot directed the documentary and released it as edition No. 15 of his video magazine Variances. Florence Gruère, award-winning photographer, conducted the interview.
They graciously consented to pose for this photo in front of the plaque.
at Beauford Delaney plaque installation
© Discover Paris!
Finally, the installation was complete.
© Discover Paris!
The inscription on the plaque reads:
portraitiste et peintre expressioniste abstrait,
né à Knoxville, Tennessee, USA,
a vécu à cette adresse en 1953.
Translation:
A second plaque, which commemorates the Mille Colonnes restaurant where Beauford frequently took meals, was installed at Hôtel le M in June 2015. Hôtel Odessa and Hôtel Le M are stops on the Beauford Delaney memorial walk created by Discover Paris! entitled "Beauford Delaney's Montparnasse."
*J. Poulain et Fils
19-21 boulevard de Ménilmontant
75011 Paris
Tel: 01 43 79 04 32
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and Reid Hall are partnering to bring an exhibition of original Beauford Delaney works to Reid Hall in Paris in February 2016! To sign-up to receive information about this show, click HERE.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney - How It All Started
As Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is poised to oversee the installation of a second plaque to honor Beauford in Montparnasse and as we work with Columbia University to mount an exposition of Beauford's work at Reid Hall, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge how this entire, incredible journey toward preserving Beauford's legacy in Paris began.
As I wrote in the second post published on this blog, I discovered the situation regarding Beauford's gravesite while researching an article on African-American gravesites in and around Paris:
That article was published in the "Paris Guide" section of the Soul of America Web site. Read it here: AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRAVESITES IN PARIS.
Below is a collage of the gravesites mentioned in the article.
African-American Gravesites in and around Paris
Images and collage © Discover Paris!
Not published in the Soul of America article was an image of Beauford's previously unmarked grave as seen in 2009.
Beauford's unmarked grave - Thiais Cemetery
© Discover Paris!
Work began on the installation of Beauford's tombstone in July 2010. It was completed in August 2010.
Beauford's tombstone - Thiais Cemetery
© Discover Paris!
This summer marks the 5th anniversary of the installation!
As I wrote in the second post published on this blog, I discovered the situation regarding Beauford's gravesite while researching an article on African-American gravesites in and around Paris:
Buried at the Parisian municipal cemetery in Thiais, Delaney was laid to rest in what Americans would call a pauper’s grave. His tomb lies in Division 86, an unkempt area where numerous graves are unmarked. Delaney’s grave is recognizable only by a small ceramic flower arrangement.
That article was published in the "Paris Guide" section of the Soul of America Web site. Read it here: AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRAVESITES IN PARIS.
Below is a collage of the gravesites mentioned in the article.
Images and collage © Discover Paris!
Not published in the Soul of America article was an image of Beauford's previously unmarked grave as seen in 2009.
© Discover Paris!
Work began on the installation of Beauford's tombstone in July 2010. It was completed in August 2010.
© Discover Paris!
This summer marks the 5th anniversary of the installation!