Beauford Delaney Opera a Tremendous Success!
The world premiere of ShadowLight, the opera that depicts Beauford's life in a series of flashbacks, was a tremendous success!
I posted preliminary information about the opera in last week's blog. At the time, I was not aware that on February 28, OperaWire (an online publication whose mission is "to shine a spotlight on all the amazing people nurturing and developing the art form [of opera] today") listed ShadowLight as one of the top six operas to be seen in North America that weekend:
OperaWire article by David Salazar - February 28, 2020
Opening night was sold out long before February 28.
Opening night audience
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Sylvia Peters, director of The Delaney Project, was the first person to send me news of the results of opening night. She said the performance was "spectacular" and that "it must be presented in Paris."
Joy Stone, a parent of one of the children from the Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville program that is rooted in Beauford's life and work, sent me the link to the review by Arts Knoxville - "the source for news and commentary on the art and music scene in Knoxville":
Marble City Opera's 'ShadowLight' - A Stunning Celebration of the Art and Life of Beauford Delaney
I then began receiving comments from others who attended the performance.
Heather Klessig-Zeiger, another Classes Duo parent, had the following to say:
"The combination of art projected on the wall, the orchestra music, the facial expressions and the words spoken were very powerful.
Beauford and his inner voices
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
"I paid attention to the angst, confusion, fear in the speaker’s face. It was tear jerking when the three voices were speaking all at once which resulted in Beauford crying. The struggle to stay focused on his art to quiet the voices but wanting to hear his mother’s voice. Calling out to his mom and wanting her when he was in Paris, watching him in the insane asylum and fighting against people who had to restrain him was hard to swallow.
An anguished Beauford
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
"Because of ... the 25 years I’ve worked with children and adults with mental illness, it was powerful and insightful. I have seen first hand the way a person acts and responds to this trauma and not wanting to live to get rid of the pain. All of this was so beautifully conveyed with the music, his art and James Baldwin’s words.
"ShadowLight is not the presence of darkness in light but the presence of a light (Beauford) in the darkness. I believe that was the meaning of it all."
L to R: Librettist Emily Anderson; cast members Brandon J. Gibson, Regan Bisch, Vincent Davis, and Breyon Ewing;
director Kathryn Frady; orchestra conductor Brian Holman, composer Larry Delinger, cast member Joshua Allen
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Librettist Emily Anderson shared the following about her involvement in ShadowLight:
"I first learned about Beauford Delaney twenty-five years ago, when Knoxville Museum of Art curator Stephen Wicks started researching him. Sylvia Peters, director of The Delaney Project, invited me to write the libretto. I spent six months researching Delaney’s life, mostly in newspaper and magazine clippings and museum catalogues, plus the David Leeming biography. Except for the Leeming biography, there is not much about him in any archive."
I asked Anderson why she believes the opera was so well received. She replied that the audience seemed to understand who Beauford was, the obstacles he overcame, and the contributions he made to 20th-century art. The most important thing about the performance for her was that "Audience members took Beauford Delaney home with them."
Marble House Opera director Kathryn Frady first learned of Beauford when Anderson approached her about producing an opera about Beauford. She told me that one of her passions is to tell stories through opera that are relatable and accessible to a new audience. So the idea of producing an opera about an artist from Knoxville made logical and emotional sense to her.
Frady describes ShadowLight as "a story of someone that our audiences themselves would be excited about seeing, since he grew up where they live, and that had the potential to bring a new non-traditional opera audience to the performance."
Next week: I'll share information about how director Kathryn Frady selected the cast for ShadowLight.
I posted preliminary information about the opera in last week's blog. At the time, I was not aware that on February 28, OperaWire (an online publication whose mission is "to shine a spotlight on all the amazing people nurturing and developing the art form [of opera] today") listed ShadowLight as one of the top six operas to be seen in North America that weekend:
Opening night was sold out long before February 28.
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Sylvia Peters, director of The Delaney Project, was the first person to send me news of the results of opening night. She said the performance was "spectacular" and that "it must be presented in Paris."
Joy Stone, a parent of one of the children from the Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville program that is rooted in Beauford's life and work, sent me the link to the review by Arts Knoxville - "the source for news and commentary on the art and music scene in Knoxville":
Marble City Opera's 'ShadowLight' - A Stunning Celebration of the Art and Life of Beauford Delaney
I then began receiving comments from others who attended the performance.
Heather Klessig-Zeiger, another Classes Duo parent, had the following to say:
"The combination of art projected on the wall, the orchestra music, the facial expressions and the words spoken were very powerful.
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
"I paid attention to the angst, confusion, fear in the speaker’s face. It was tear jerking when the three voices were speaking all at once which resulted in Beauford crying. The struggle to stay focused on his art to quiet the voices but wanting to hear his mother’s voice. Calling out to his mom and wanting her when he was in Paris, watching him in the insane asylum and fighting against people who had to restrain him was hard to swallow.
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
"Because of ... the 25 years I’ve worked with children and adults with mental illness, it was powerful and insightful. I have seen first hand the way a person acts and responds to this trauma and not wanting to live to get rid of the pain. All of this was so beautifully conveyed with the music, his art and James Baldwin’s words.
"ShadowLight is not the presence of darkness in light but the presence of a light (Beauford) in the darkness. I believe that was the meaning of it all."
director Kathryn Frady; orchestra conductor Brian Holman, composer Larry Delinger, cast member Joshua Allen
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Librettist Emily Anderson shared the following about her involvement in ShadowLight:
"I first learned about Beauford Delaney twenty-five years ago, when Knoxville Museum of Art curator Stephen Wicks started researching him. Sylvia Peters, director of The Delaney Project, invited me to write the libretto. I spent six months researching Delaney’s life, mostly in newspaper and magazine clippings and museum catalogues, plus the David Leeming biography. Except for the Leeming biography, there is not much about him in any archive."
I asked Anderson why she believes the opera was so well received. She replied that the audience seemed to understand who Beauford was, the obstacles he overcame, and the contributions he made to 20th-century art. The most important thing about the performance for her was that "Audience members took Beauford Delaney home with them."
Marble House Opera director Kathryn Frady first learned of Beauford when Anderson approached her about producing an opera about Beauford. She told me that one of her passions is to tell stories through opera that are relatable and accessible to a new audience. So the idea of producing an opera about an artist from Knoxville made logical and emotional sense to her.
Frady describes ShadowLight as "a story of someone that our audiences themselves would be excited about seeing, since he grew up where they live, and that had the potential to bring a new non-traditional opera audience to the performance."
Next week: I'll share information about how director Kathryn Frady selected the cast for ShadowLight.
Black and White and ShadowLight: Beauford's Life in History and Song
As Black History Month comes to a close, Knoxville continues to recognize and celebrate Beauford.
Promotional image for Black & White
L to R: Beauford Delaney, Joseph Delaney, and Ruth Cobb Brice
The Museum of East Tennessee History is featuring Black & White: Knoxville in the Jim Crow Era, an exhibition that explores what life was like for African Americans in Knoxville during the Jim Crow era. This exhibition, presented as a timeline, provides historical context to the lives of local African-American artists Beauford Delaney, Joseph Delaney, and Ruth Cobb Brice. It seeks to answer what influence the city had on the early lives of these artists and whether they could succeed without leaving home.
East Tennessee History Center
© Wells International Foundation
The show highlights three African-American artists from Knoxville — Beauford, his brother Joseph, and Ruth Cobb Brice — and examines how Knoxville during the Jim Crow era shaped their lives and careers.
Entrance to Black & White exhibition
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
The exhibition includes 66 artifacts highlighting the history of race relations, African-American art, and the development of an art community in Knoxville following the Civil War. Forty-five (45) of these artifacts are on loan to the Museum of East Tennessee History from the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and private donors. Also featured are several videos, including "Knoxville’s Red Summer: The Riot of 1919" and "Beauford Delaney," both of which are courtesy of East Tennessee PBS and Black Appalachia; and "The Civil Rights Movement in Knoxville," courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound. A variety of artworks by the highlighted artists are on display as well as works from other Knoxville-based artists who influenced them.
Photo of the Delaney Family at Black & White exhibition
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
"Beauford Delaney Abroad" at Black & White exhibition
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
Black & White: Knoxville in the Jim Crow Era opened on February 14, 2020 and is on view through June 14, 2020. For more information, call (865) 215-8824, email: , or visit www.easttnhistory.org.
The world premiere of ShadowLight, a Marble City Opera production that presents Beauford's life through song, took place at the Beck Cultural Center on Friday, February 28.
Starring Brandon J. Gibson as Beauford and Vincent Davis as James Baldwin, it sold out weeks in advance.
ShadowLight rehearsal - Brandon J. Gibson as Beauford
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
ShadowLight rehearsal - Vincent Davis as James Baldwin
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Beauford's tormenting inner voices are being sung by Regan Bisch, Joshua Allen, and Breyon Ewing. Brian Holman is conducting the orchestra.
ShadowLight rehearsal - Beauford taunted by his voices
L to R: Joshua Allen, Breyon Ewing, Regan Bisch
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
I had the pleasure of meeting Gibson for the first time during my recent visit to Knoxville for the opening of the Through the Unusual Door exhibition at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
L to R: Marble City Opera artistic director Kathryn Frady,
Monique Y. Wells, and Brandon J. Gibson
ShadowLight was written by Larry Delinger (music) and Emily Anderson (libretto) and is directed by James Marvel and Kathryn Frady. The show's finale will be presented at the Beck Cultural Center this evening.
To learn more about the production, click HERE.
L to R: Beauford Delaney, Joseph Delaney, and Ruth Cobb Brice
The Museum of East Tennessee History is featuring Black & White: Knoxville in the Jim Crow Era, an exhibition that explores what life was like for African Americans in Knoxville during the Jim Crow era. This exhibition, presented as a timeline, provides historical context to the lives of local African-American artists Beauford Delaney, Joseph Delaney, and Ruth Cobb Brice. It seeks to answer what influence the city had on the early lives of these artists and whether they could succeed without leaving home.
© Wells International Foundation
The show highlights three African-American artists from Knoxville — Beauford, his brother Joseph, and Ruth Cobb Brice — and examines how Knoxville during the Jim Crow era shaped their lives and careers.
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
The exhibition includes 66 artifacts highlighting the history of race relations, African-American art, and the development of an art community in Knoxville following the Civil War. Forty-five (45) of these artifacts are on loan to the Museum of East Tennessee History from the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and private donors. Also featured are several videos, including "Knoxville’s Red Summer: The Riot of 1919" and "Beauford Delaney," both of which are courtesy of East Tennessee PBS and Black Appalachia; and "The Civil Rights Movement in Knoxville," courtesy of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound. A variety of artworks by the highlighted artists are on display as well as works from other Knoxville-based artists who influenced them.
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
Image courtesy of the East Tennessee History Center
Black & White: Knoxville in the Jim Crow Era opened on February 14, 2020 and is on view through June 14, 2020. For more information, call (865) 215-8824, email: , or visit www.easttnhistory.org.
The world premiere of ShadowLight, a Marble City Opera production that presents Beauford's life through song, took place at the Beck Cultural Center on Friday, February 28.
Starring Brandon J. Gibson as Beauford and Vincent Davis as James Baldwin, it sold out weeks in advance.
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
Beauford's tormenting inner voices are being sung by Regan Bisch, Joshua Allen, and Breyon Ewing. Brian Holman is conducting the orchestra.
L to R: Joshua Allen, Breyon Ewing, Regan Bisch
Image courtesy of Marble City Opera
I had the pleasure of meeting Gibson for the first time during my recent visit to Knoxville for the opening of the Through the Unusual Door exhibition at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Monique Y. Wells, and Brandon J. Gibson
ShadowLight was written by Larry Delinger (music) and Emily Anderson (libretto) and is directed by James Marvel and Kathryn Frady. The show's finale will be presented at the Beck Cultural Center this evening.
To learn more about the production, click HERE.
The Art of Delaney: Redeeming, Reconciling & Healing
While I was in Knoxville for the opening of Through the Unusual Door, the exquisite monographic exhibition of Beauford's work at the Knoxville Museum of Art, I had the pleasure of returning to the Beck Cultural Center, which is Knoxville's storehouse of African-American history and culture and a primary repository of black history and culture in East Tennessee. Beck is restoring the Delaney family home on Dandridge Avenue with the intent to create The Delaney Museum at Beck.
Delaney home on Dandridge Avenue
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president, Rev. Reneé Kesler, gave a private, guided tour of the center and proudly presented several items recovered from the home. She also spoke passionately about the original performing arts tribute to Beauford and the Delaney family that she is writing and producing. It is called The Art of Delaney: Redeeming, Reconciling & Healing. Through this Black History Month show, she will interconnect the story of the Delaney family with the story of African-American history through the arts.
Photo of the Delaney Family, 1909
Top, left to right: Samuel Emery, John Samuel, Delia
Bottom, left to right: Joseph, Ogust Mae, Beauford, Naomi
Image © Discover Paris!
Rev. Kesler says that “Beauford Delaney is by far the most important artist Knoxville produced in the twentieth century, at least in terms of national and international reputation. This special tribute will showcase the influence of Beauford’s art and its ability to redeem, reconcile and heal, at a time when we need it the most."
Hosted by Dr. Maxine Thompson Davis, former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life at the University of Tennessee Knoxville,The Art of Delaney will feature several acts:
The Art of Delaney will be performed at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay St in downtown Knoxville on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 PM.
Bijou Theatre
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students K-12 and are available online at Ticketmaster (fees apply). Bijou tickets can be purchased at the Tennessee Theatre box office located at 224 Clinch Avenue on the side of the theatre ($1.00 fee).
The performance is sponsored by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and the Bijou Theatre with support from UBS Financial Services.
Beauford Delaney banner on Gay Street
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president, Rev. Reneé Kesler, gave a private, guided tour of the center and proudly presented several items recovered from the home. She also spoke passionately about the original performing arts tribute to Beauford and the Delaney family that she is writing and producing. It is called The Art of Delaney: Redeeming, Reconciling & Healing. Through this Black History Month show, she will interconnect the story of the Delaney family with the story of African-American history through the arts.
Top, left to right: Samuel Emery, John Samuel, Delia
Bottom, left to right: Joseph, Ogust Mae, Beauford, Naomi
Image © Discover Paris!
Rev. Kesler says that “Beauford Delaney is by far the most important artist Knoxville produced in the twentieth century, at least in terms of national and international reputation. This special tribute will showcase the influence of Beauford’s art and its ability to redeem, reconcile and heal, at a time when we need it the most."
Hosted by Dr. Maxine Thompson Davis, former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life at the University of Tennessee Knoxville,The Art of Delaney will feature several acts:
- - Music by the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir, which is celebrating over ten years of concert performances under the direction of Jeanie Turner Melton.
- - Singing performance of the final scene from Okoye’s Harriet Tubman by Adia Evans, accompanied by Brian Salesky, Executive and Artistic Director of the Knoxville Opera.
- - West African drum and dance performances by the Austin East Magnet High School performing arts department under the direction of Malaika Guthrie.
- - Fashions that bring art to life by Yvette Rice of YR Productions.
- - Music by saxophonist Casey McClintock.
- - Presentation of the award-winning theatrical performance, “The Cure” by Dalton Miksa of Morristown West High School and Chris Cox of the University of Alabama.
- - Portrayals of Beauford's mother, Delia Delaney, by Artece Slay and Beauford by Malik Baines.
The Art of Delaney will be performed at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay St in downtown Knoxville on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 PM.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students K-12 and are available online at Ticketmaster (fees apply). Bijou tickets can be purchased at the Tennessee Theatre box office located at 224 Clinch Avenue on the side of the theatre ($1.00 fee).
The performance is sponsored by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and the Bijou Theatre with support from UBS Financial Services.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Knoxville Continues to Celebrate Beauford - What's Coming Next
I'm back in Paris after visiting Knoxville for the FABULOUS opening of Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door.
Banners bearing Beauford's image line the streets around the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Banners near the Knoxville Museum of Art
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Signage on the façade of the museum announces the exhibition.
What's on at the Knoxville Museum of Art
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Inside, a enlarged photo of Beauford and James Baldwin walking down a Paris avenue greets visitors.
Monique Y. Wells and photo of James Baldwin and Beauford Delaney
Image courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art
The museum was packed for the VIP preview of the exhibition and the excitement of the attendees was palpable.
Attendees at VIP Preview of Through the Unusual Door
Image courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art
The exhibition itself is exquisite!
Exhibition rooms for Through the Unusual Door
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
It has whetted the appetite of Knoxville's citizens for the next big celebration of the lives and work of Beauford and Baldwin - the University of Tennessee Knoxville's symposium entitled "In a Speculative Light."
Banners for "In a Speculative Light" on campus
at the University of Tennessee Knoxville
Photo courtesy of Amy J. Elias, Ph.D.
Director, University of Tennessee Humanities Center
Originally planned as a closed event, UT Humanities Center director and conference organizer Amy Elias has now opened the symposium to the public due to popular demand. Entry is free.
For additional access, most of the sessions will be livestreamed.
The keynote speaker, NYU professor Fred Moten, will discuss Beauford's painting in relation to Baldwin's writing and Elvin Jones' theory of music on Thursday, February 20, at 3:30 pm in the UTK Student Union Auditorium.
The complete schedule for this three-day event can be found here:
https://baldwindelaney.org/schedule/
"In a Speculative Light: The Portrait Project" is an innovative addition to the symposium that honors Beauford's love of portraiture. Four artists - Jered Sprecher, Joshua Bienko, Rubens Ghenov, and Mary Laube - have offered to create portraits of symposium speakers, who will be asked to sit for their sessions in a pop-up studio in the UT Student Union.
During the week of February 17, visitors to campus will be able to view an exhibition called "The Paris Years: Paintings by Beauford Delaney from the Artist’s Estate" at the Student Union Art Gallery on the UT campus.
This show is being organized by Derek Spratley, Esq., the executor of the Beauford Delaney estate, to give the public and UT students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to see original Delaney artwork that will be available for purchase after the close of the exhibition.
Banners bearing Beauford's image line the streets around the Knoxville Museum of Art.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Signage on the façade of the museum announces the exhibition.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Inside, a enlarged photo of Beauford and James Baldwin walking down a Paris avenue greets visitors.
Image courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art
The museum was packed for the VIP preview of the exhibition and the excitement of the attendees was palpable.
Image courtesy of the Knoxville Museum of Art
The exhibition itself is exquisite!
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
It has whetted the appetite of Knoxville's citizens for the next big celebration of the lives and work of Beauford and Baldwin - the University of Tennessee Knoxville's symposium entitled "In a Speculative Light."
at the University of Tennessee Knoxville
Photo courtesy of Amy J. Elias, Ph.D.
Director, University of Tennessee Humanities Center
Originally planned as a closed event, UT Humanities Center director and conference organizer Amy Elias has now opened the symposium to the public due to popular demand. Entry is free.
For additional access, most of the sessions will be livestreamed.
The keynote speaker, NYU professor Fred Moten, will discuss Beauford's painting in relation to Baldwin's writing and Elvin Jones' theory of music on Thursday, February 20, at 3:30 pm in the UTK Student Union Auditorium.
The complete schedule for this three-day event can be found here:
https://baldwindelaney.org/schedule/
"In a Speculative Light: The Portrait Project" is an innovative addition to the symposium that honors Beauford's love of portraiture. Four artists - Jered Sprecher, Joshua Bienko, Rubens Ghenov, and Mary Laube - have offered to create portraits of symposium speakers, who will be asked to sit for their sessions in a pop-up studio in the UT Student Union.
During the week of February 17, visitors to campus will be able to view an exhibition called "The Paris Years: Paintings by Beauford Delaney from the Artist’s Estate" at the Student Union Art Gallery on the UT campus.
This show is being organized by Derek Spratley, Esq., the executor of the Beauford Delaney estate, to give the public and UT students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to see original Delaney artwork that will be available for purchase after the close of the exhibition.
James Baldwin Feted in Knoxville
During African-American History Month 2020, Beauford's hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee is celebrating Beauford's dear friend James Baldwin just as much as it is celebrating Beauford!
James Baldwin
(1963) Pastel on Paper
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Here is the list of planned events:
Movie Screening ~ James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
Sunday, February 2, 2020 | 2:00 PM
Location: Lawson McGhee Library Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Socratic Seminars ~ James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time
Tuesdays, February 4 and 11, 2020 | 6:30 PM
Location: Lawson McGhee Library Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Movie Screening ~ James Baldwin: I Am Not Your Negro
Sunday, February 9, 2020 | 5:00 PM
Location: La Bamba Seafood, 2619 Chapman Hwy #1913, Knoxville, TN 37920
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Spoken Word Performance ~ Black Atticus and Friends
Sunday, February 9, 2020 | After Movie Screening
Location: La Bamba Seafood, 2619 Chapman Hwy #1913, Knoxville, TN 37920
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Socratic Seminars ~ James Baldwin
Tuesday February 18, 3:00 PM (Murphy Branch) & Thursday, February 27, 6:00 pm (Bearden Branch)
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
(1963) Pastel on Paper
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Here is the list of planned events:
Movie Screening ~ James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
Sunday, February 2, 2020 | 2:00 PM
Location: Lawson McGhee Library Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Socratic Seminars ~ James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time
Tuesdays, February 4 and 11, 2020 | 6:30 PM
Location: Lawson McGhee Library Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Movie Screening ~ James Baldwin: I Am Not Your Negro
Sunday, February 9, 2020 | 5:00 PM
Location: La Bamba Seafood, 2619 Chapman Hwy #1913, Knoxville, TN 37920
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Spoken Word Performance ~ Black Atticus and Friends
Sunday, February 9, 2020 | After Movie Screening
Location: La Bamba Seafood, 2619 Chapman Hwy #1913, Knoxville, TN 37920
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
Socratic Seminars ~ James Baldwin
Tuesday February 18, 3:00 PM (Murphy Branch) & Thursday, February 27, 6:00 pm (Bearden Branch)
Contact: nhill@knoxlib.org
An Eruption of Creativity – An Interview with Gary Elgin
This week, I'm pleased to share an interview with Gary Elgin, an artist who adopted the city of Knoxville as his own and who feels kinship with Beauford's life and work.
Gary Elgin
Image courtesy of Gary Elgin
Les Amis: Tell us a little about yourself.
GE: I'm a transplanted Knoxvillian, having been born in Chicago, Illinois in 1962. Adopted by two loving parents, who always encouraged every creative avenue I wanted to explore. I always exhibited visual artistic talents from the time I could hold a crayon, but I was a late bloomer in other aspects of life only coming out at age 30.
Les Amis: You describe yourself as a queer portrait painter. Does this mean that you are queer and you paint portraits, that you paint portraits of queer people, or both?
GE: First I guess I should explain My embrace of the word queer. This word has had a checkered past both in and outside the LGBTQ community. I have embraced it from almost day one of my identifying as 'other than'. Although I identify as 'gay' I find the more inclusive term queer to be preferable. I have been a visual artist nearly all my life, but I would have to admit that my queer nature has always, whether I knew it or not, informed my art. If not in subject matter, in energy or color or style. It has to.
Les Amis: What drew you to portrait painting?
GE: I honestly couldn't say. I have always since the very beginnings been attracted to faces! One of my more recent exhibits was entitled "Familiar Faces" (one of the key pieces was coincidentally a portrait of James Baldwin that now is in the collection of the Knoxville Public Library system at the Burlington Branch). I've always been fascinated with faces and eyes.
Les Amis: Do you paint things other than portraits?
GE: Oh yes! I particularly enjoy painting owls, animals of all sorts and clowns (I was a professional performing clown from about 1982 to 2001).
Les Amis: You discovered Beauford’s art at a KMA exhibition upon moving to Knoxville in 1992. If you can remember the paintings by him that you saw during that show, please describe them.
GE: I honestly do not remember the first pieces I saw other than to say they were striking... Passionate... and seemingly an eruption of creativity. His portraits evoked emotions in me… this is before ever reading anything about his life or his challenges. When I first saw his 1944 "Portrait of James Baldwin," I felt an instant connection. On a very deep level.
Portrait of James Baldwin
(1944) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Les Amis: Perhaps you are aware of the digital exhibition that celebrates Beauford’s portraiture. What are your thoughts about the evolution of his portraits over the years?
GE: I find his early portraits steeped in realism and exactness are very similar to how many of us begin painting, before we give ourselves permission to are creative true selves.
Les Amis: In what way(s) has Beauford’s art influenced yours?
GE: He (it) gave me “permission.”
Les Amis: Have you ever done a self-portrait?
GE: HAVE I !!!??? (laughs) in 1989, I had amassed an extensive collection of self-portraits. I launched an exhibit and paired them with journal entries that appeared appropriate. "Long, Hard Looks Inside: Portraits of a Gay Life" was a very satisfying exhibit for me. It enabled me to get a lot of junk out of my system.
Les Amis: Have you ever done a portrait of Beauford?
GE: Started, but not yet completed.
Les Amis: Perhaps you’ve seen Beauford’s 1944 self-portrait at the Art Institute of Chicago. How would you describe this work?
GE: To me, it seems to be influenced by Vincent van Gogh's "Portrait of a Young Man". Although I understand the resemblance to a self-portrait by Matisse. The arched eyebrow and penetrating gaze draws the audience in.
Les Amis: In what way has Beauford’s story inspired you?
GE: His courage. Through all of his trials and tribulations with his inner voices... He still had what I would consider to be courage and that is expressed through his work.
Les Amis: How well would you say his life and work are known in the LGBTQ community – locally or nationally?
GE: Sadly, I would say it is not as well-known especially locally. I believe that will change with this upcoming exhibit. The energy and resources Knoxville has put toward this latest collection of events will certainly catch the attention of even the casual observer.
Les Amis: Are you using his story or his art as part of your activist activities?
GE: Most of my activist activities happened from 1992 to 2005 and I can definitely say he as well as James Baldwin heavily influenced how I went about my work.
Les Amis: If so, in what way?
GE: I did my utmost to represent the LGBTQ community in a professional and upstanding manner. Even in the most heated moments, I did my best to stay polite, soft-spoken and yet direct. I also kept a creative thread through each of the activities and social actions we participated in.
Les Amis: Any final thoughts?
GE: I am thrilled to be living in Beauford & Joseph Delaney's hometown and have lived to be able to see them celebrated in such a grand way! It is much deserved.
Image courtesy of Gary Elgin
Les Amis: Tell us a little about yourself.
GE: I'm a transplanted Knoxvillian, having been born in Chicago, Illinois in 1962. Adopted by two loving parents, who always encouraged every creative avenue I wanted to explore. I always exhibited visual artistic talents from the time I could hold a crayon, but I was a late bloomer in other aspects of life only coming out at age 30.
Les Amis: You describe yourself as a queer portrait painter. Does this mean that you are queer and you paint portraits, that you paint portraits of queer people, or both?
GE: First I guess I should explain My embrace of the word queer. This word has had a checkered past both in and outside the LGBTQ community. I have embraced it from almost day one of my identifying as 'other than'. Although I identify as 'gay' I find the more inclusive term queer to be preferable. I have been a visual artist nearly all my life, but I would have to admit that my queer nature has always, whether I knew it or not, informed my art. If not in subject matter, in energy or color or style. It has to.
Les Amis: What drew you to portrait painting?
GE: I honestly couldn't say. I have always since the very beginnings been attracted to faces! One of my more recent exhibits was entitled "Familiar Faces" (one of the key pieces was coincidentally a portrait of James Baldwin that now is in the collection of the Knoxville Public Library system at the Burlington Branch). I've always been fascinated with faces and eyes.
Les Amis: Do you paint things other than portraits?
GE: Oh yes! I particularly enjoy painting owls, animals of all sorts and clowns (I was a professional performing clown from about 1982 to 2001).
Les Amis: You discovered Beauford’s art at a KMA exhibition upon moving to Knoxville in 1992. If you can remember the paintings by him that you saw during that show, please describe them.
GE: I honestly do not remember the first pieces I saw other than to say they were striking... Passionate... and seemingly an eruption of creativity. His portraits evoked emotions in me… this is before ever reading anything about his life or his challenges. When I first saw his 1944 "Portrait of James Baldwin," I felt an instant connection. On a very deep level.
(1944) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Les Amis: Perhaps you are aware of the digital exhibition that celebrates Beauford’s portraiture. What are your thoughts about the evolution of his portraits over the years?
GE: I find his early portraits steeped in realism and exactness are very similar to how many of us begin painting, before we give ourselves permission to are creative true selves.
Les Amis: In what way(s) has Beauford’s art influenced yours?
GE: He (it) gave me “permission.”
Les Amis: Have you ever done a self-portrait?
GE: HAVE I !!!??? (laughs) in 1989, I had amassed an extensive collection of self-portraits. I launched an exhibit and paired them with journal entries that appeared appropriate. "Long, Hard Looks Inside: Portraits of a Gay Life" was a very satisfying exhibit for me. It enabled me to get a lot of junk out of my system.
Les Amis: Have you ever done a portrait of Beauford?
GE: Started, but not yet completed.
Les Amis: Perhaps you’ve seen Beauford’s 1944 self-portrait at the Art Institute of Chicago. How would you describe this work?
GE: To me, it seems to be influenced by Vincent van Gogh's "Portrait of a Young Man". Although I understand the resemblance to a self-portrait by Matisse. The arched eyebrow and penetrating gaze draws the audience in.
Les Amis: In what way has Beauford’s story inspired you?
GE: His courage. Through all of his trials and tribulations with his inner voices... He still had what I would consider to be courage and that is expressed through his work.
Les Amis: How well would you say his life and work are known in the LGBTQ community – locally or nationally?
GE: Sadly, I would say it is not as well-known especially locally. I believe that will change with this upcoming exhibit. The energy and resources Knoxville has put toward this latest collection of events will certainly catch the attention of even the casual observer.
Les Amis: Are you using his story or his art as part of your activist activities?
GE: Most of my activist activities happened from 1992 to 2005 and I can definitely say he as well as James Baldwin heavily influenced how I went about my work.
Les Amis: If so, in what way?
GE: I did my utmost to represent the LGBTQ community in a professional and upstanding manner. Even in the most heated moments, I did my best to stay polite, soft-spoken and yet direct. I also kept a creative thread through each of the activities and social actions we participated in.
Les Amis: Any final thoughts?
GE: I am thrilled to be living in Beauford & Joseph Delaney's hometown and have lived to be able to see them celebrated in such a grand way! It is much deserved.
What's on in Knoxville - Through the Unusual Door and More
Following last week's article about the preparations that Knoxville is making to celebrate Beauford during February 2020, I'm providing details about events organized in conjunction with the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) exhibition entitled Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door and sharing news about an additional event.
Knoxville Museum of Art
© Discover Paris!
I will attend a private preview of the exhibition prior to the public opening that is scheduled for Friday, February 7. That evening, KMA has scheduled a musical “Tribute to Bob Marley” for its Alive After Five program performed by the roots reggae group, Natti Love Joys. The festivities will begin at 6 PM. Tickets will be made available on site beginning at 4:45 PM; KMA members can attend for free.
On Saturday, February 8, the museum's Family Fun Day will celebrate the exhibition beginning at 11 AM. Art activities, artist demonstrations, door prizes, face painting, and more will be offered to the public at no charge.
For information about both events, send e-mail to .
Dr. Maurita Poole, Director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, will talk about the university's "Delaney and Baldwin Collection" during a KMA Cocktails & Conversation session on February 25, 2020. This event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Poole is one of twelve curators selected to participate in the 2020 Center for Curatorial Leadership Fellowship program.
On February 16, Black in Appalachia is sponsoring a free screening of a short documentary called "Beauford Delaney" at The Bottom, 202 Randolph Street.
Promotional image for "Beauford Delaney"
East Tennessee PBS short documentary
The public is invited to a post-screening discussion at the same address, during which refreshments will be served. Children are welcome to attend the event.
"Beauford Delaney" will also air on East Tennessee PBS on the following dates:
- Thursday, February 6 at 8:30 PM ET
- Sunday, February 9 at 6:30 PM ET
- Sunday, February 16 at 10:30 AM ET
© Discover Paris!
I will attend a private preview of the exhibition prior to the public opening that is scheduled for Friday, February 7. That evening, KMA has scheduled a musical “Tribute to Bob Marley” for its Alive After Five program performed by the roots reggae group, Natti Love Joys. The festivities will begin at 6 PM. Tickets will be made available on site beginning at 4:45 PM; KMA members can attend for free.
On Saturday, February 8, the museum's Family Fun Day will celebrate the exhibition beginning at 11 AM. Art activities, artist demonstrations, door prizes, face painting, and more will be offered to the public at no charge.
For information about both events, send e-mail to .
Dr. Maurita Poole, Director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, will talk about the university's "Delaney and Baldwin Collection" during a KMA Cocktails & Conversation session on February 25, 2020. This event is free and open to the public.
Dr. Poole is one of twelve curators selected to participate in the 2020 Center for Curatorial Leadership Fellowship program.
On February 16, Black in Appalachia is sponsoring a free screening of a short documentary called "Beauford Delaney" at The Bottom, 202 Randolph Street.
East Tennessee PBS short documentary
The public is invited to a post-screening discussion at the same address, during which refreshments will be served. Children are welcome to attend the event.
"Beauford Delaney" will also air on East Tennessee PBS on the following dates:
- Thursday, February 6 at 8:30 PM ET
- Sunday, February 9 at 6:30 PM ET
- Sunday, February 16 at 10:30 AM ET
Beauford's Ever Expanding Legacy
2020 is going to be a phenomenal year for the expansion of Beauford's legacy!
Momentum for The Delaney Project (Gathering Light) in Knoxville is increasing and preparations for major events that will take place in February are well underway.
Banners bearing Beauford's image will be hung on city streets.
Beauford Delaney Banner
Image courtesy of Sylvia Peters,
The Delaney Project
Momentum for The Delaney Project (Gathering Light) in Knoxville is increasing and preparations for major events that will take place in February are well underway.
Banners bearing Beauford's image will be hung on city streets.
Image courtesy of Sylvia Peters,
The Delaney Project
Banners have already been posted for the James Baldwin - Beauford Delaney symposium entitled "In a Speculative Light" that will be held at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
Director, University of Tennessee Humanities Center
They feature a pastel portrait of Baldwin done by Beauford in 1944, which is currently held by the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA). These banners were created by Beauvais Lyons (Art, University of Tennessee) and UT Communications and supported by the UTK Chancellor, Donde Plowman.
(1944) Pastel on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
KMA has posted information about the solo exhibition of Beauford's work that will open on February 7.
Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door
Farther afield, Vulture (of New York Magazine) has published a brilliant article written by Jerry Saltz entitled
Beauford Delaney, Black and Gay, Very Nearly Disappeared from Art History.
I'll bring you more details about the February activities scheduled for the Delaney Project in the coming weeks.
Keeping Beauford's Tombstone Beautiful
Since the laying of Beauford's tombstone during the summer of 2010, I have visited Thiais Cemetery many times.
My most poignant experiences there took place in the company of others:
During the graveside ceremony that celebrated the laying of the stone in October 2010
Graveside ceremony
© Discover Paris!
and when I took playwright Silver Wainhouse to the gravesite in 2017.
Silver Wainhouse at Beauford's Gravesite
© Discover Paris!
I also proudly visited Beauford's grave in 2014, the year that Thiais Cemetery added his gravesite to its celebrity list.
Map of Thiais Cemetery and list of most visited graves
This year (2020) marks the 10th anniversary of the laying of the stone!
Through the generous donations of individuals, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney has paid for the upkeep of Beauford's tombstone. These funds have been almost completely depleted.
So today, I'm asking for your help to keep Beauford's grave pristine - to keep it in a condition that reflects his inestimable contributions to the art world and to humanity.
The annual maintenance fee for the tombstone has increased 15% over the last 10 years. In 2020, the cost is 140,92€.
Les Amis seeks to raise enough money to cover the maintenance fees for the next ten years. To allow for inflation, our target is 1650€.
We'd like to raise this amount by March 26, 2020, the 41st anniversary of Beauford's death.
Please give to support this cause by clicking on the donate button below!
Thanks in advance for your support!
My most poignant experiences there took place in the company of others:
During the graveside ceremony that celebrated the laying of the stone in October 2010
© Discover Paris!
and when I took playwright Silver Wainhouse to the gravesite in 2017.
© Discover Paris!
I also proudly visited Beauford's grave in 2014, the year that Thiais Cemetery added his gravesite to its celebrity list.
This year (2020) marks the 10th anniversary of the laying of the stone!
Through the generous donations of individuals, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney has paid for the upkeep of Beauford's tombstone. These funds have been almost completely depleted.
So today, I'm asking for your help to keep Beauford's grave pristine - to keep it in a condition that reflects his inestimable contributions to the art world and to humanity.
The annual maintenance fee for the tombstone has increased 15% over the last 10 years. In 2020, the cost is 140,92€.
Les Amis seeks to raise enough money to cover the maintenance fees for the next ten years. To allow for inflation, our target is 1650€.
We'd like to raise this amount by March 26, 2020, the 41st anniversary of Beauford's death.
Please give to support this cause by clicking on the donate button below!
Thanks in advance for your support!
Thank you for your donation!
BEAUFORD'S TOMBSTONE!
Click on the button below to give!
January 1957 - Battling the Voices of Despair
"Painting is tremendously physical and vital and naturally calls for all your mental and physical strength and devotion."
Beauford wrote these words to his friend Larry Wallrich in a letter dated January 8, 1957.
In the same letter, he wrote that he had been withdrawn for the past several months and wanted "somehow to even withdraw more, as deep introspection and [the] search for me is vitally necessary."
This information comes from David Leeming's biography, Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney
. Leeming reports that Beauford suffered an emotional crisis involving the resurfacing of his "inner voices of despair" at the end of 1956 and disappeared for several days. When it passed, he returned to painting "with new energy."
1957 was the year that Beauford produced what I consider to be his most masterful abstract expressionist work. Untitled (1957) is part of the Centre Pompidou collection and was displayed during Multiple Modernities 1905-1970 exhibition (also called Plural Modalities) at the museum from October 2013 to January 2015.
Monique and Beauford's Untitled
(1957) Oil on canvas
114,2 x 162 cm / 44.9 x 63.8 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Discover Paris!
Signature for Beauford's Untitled
(1957) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Discover Paris!
More recently, it was loaned to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain for the exhibition Lost, Loose, and Loved: Foreign Artists 1944-1968, which ran from November 20, 2018 through April 22, 2019.
Untitled (second painting from left) at
Lost, Loose, and Loved: Foreign Artists 1944-1968
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Screenshot from Lost, Loose, and Loved video
This painting is likely as wide as Beauford was tall. The juxtaposition of colors and the richness of textures are stunning. One can easily imagine the "mental and physical strength and devotion" it took for him to create this work.
Photos of Beauford with Untitled and Untitled
Private collection
Beauford wrote these words to his friend Larry Wallrich in a letter dated January 8, 1957.
In the same letter, he wrote that he had been withdrawn for the past several months and wanted "somehow to even withdraw more, as deep introspection and [the] search for me is vitally necessary."
This information comes from David Leeming's biography, Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney
. Leeming reports that Beauford suffered an emotional crisis involving the resurfacing of his "inner voices of despair" at the end of 1956 and disappeared for several days. When it passed, he returned to painting "with new energy."1957 was the year that Beauford produced what I consider to be his most masterful abstract expressionist work. Untitled (1957) is part of the Centre Pompidou collection and was displayed during Multiple Modernities 1905-1970 exhibition (also called Plural Modalities) at the museum from October 2013 to January 2015.
Monique and Beauford's Untitled
(1957) Oil on canvas
114,2 x 162 cm / 44.9 x 63.8 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Discover Paris!
(1957) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Discover Paris!
More recently, it was loaned to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain for the exhibition Lost, Loose, and Loved: Foreign Artists 1944-1968, which ran from November 20, 2018 through April 22, 2019.
Lost, Loose, and Loved: Foreign Artists 1944-1968
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Screenshot from Lost, Loose, and Loved video
This painting is likely as wide as Beauford was tall. The juxtaposition of colors and the richness of textures are stunning. One can easily imagine the "mental and physical strength and devotion" it took for him to create this work.
Private collection
1964 Abstract Sold at ADER Nordmann Auction
LES AMIS DE BEAUFORD DELANEY!
The Paris auction house ADER Nordmann sold a Beauford Delaney work on paper during its Art d'après-guerre & contemporain (Post-war and contemporary art) auction on December 13, 2019.
Lot 60 is a predominantly green gouache dated 1964. It may have been one of ten abstract gouaches that Beauford showed in the Copenhagen exhibition called 10 American Negro Artists.
(1964) Gouache
Signed, dated, and dedicated at bottom left
75 x 56 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
This piece sold for 8320€, including 28% taxes and charges. The estimated sale price was 3,000€ - 4,000€.
A second abstract by Beauford remained unsold.
To learn more about the ADER auction, click HERE.
So Splendid a Journey at the English-language Library in Angers
Robert and Annette Bonnell help organize the U.S. Embassy-supported Speaker Series for the English-language Library in Angers. I was ever so pleased when they asked me to participate in the series and were then able to confirm that I could make a presentation about Beauford and So Splendid a Journey for their last event in 2019!
Despite the chaos that reigns due to the nationwide transit strike, Tom and I were able to board the 6:37 train from Paris' Gare Montparnasse to Angers on the morning of December 13. We were even lucky enough to catch a bus to the train station.
We had a comfortable ride to Angers, a town in western France that is about 190 miles from Paris. We arrived just after dawn. It was our first visit there and we appreciated the architecture and the gentle slopes of the city as we made our way to the library on foot.
Place de la Gare, Angers
© Entrée to Black Paris
Monique in front of the English-language Library in Angers
© Entrée to Black Paris
We were greeted warmly by Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau, who has been director of the library since it was founded in 1993.
Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau
© Entrée to Black Paris
After all the technical aspects of the presentation were checked and re-checked, I played the video trailer for So Splendid a Journey.
Playing the video trailer
Image courtesy of Annette Bonnell
Robert Bonnell introduced me, and I gave my talk to the gathering of about 45 persons, most of whom were French!
Introduction by Robert Bonnell
© Entrée to Black Paris
I began by presenting why I care about Beauford, went on to give an overview of his life in Paris and a review of the evolution of his art, and finished by citing the numerous events and activities that preserve and promote his legacy.
After the presentation, a lively Q&A period ensued. I was able to demonstrate the Blippar Augmented Reality app in the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color catalog as one of the means through which Beauford's legacy is being extended.
Demonstrating Blippar for members of the audience
© Entrée to Black Paris
So Splendid a Journey will be the first full-length video documentary that answers the question, "Who was Beauford Delaney"? To support the completion of the video, which we aim to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2020, click HERE.
Bibliothèque Anglophone d'Angers
English-language Library in Angers
60, rue Boisnet
49100 Angers
Tel: 02.41.24.97.07
Website: www.ellia.org
Despite the chaos that reigns due to the nationwide transit strike, Tom and I were able to board the 6:37 train from Paris' Gare Montparnasse to Angers on the morning of December 13. We were even lucky enough to catch a bus to the train station.
We had a comfortable ride to Angers, a town in western France that is about 190 miles from Paris. We arrived just after dawn. It was our first visit there and we appreciated the architecture and the gentle slopes of the city as we made our way to the library on foot.
© Entrée to Black Paris
© Entrée to Black Paris
We were greeted warmly by Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau, who has been director of the library since it was founded in 1993.
© Entrée to Black Paris
After all the technical aspects of the presentation were checked and re-checked, I played the video trailer for So Splendid a Journey.
Image courtesy of Annette Bonnell
Robert Bonnell introduced me, and I gave my talk to the gathering of about 45 persons, most of whom were French!
© Entrée to Black Paris
I began by presenting why I care about Beauford, went on to give an overview of his life in Paris and a review of the evolution of his art, and finished by citing the numerous events and activities that preserve and promote his legacy.
After the presentation, a lively Q&A period ensued. I was able to demonstrate the Blippar Augmented Reality app in the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color catalog as one of the means through which Beauford's legacy is being extended.
© Entrée to Black Paris
So Splendid a Journey will be the first full-length video documentary that answers the question, "Who was Beauford Delaney"? To support the completion of the video, which we aim to screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2020, click HERE.
Bibliothèque Anglophone d'Angers
English-language Library in Angers
60, rue Boisnet
49100 Angers
Tel: 02.41.24.97.07
Website: www.ellia.org
10-year Anniversary of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney Blog
On Monday, 14 December 2009, I published the first blog post for Les Amis de Beauford Delaney:
Welcome!
What an amazing 10-year run we've had!
From raising the money for Beauford's tombstone
Tombstone Inscription
© Discover Paris!
to placing two commemorative plaques on façades in Montparnasse
Hôtel Odessa plaque
© Discover Paris!
Les Mille Colonnes plaque
© Discover Paris!
to working with the Wells International Foundation to mount the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition,
Catalog cover for Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color
and more, Les Amis has done its utmost to preserve and extend Beauford's legacy. I'm proud to say that we have an excellent track record in this regard and that we have no intention of stopping now!
After supporting the recent and successful reading performance of the play Amazing Grace Is Yellow, we are placing all our efforts behind the completion of the full-length video documentary So Splendid a Journey. The trailer was screened at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and the goal is to screen the completed documentary at Cannes in May 2020.
So Splendid a Journey represents the best opportunity to create global awareness of Beauford's tremendous impact as an artist and a human being. To be a part of this inimitable legacy, click on the link below and give to support this production!
Cannes Screening for Beauford Delaney Documentary
Beauford Delaney
1953 - Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Welcome!
What an amazing 10-year run we've had!
From raising the money for Beauford's tombstone
© Discover Paris!
to placing two commemorative plaques on façades in Montparnasse
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
to working with the Wells International Foundation to mount the Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color exhibition,
and more, Les Amis has done its utmost to preserve and extend Beauford's legacy. I'm proud to say that we have an excellent track record in this regard and that we have no intention of stopping now!
After supporting the recent and successful reading performance of the play Amazing Grace Is Yellow, we are placing all our efforts behind the completion of the full-length video documentary So Splendid a Journey. The trailer was screened at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and the goal is to screen the completed documentary at Cannes in May 2020.
So Splendid a Journey represents the best opportunity to create global awareness of Beauford's tremendous impact as an artist and a human being. To be a part of this inimitable legacy, click on the link below and give to support this production!
Cannes Screening for Beauford Delaney Documentary
1953 - Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Two Beauford Delaney Abstracts Up for Auction at ADER Nordmann
The Paris auction house ADER Nordmann has two Beauford Delaney works on paper listed for sale during its upcoming Art d'après-guerre & contemporain (Post-war and contemporary art) auction on December 13, 2019.
Both date from Beauford's Paris years and were likely created at his rue Vercingétorix studio.
The red and black aquarelle shown below (Lot 59) is dated December 1962. It is somewhat reminiscent of a black and white aquarelle from 1963 that ADER sold at auction last year.
Composition, 1962
(1962) Watercolor
Signed and dated at bottom left
63 x 48 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Estimated sale price: 4,000€ - 6,000€
Photo courtesy of ADER
Composition, 1963
(1963) Watercolor
Signed at bottom right, dated, and
annotated "Souvenir" at bottom left
50 x 33.5 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Both works may have been part of series of watercolors that Beauford created during 1962-63, through which he experimented with the coalescence of pigments.
Lot 60 is a predominantly green gouache dated 1964. It may have been one of ten abstract gouaches that Beauford showed in the Copenhagen exhibition called 10 American Negro Artists.
Composition, 1964
(1964) Gouache
Signed, dated, and dedicated at bottom left
75 x 56 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Estimated sale price: 3,000€ - 4,000€
To learn more about the ADER auction, click HERE.
Both date from Beauford's Paris years and were likely created at his rue Vercingétorix studio.
The red and black aquarelle shown below (Lot 59) is dated December 1962. It is somewhat reminiscent of a black and white aquarelle from 1963 that ADER sold at auction last year.
(1962) Watercolor
Signed and dated at bottom left
63 x 48 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Estimated sale price: 4,000€ - 6,000€
Photo courtesy of ADER
(1963) Watercolor
Signed at bottom right, dated, and
annotated "Souvenir" at bottom left
50 x 33.5 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Both works may have been part of series of watercolors that Beauford created during 1962-63, through which he experimented with the coalescence of pigments.
Lot 60 is a predominantly green gouache dated 1964. It may have been one of ten abstract gouaches that Beauford showed in the Copenhagen exhibition called 10 American Negro Artists.
(1964) Gouache
Signed, dated, and dedicated at bottom left
75 x 56 cm
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Estimated sale price: 3,000€ - 4,000€
To learn more about the ADER auction, click HERE.
Beauford's Thanksgiving - 1966
In Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, biographer David Leeming reports that James Baldwin came to Paris to spend Thanksgiving with Beauford in 1966. Beauford was living at his rue Vercingétorix studio at the time, and this is where Baldwin would have visited him.
Beauford painted two portraits of Baldwin in 1966, both of which he began during his stay with his dear friend in Istanbul that summer. He completed the one shown below at the Vercingétorix studio.
James Baldwin
(1966) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Les Amis hopes you're spending this Thanksgiving weekend with loved ones, be they family or friends!
, biographer David Leeming reports that James Baldwin came to Paris to spend Thanksgiving with Beauford in 1966. Beauford was living at his rue Vercingétorix studio at the time, and this is where Baldwin would have visited him.Beauford painted two portraits of Baldwin in 1966, both of which he began during his stay with his dear friend in Istanbul that summer. He completed the one shown below at the Vercingétorix studio.
(1966) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Les Amis hopes you're spending this Thanksgiving weekend with loved ones, be they family or friends!
Beauford-inspired Art Lessons
Since January 2018, the Classes Duo Paris/Knoxville program has brought 7- to 10-year-old students at Jean Zay Elementary School in Paris, France and Nature's Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee together to learn each other's language and explore each other's culture through the lens of Beauford's life and work.
In the process, the students from both schools have created an amazing body of artwork. Several pieces have been publicly displayed in exhibitions in Paris and Knoxville:
Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville - Knoxville students' excursion to Paris a HUGE success! - Part 1
Jean Zay works inspired by untitled abstract
© Wells International Foundation
Student-Parent Reception for Classes Duo Art Exhibition at KMA
Nature's Way student portraits of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Image courtesy of Mary Campbell
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is not the only organization that uses Beauford's œuvre as an educational tool. Individual teachers, school districts, philanthropic organizations, and prestigious art institutions have included his work in exercises and programs for educators and students for more than two decades.
In 2018, I found a lesson plan for 5th graders published online by Knox County Schools entitled "The Harlem Renaissance - Beauford Delaney Self-portraits." Teachers using this lesson plan were instructed to have their students "use pencils and colored pencils to create simple self portraits that show symmetry and personality through exaggerated features.
In 2017, the Knoxville, TN chapter of The Links, Incorporated organized and implemented a pilot project to introduce Beauford's art to a local public elementary school:
Beauford's Art Inspires Knoxville Elementary School Students
Arts Night display wall
Image courtesy of The Links Incorporated, Knoxville Chapter
The artwork of participating students was shown at the Knoxville Museum of Art:
"Bringing Delaney Home" at the Knoxville Museum of Art
In 2014, I published a blog post about a crossword puzzle created by Alicia L. McDaniel to introduce 6th to 11th grade students to Beauford's work:
Beauford Delaney Crossword Puzzle
In 2013, the Studio Museum in Harlem hosted a Teaching and Learning Workshop for K-12 Educators that focused on experimental painting techniques. Educators were invited to the museum to "enjoy a fun, inspiring gallery tour" to "... discuss works of art with colleagues, create artwork in a hands-on workshop, and discover strategies for implementation in the classroom." They created work "inspired by Brothers and Sisters, an exhibition that examines a selection of abstract paintings by Beauford Delaney and artists in the museum's permanent collection."
In 1993, an article entitled "Four Self-Portraits" by Esther E. Grisham was published in Art Education. At the time, Grisham was the Teacher Workshop Coordinator for the Department of Museum Education at the Art Institute of Chicago. Beauford's 1944 self-portrait is on permanent display at this museum.
Self-portrait
(1944) Oil on canvas
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
By permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Grisham asks the following questions in her article (among others):
She goes on to suggest three classroom activities for teachers:
She also invites teachers to ask their students to compare Beauford's self-portrait to that of Vincent Van Gogh.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and the Wells International Foundation continue to pursue and share information about opportunities to educate and inspire educators and students through Beauford's art. If you know of projects or programs that do so, send details to me by e-mail at .
In the process, the students from both schools have created an amazing body of artwork. Several pieces have been publicly displayed in exhibitions in Paris and Knoxville:
Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville - Knoxville students' excursion to Paris a HUGE success! - Part 1
© Wells International Foundation
Student-Parent Reception for Classes Duo Art Exhibition at KMA
Image courtesy of Mary Campbell
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is not the only organization that uses Beauford's œuvre as an educational tool. Individual teachers, school districts, philanthropic organizations, and prestigious art institutions have included his work in exercises and programs for educators and students for more than two decades.
In 2018, I found a lesson plan for 5th graders published online by Knox County Schools entitled "The Harlem Renaissance - Beauford Delaney Self-portraits." Teachers using this lesson plan were instructed to have their students "use pencils and colored pencils to create simple self portraits that show symmetry and personality through exaggerated features.
In 2017, the Knoxville, TN chapter of The Links, Incorporated organized and implemented a pilot project to introduce Beauford's art to a local public elementary school:
Beauford's Art Inspires Knoxville Elementary School Students
Image courtesy of The Links Incorporated, Knoxville Chapter
The artwork of participating students was shown at the Knoxville Museum of Art:
"Bringing Delaney Home" at the Knoxville Museum of Art
In 2014, I published a blog post about a crossword puzzle created by Alicia L. McDaniel to introduce 6th to 11th grade students to Beauford's work:
Beauford Delaney Crossword Puzzle
In 2013, the Studio Museum in Harlem hosted a Teaching and Learning Workshop for K-12 Educators that focused on experimental painting techniques. Educators were invited to the museum to "enjoy a fun, inspiring gallery tour" to "... discuss works of art with colleagues, create artwork in a hands-on workshop, and discover strategies for implementation in the classroom." They created work "inspired by Brothers and Sisters, an exhibition that examines a selection of abstract paintings by Beauford Delaney and artists in the museum's permanent collection."
In 1993, an article entitled "Four Self-Portraits" by Esther E. Grisham was published in Art Education. At the time, Grisham was the Teacher Workshop Coordinator for the Department of Museum Education at the Art Institute of Chicago. Beauford's 1944 self-portrait is on permanent display at this museum.
(1944) Oil on canvas
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
By permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Grisham asks the following questions in her article (among others):
"What kind of expression is Delaney making in this self-portrait?"
"How do the colors and lines help to describe the artist' mood?"
She goes on to suggest three classroom activities for teachers:
A. Ask students to make a list of as many adjectives that they can think of to describe themselves.
B. Using words from their lists instead of lines, have students create a self-portrait concentrating on outlines.
C. Make outlines of students' bodies on plain paper and have students fill in their outlines with words from their lists...
She also invites teachers to ask their students to compare Beauford's self-portrait to that of Vincent Van Gogh.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and the Wells International Foundation continue to pursue and share information about opportunities to educate and inspire educators and students through Beauford's art. If you know of projects or programs that do so, send details to me by e-mail at .
All That Jazz
Last week's post on "Beauford at the 'L'Age du Jazz' exhibition" inspired me to look at all the works published on this blog that have the word "jazz" in the title. I have regrouped them below. Enjoy!
Jazz Quartet
(1946) Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Burt and Patricia Reinfrank
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Jazz concert in the old synagogue, Lower East Side, New York
(ca. 1946) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Untitled (Jazz Club)
(c.1950) Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Jazz Band
(1965) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(1946) Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Burt and Patricia Reinfrank
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(ca. 1946) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(c.1950) Oil on canvas
Image courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
(1965) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Jazz
(1966) Oil on canvas
French Embassy of Taipai, Taiwan
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo courtesy of France's Fonds national d'art contemporain
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo courtesy of France's Fonds national d'art contemporain
Beauford at the 1967 "L'Age du Jazz" exhibition
In Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, biographer David Leeming reports that "In November the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in France bought a Delaney painting entitled Jazz from 'L'Age du Jazz' exhibition."
This show was held at the Palais Galliera, which is also known as the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. It ran from April 29 to May 24, 1967.
Palais Galliera
Image in the public domain
I was fortunate to find the catalog for the exhibition at the Centre Pompidou's Kandinsky library, but was disappointed to see that it is a small publication and that with the exception of the cover, it is printed in black and white.
Catalog cover for L'Age du Jazz exhibition
© Discover Paris!
The names of the artists whose works were shown at the exhibition are printed in alphabetical order and I quickly found the page where names beginning with the letter "D" were printed. Beauford is not mentioned on this page.
I found his name on the last page of the catalog, under the header "Addendum." It gives Beauford's information as follows:
BEAUFORD-DELANEY
né en 1910 [sic] à Knoxville, Tennessee chanteur de blues [sic]
Portrait. huile sur toile 1965
The entry does not include a photo of the work he contributed.
Despite the errors in Beauford's listing, the description of the work (blues singer, portrait, 1965 oil on canvas) is evocative of Beauford's portrait of Marian Anderson, which is now part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' permanent collection.
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
A second listing under "Addendum" in the catalog attributes Jazz to another artist.
Interestingly, a dossier compiled in 2010 by the Fonds national d'art contemporain on Beauford Delaney works owned by the French government mentions "Portrait of Marian Anderson" as though it might be part of the title ofJazz, but only presents an image and details for Jazz.
Given this tangled web of circumstances, it is tempting to speculate that Beauford's Portrait of Marian Anderson was shown at the Palais Galliera during l'Age du Jazz!
, biographer David Leeming reports that "In November the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in France bought a Delaney painting entitled Jazz from 'L'Age du Jazz' exhibition."Jazz
(1966) Oil on canvas
French Embassy of Taipai, Taiwan
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo courtesy of France's Fonds national d'art contemporain
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo courtesy of France's Fonds national d'art contemporain
This show was held at the Palais Galliera, which is also known as the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. It ran from April 29 to May 24, 1967.
Image in the public domain
I was fortunate to find the catalog for the exhibition at the Centre Pompidou's Kandinsky library, but was disappointed to see that it is a small publication and that with the exception of the cover, it is printed in black and white.
© Discover Paris!
The names of the artists whose works were shown at the exhibition are printed in alphabetical order and I quickly found the page where names beginning with the letter "D" were printed. Beauford is not mentioned on this page.
I found his name on the last page of the catalog, under the header "Addendum." It gives Beauford's information as follows:
BEAUFORD-DELANEY
né en 1910 [sic] à Knoxville, Tennessee chanteur de blues [sic]
Portrait. huile sur toile 1965
The entry does not include a photo of the work he contributed.
Despite the errors in Beauford's listing, the description of the work (blues singer, portrait, 1965 oil on canvas) is evocative of Beauford's portrait of Marian Anderson, which is now part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' permanent collection.
(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
A second listing under "Addendum" in the catalog attributes Jazz to another artist.
Interestingly, a dossier compiled in 2010 by the Fonds national d'art contemporain on Beauford Delaney works owned by the French government mentions "Portrait of Marian Anderson" as though it might be part of the title ofJazz, but only presents an image and details for Jazz.
Given this tangled web of circumstances, it is tempting to speculate that Beauford's Portrait of Marian Anderson was shown at the Palais Galliera during l'Age du Jazz!
Sounds of Sainte-Anne's Hospital
© Discover Paris!
I've published several posts about Sainte-Anne's Hospital on this blog. They include numerous photos of the buildings and grounds that comprised Beauford's "home" during the last four years of his life.
Beauford's Paris: Saint Anne's Hospital - Part 1
Beauford's Paris: Saint Anne's Hospital - Part 2
Beauford's Paris: Saint Anne's Hospital - Part 3
Sainte Anne's Hospital: An Oasis of Calm
Beauford in "Psychology and Art" - Part 2
Today, I'm pleased to share a link to a blog post that presents the sounds of Sainte-Anne's Hospital as well as a wonderful history of the institution. The article also presents lovely photos of the hospital.
Soundlandscapes' Blog - Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne
Soundlandscapes is the brilliant product of the passion of Des Coulam. For more information about him and his recordings of the sounds of Paris, click HERE.
at Sainte-Anne's Hospital, 1976
Photo by Max Petrus