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Black Doll Show 2020 Going to the Club Flipbook PDF
The William Grant Still Art Center Presents the first two installments of the 40th Anniversary Black Doll Show -- "
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40TH ANNIVERSARY BLACK DOLL SHOW
AL L D E L D OL
up
DOLL ARTIST Adrienne Franklin
The William Grant Still
A R T S C E N T E R
ARTIST: Aisebourne
Welcome to 40 years of excellence in dolls!
TABLE OF CONTENTS Getting Dolled Up Twists and Pout In the Chair Hair for Days Going in Circles Sunny Attire In a Stitch In My Bag
7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21
Singing in the Shower Babysitter’s Club Dolled up for Daycare Too Cute for School Not in Your Dress Clothes! Screen Time and Books Feelin’ the Spirit Adorned Spirits
23 25 26-27 28-29 30-31 32-33 35 36-44
JANUARY
Headed to the Club Club Vibes A Little Ju Ju Project Blowed Catch One Fais Do Do Pose The Cork Get Down & Boogie Century Club
56-57 58-59 60-61 62-63 64-65 66-67 70-71 72-73 74-77
Going to the Gala FEBRUARY
DECEMBER
Getting Dolled Up
TO BE RELEASED IN FEBRUARY
Townhouse Soul Train Future Rave Adults Only
78-79 80-81 82-83 84-91
GETTING DOLLED UP “
My dolls help people see themselves.
”
Pin it up. Strap it down. Glide it on. Add some gloss. Grow it. Shave it. Tuck it. Let it all hang out. Mantra. Affirm. Pose. Now strut.
“As a child I did not limit myself to any particular type of artistic creativity. I was only limited by my teachers. I started making dolls as gifts to my nieces. One Christmas I made dolls for my nieces and they did not take care of them. Those were the last dolls that they got.” I was at the first black doll exhibition at the William Grant Still Arts Center. I spent as much time necessary to create the most beautiful, realistic dolls that seemed to capture the souls of people. I made dolls that looked like old people with wrinkles that looked like my grandmother. This doll meant a lot to me. I sold a doll to Stevie Wonder for his daughter that was bigger than life. One year I made a doll for a Museum called “Gutsie” that had hands that were 14” long. The children would get inside of it and pretend to be born. It was always exciting to grow and expand techniques and materials to make different types of dolls for the art shows.”
“The William Grant Still Arts Center has given me and other artists a great showroom to exhibit our art.” TERESA TOLLIVER Doll Artist
TOP Title: Untitled Artist: Shimoda BOTTOM Title: Untitled Artist: Gloria Davis
Carolynne Snowden Shares
Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005); Dec 9, 1982; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Sentinel pg. C2
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
TOP Title: “Blessing Her Crown” Artist: Kimberly Sigman BOTTOM Title: “My Yoni Steam” Artist: Kimberly Sigman
I learned to knit approximately 15 years ago. I've knitted dishcloths, afghans, hats and sweaters, then baby blankets, clothes and toys for my newborn great grandchildren. One day, my daughter asked me to knit her a doll, and there came the creative spark … A little lady doll for my grown sassy daughter. I was so captivated by this gorgeous little lady doll that I thought she would stand up and walk. I was having so much fun. Need less to say, I have not stopped knitting my little lady dolls. They are modern, decorative, stylish, and simply gorgeous conversion pieces! ADRIENNE FRANKLIN Doll Artist
STYLIST Title: Untitled Artist: Gloria Grandy CHAIR Title: “Kaleena” Artist: Cinnamon Willis
Title: “Lovely Lash Diva” Artist: Janice Webb
The Black Doll Show at the William Grant Still Arts Center (WGSAC) was started in 1980 by Cecil and Miriam Ferguson and carried on by the Friends of the William Grant Still Arts Center and center staff. It was initially inspired by the “Black Doll Test” conducted in the 1940s by pioneering psychologists Mamie and Kenneth Clark that concluded that many African American Children preferred playing with white dolls over Black dolls. The Black Doll Show at the WGSAC is the longest running annual exhibition Los Angeles. Artists, Doll Makers and Collectors return time and again to offer art and traditional or manufactured dolls from their collections that fit with the years’ theme, each year with different curators. At its root, the Black Doll Show has presented an opportunity to bring together community and to celebrate the importance of Black Doll and Black Image Making in our collective consciousness and psyche over the years.
Title: “Beaded Babydoll” Artist: Tracy L. Barwick
I always loved dolls as a little girl. I decided I want[ed] to make dolls, and then I heard about the show. This [was] probably 20 something years ago. So, I went to my first show, and I was like, “These are my people. This is my tribe! I love this! I love to come to the workshops. I just love this.” I took Teresa Tolliver’s and Cheryl’s workshops and l took a few of their classes - crazy, just crazy in my mind [at] making dolls. I love wire wrapped dolls, so that was one of my focuses. I wanted to make a doll, but after I saw their dolls, a little part of me was like, “Wow, I'm not that good, but I'm going to start where I am.” So, I got some felt. My first dolls I made were hand-stitched felt. I got so into making these dolls that I went to Barnes and Noble and got a book on how to grade patterns for doll clothes. I started making dolls! [I was] getting into all this detail with the doll clothes and just really into the felt dolls and making them for everybody - Mother's Day, whatever occasion - giving them away. Then, one day, when someone was like, “You need to sell them.” I was like, “Really?” So, I did. Years after, I wanted to collect some of those dolls and do a presentation at the library in Culver City and most of the people would not let go of their dolls for me to put them in the glass case. Which made me know that they really valued what I had done, and I valued it. Of course, I love the effort that was put into it and the love. Every time the show comes up, whether I've made a doll or not, my heart goes out and I support in whatever way; because it’s just a fantastic expression of our being and who we are, who we’ve been and who we can be.
NAWILI G Doll Artist
TOP Title: “Star Goddess” Artist: Terri Jenkins BOTTOM Title: “Miss Lemonade” Artist: Terri Jenkins
I found out about the show through a call for artists. I was a doll maker already so I submitted my dolls. I always made black dolls and I do them in various complexions because in the Black experience some lighter African Americans are treated differently than darker African Americans. So, I wanted to make it more of a level field for all Blacks. In my work, I use a lot of found objects. One of my pieces has a drum for the base and the body part is a vase that I found at a flea market and I sculpt the faces from a combination of polymer clay and wood and the hair will be a variety of things. My art is evolving from traditional doll making . I like creating dolls for the William Grant Still Arts Center because I like the fact that they're trying to help the community. And we as a people need all the help we can get. And I feel like they're doing a good job. I see all the emails and stuff where they're trying to do things for children - all of the art enrichment classes. Educating children is important because they are our future. GLORIA DAVIS Doll Artist
LEFT
Title: “Lucille”
Artist: Tonya Byrd
RIGHT
Title: “Tasha”
Artist: Heather Hilliard Bonds
I first fell in love with dolls when my mom gave me my first American Girl doll. I was 6 years old when I received the doll for Kwanzaa. Even at that young age, I loved to braid and style my doll’s hair. Whenever I would visit the American Girl Store at The Grove, I would go straight to the hair station and would ask one of the workers to do my doll’s hair in a pretty style. They would say “Is your doll new, sweetie? Did you just get it today?” I would reply “Nope! I’ve had it for a couple months.” I take really good care of my dolls to keep them in their best condition. The William Grant Still Arts Center Black Doll Show has definitely influenced my doll collecting because after seeing all of the wonderful dolls and doll creators, I have been inspired to branch out into playing with/collecting more varieties of dolls instead of just buying popular name brands such as American Girl and Barbie. I now support small creators by following them on social media and purchasing their dolls. ELLA SIMONE TABU Doll Collector Age: 10
Title: Untitled Collector: Aiysha Sinclair
Black Dolls Are Maker's Wonder: Exhibit captures creativity, skill ...
Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005); Feb 16, 1995; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Los Angeles Sentinel pg. C4
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Title: Untitled Artist: Kianga Parker
BABYSITTER’S CLUB TOP Title: “Child Development” Artist: Kimberly Sigman BOTTOM Title: “Daisy Mae” Artist (Maker): Mélange Dolls
My momma said she’s going to the club and I can’t go. I’m dolled up too, though!
TOP Title: “Matthew” Maker: Shanna Allen BOTTOM Title: “Malia” Artist: Niya Dorsey Brand: Brains and Beauty Dolls
TOP Title: Untitled Artist: Gloria Grandy BOTTOM Title: Untitled Artist: Sharon Pittman
LEFT Title: Untitled Artist: Gloria Grandy CENTER Title: Untitled Artist: Lethia Cobbs RIGHT Title: Untitled Artist: Barbara Flemming
LEFT Title: Untitled Artist: Floyd Bell RIGHT Title: “Khari” Artist: Niya Dorsey Brand: Brains and Beauty Dolls
LEFT Title: “Azalea” Artist/Brand: Mélange Doll ALL OTHERS Title: Untitled Artist: Barbara Flemmings
Title: Untitled Artist: Floyd Bell
Title: “Bernadette” Artist: Paulette Richards
LEFT Title: Untitled Artist: Sharon Pittman RIGHT Title: “Ebony” Artist: Heather Bonds
LEFT Title: Untitled Artist: Gloria Grandy RIGHT Title: “Bibliophiles at the Brownstone” Artist: Kimberly Sigman BOTTOM RIGHT Title: Untitled Artist/Maker: Fusion Dolls
I’M FEELIN’ THE SPIRIT LEFT Title: “Family is Everything” Artist: Kimberly Sigman
”
RIGHT Title: Untitled Collector: Roseanne Kleinerman
Spirit, help us find the groove, vibe with each other, and turn up! Ashe!!
Title: “The Secret Keeper” Artist: Pamela Boddie
Title: “Water Spirit” Artist: Sandra Rogers
Title: “Jois in Prayer with Alter” [sic] Artist: Candace Thomas
Title: “Zulu Doll” Artist: Fana Babadayo
Title: “Tall Dark Handsome” Artist: Fana Babadayo
Title: “Mother Earth” Artist: Fana Babadayo
LEFT Title: Azul CENTER Title: “Akachi” RIGHT Title: Terra Firma Artist: Trish Williams
Title: “Zeilie” Artist: Cinnamon Willis
Title: “West Indian Spirit Doll” Artist: Pamela Boddie
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
Adrienne Franklin Adrienne Franklin is the creator behind Hand Knit Gorgeous Dolls.. Creating her first in 2014, at her daughter’s request. She found so much joy in the medium, that she has not stopped making them since. Her dolls are unique and no two look exactly alike. She also knits afghans, sweaters, gloves, toys and baby blankets, but her greatest love is creating dolls. Link : www.etsy.com/shop/GorgeousDollsStudio
Aiysha Sinclair Aiysha Sinclair is an Author and Performance Artist born in Brooklyn, NY to Caribbean parents from Trinidad and Guyana. Aiysha expresses her creativity through writing musical plays and children's books about fairies in her Brown Sugar Fairies book series, as well as crafting puppets, dolls and mixed media artworks through found objects. Candace Thomas Candace Thomas has a daily art practice that spans over four decades. She is a maker of dolls, quilts, wearable, installations and digital art. Cinnamon Willis Cinnamon Willis is a doll maker, graphic designer and photographer based in the Bronx. She came up with the name Melandolly for her doll making business as a play on the words “melancholy” which is the mood of her work, and “melanin” since her dolls are of color. Her work explores themes of gender, race and family, as well as African American history as a way of retelling the narrative of our country through her craft. Diana White Diana White is the Creative Director of Mélange Dolls. With a background rooted within the fashion industry as a fashion designer and technical designer, she applied her skills to founding a black owned doll company that creates a collection of dolls which are representative of children from mixed race/biracial backgrounds. Passionate about her work, White is personally involved in resourcing the fabrics and trims and also styles the dolls hair, designs the styles and produces the outfits. Link: https://melangedolls.com/ (Manchester, England) Fana Baba Dayo Fana Baba Dayo’s art is influenced initially by her interest in doll making, which evolved into representations of the figurative form using mixed media. Currently, her preferred medium of expression is assemblage. The recurring themes depicted in her work reference ceremonial rituals, African traditions, and folk art of the American South. (Diamond Bar, CA)
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
Jeri Hubbard For mixed media artist Jeri Hubbard, art is a playful way of expressing social, political, emotional, racial, and spiritual issues of today and yesterday. It conveys the actual or imaginative using new or reclaimed materials. She asks her audience to ask the what, where, why, when, and how as to their impression of the piece. Her work has been featured in galleries, museums and collections, nationally and internationally. (Washington, DC) Jessie Evans Jessie Evans made her first Josephine Baker doll for her daughter’s Elladina’s second birthday. A huge fan of the legendary dancer and philanthropist, Evans felt very much like Baker was her spiritual mentor. My daughter is half Angolan – Brazlian- American and wanted to make a doll for her that reflected her blackness and spirit. I decided to make her this doll. I will never forget the look on her face when she received the doll. It’s like she had never seen something she identified with so much before. (SP, Brazil) John Zaragoza An art major from Cal State San Bernardino living in Los Angeles, John Zaragoza creates three dimensional art in several mediums including redesigned Fashion dolls, colorful piñatas and wooden planters constructed from discarded wooden pallets. Working in 3D has always been exciting to me and I love the idea of combining art and recycling to showcasing my creativity in addition to helping the environment. I love finding unwanted fashion dolls to restore/redesign in new and unique ways which reflects diversity in society, something we need to see more of. Dolls of color have always been my favorites to work with because of their exotic nature, color and beauty and I feel representing all cultures is very important. Viewing the world through an artist's eyes, art is all around us and love working with my hands which reflects in my piñata designs which are constructed from used cardboard as art pieces showcasing the colorful, festive Latino culture. Creating wooden planters from discarded wooden pallets helps the environment while encouraging the world towards a more green present and future. Kianga Jinaki Kianga Jinaki is a doll artist and quilter. She has been creating dolls since the 90’s. Both her dolls and quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally. Contemporary and traditional African textiles are used in creating her work and her dolls honor our rich cultural African American traditions and heritage. I tell the story of who we are through cloth. Dr. Khalisha Jefferson Dr. Khalisha Jefferson (Doctor of Education from USC with a focus in Education Management) began collecting African-American Mattel dolls in middle school in 1991, when the Shani collection debuted. Designed by Kitty Black Perkins, an African American woman and former chief designer of fashions and concepts for Mattel's Barbie line, The Marvelous World of Shani (“Shani”
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
meaning ‘marvelous’ in Swahili). Perkins' creations meant the world to her then and still today as her daughters enjoy looking at the dolls today! Kimberly Wilfong Sigman Kimberly Wilfong Sigman is a Mixed Media artist who enjoys creating art utilizing various art materials and incorporating unusual, found and repurposed items. Her interest in assemblage, collage, drawing, sewing, painting, doll making and sculpting offer her additional techniques to weave into her beautiful art pieces. Her choices in subject matter typically consist of scenes from everyday life though she also uses touches of artistic activism to highlight and draw attention to various social issues. (Cincinnati, OH) Marva Whitehead Marva Whitehead is an artist whose works of art consist of various mediums, including painting, quilting, textiles, sculpting works of clay and hand building. She has designed and created a variety of masks, figurative and abstract works. Various works have been displayed and auctioned at the annual Anyone Can Fly Foundation in New York. Art is a personal passion for her. (San Diego, CA) Michael Dergar Michael Dergar is a visual artist living in Pasadena, California. His life mission is to bring public awareness to those with special needs in an effort to create a better and more inclusive society and the world in which we all live. Suffering from a neurological condition as a child while growing up in his native Mexico, Michael experienced early on in life that people with disabilities on a daily basis faced mobility hurdles that “normal” people take for granted such as crossing the street or climbing down stairs. As a disabled person, he was frequently teased and purposely excluded from participating in outdoor activities by neighborhood children. Fortunately for him, with the help of his family and his own self-determination, Michael overcame his neurological condition and began to walk again without pain in his legs. This difficult period of his life shaped Michael’s view of the world. Life was a struggle financially for his family but this lack of resources served to make him realize that he had to work especially hard to achieve his DREAMS, regardless of his disability, and to never lose hope that he could build his own future. Myrya Johnson As an artist, Myrya Johnson is inspired by color, especially the tribal colors of the African cultures and their connection with Mother Earth. These colors bring her to a place of freedom and rawness of self- expression. It is the place that she needs to occupy when she creates. Once in that mental space, she allows the Spirit that comes to her to guide her decisions. When she is not in that space, the Spirit shuts her down and causes her to feel stress and frustration, make mistakes, and waste, so she has learned to listen. Her dollmaking brings her joy. (Wickliffe, OH)
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
Tamika Spencer Tamika Spencer is a paper artist. She is also a freelance photographer who specializes in doll photography and a self-published author. She studied photography under her Museum Studies major at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and briefly continued into fashion design at Moore College of Art and Design where she continued to build upon her artistic talents. Her work has been featured in various doll magazines such as Stand Magazine, FDQ (fashion doll quarterly) and Doll Magazine. (Bowie, MD) Pamela Boddie Pamela Boddie, professionally known as “p.boddie”, first started exhibiting her dolls in 2011. She was introduced to doll-making by her late sister-in-law whos cloth dolls have been exhibited across the country. Boddie has exhibited nationally, in juried shows, as a printmaker for over 30 years. With doll-making she is able to include many of her creative loves in the process; sculpture; metalsmithing; casting; fabrication; woodworking; sewing among other mediums.She attended University of California Irvine and earned a BA in Fine Arts, she also obtained a BFA in Advertising/Graphics from Art Center College of Design. She studied Computer Graphics Design at U.C.L.A. (Los Angeles, CA) Pat McLean-Smith Pat McLean-Smith is a multidisciplinary artist (poetry, fiber arts and drawing). Self-taught, she started making dolls three years ago and considers herself to still be in the learning process. However, what began as a hobby, has become a necessity. She believes that dolls are figurative creations and emotional metaphors that express feelings, beliefs and connections to body, mind and spirit. Not just their many different skin tones, hair styles and features, but also their experiences. For more information please visit: www.tomorrowsgirls.org (Philadelphia, PA) Paulette Richards Paulette Richards got involved in puppetry because she wanted to make her dolls come to life. In 2O18 she served as co-curator of the Living Objects: African American puppetry exhibit at the University of Connecticut’s Ballard Institute and Museum with Dr. John Bell. She is currently planning an exhibit of African American puppetry at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. Richards has taught animatronic puppetry workshops at the Friends School of Atlanta, Decatur Makers, the Dekalb County Public Library, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and the Puppeteers of America 2017 National Festival. (Atlanta, GA) Rosanne Kleinerman Rosanne Kleinermanis a painter, jewelry designer, and art educator whose work has been exhibited across the United States. She holds a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and teaches art to children and adults at LACMA, UCLA, and at various schools in Los Angeles County. (Los Angeles, CA)
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
Sandra Rogers Sandra Rogers has loved dolls since childhood. When her first daughter was born in the early 70's, she decided to be a stay-at-home mother. To occupy herself, she started making black rag dolls for her since at the time, black dolls were hard to find. Although her daughter is now an adult with her own children, she has continued her love of dolls and doll making. Her dolls are usually made from cloth. She enjoys creating dolls that represent characters in the books she read with her book club “Ladies of Color Turning Pages” and on occasion has gifted the author the dolls she makes. (city, State) Shantelle Shantelle is an entrepreneur & former model. She is the owner of BlackStationery.com; a stationery company that displays black art & graphics on greeting cards, coffee mugs & journals. (Venice, CA) Dr. Sharon A. Pittman Dr. Sharon A. Pittman retired from a career as a secondary school art teacher and is now teaching Art and Social Protest and other humanities courses at the university level. She is the author of The Museum for the People, now a textbook adapted from her doctoral dissertation. (Los Angeles, CA) Shimoda Shimoda is a mixed media artist who grew up influenced by her artistic parents. Shimoda Accessories, her business name, has a range of work that includes exquisite beaded jewelry and fiber art. Shimoda’s jewelry has been on the cover of Essence magazine. Shimoda self-published ‘Sacred Stitches: Fiber Art Dolls for the Soul’ and ‘Sacred Stitches, an inspirational 25-piece card deck. Shimoda was honored to have her artwork selected to be available for purchase at the gift shop of The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Harlem, NY) Terri M. Jenkins Terri M. Jenkins is a self-taught fiber doll artist and mixed media artist. Terri’s interest in doll making began ten years ago while she was living in Myrtle Beach, SC. After attending an introductory Gullah doll making class, she began perusing the former Art Doll and Cloth Doll magazines, Pinterest, YouTube, and arts/crafts blogs for ideas. Each doll is one-of-a-kind. To her, her 18”cloth dolls represent ragged finery and resilience. She has recently begun making shadow box dolls. They represent dolls who do not want to be boxed in. (Cayce, SC) Tracy Barwick Tracy Barwick was educated as an engineer. Her artwork has certainly evolved (more like matured) over time. She pulls inspiration from her city, a constant source of nutrition that feeds her creativity. Her artistic narrative is simple: personifying emotions, beliefs and social concepts
ARTISTS & COLLECTORS BIOS
through ethnic patterns, shadings, and mediums across the full spectrum of color. Her choice of mediums are glass (seed) beads, acrylics and embroidery floss. (Anne Arundel County, MD) The Uhuruverse Uhuru Ali Moor aka The Uhuruverse is an artist, emcee and the founder of SNATCHPOWER and the Black Queer punk band FUPU (F*ck You Pay US). She believes that queer artists are the future of the Arts. Uhura incarnated Earth in the form of fashion, art and freedom in order to liberate Earthlings from self destruction and self oppression. (Los Angeles, CA) As a musician, The Uhuruverse can be best described as experimental. Best known as the electric guitarist for the band F*ck U Pay Us (FUPU for short, a four piece Black femme/tgnc punk band demanding land reparations for the African Holocaust and free self defense training for femmes),The Uhuruvese also raps and is infamous for live/improv performance. In 2016 The Uhuruverse directed the psychedelic film noir, “FIGHT IN HEELS”, a collaboration with the #SNATCHPOWER artist collective which was founded by them in 2014. They have recently begun painting self portraits. (New Orleans, LA)
INDEX OF ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, AND CONTRIBUTORS
Cover Adrienne Franklin - Maya Doll
Myshell Tabu - Logo
Page 3 Aise Born - Untitled painting
Page 9 Handmade Doll (upper left)
Gloria Davis - Uniquely Me(lower right)
Page 11 Kimberly Sigman - Blessing Her Crown (top left)
Kimberly Sigman - My Yoni Steam (bottom right)
Page 12 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (upper right)
Cinnamon Lewis - Kaleena (middle right)
Janice Webb - Lash Diva (lower left)
Page 15 Tracy L. Barwick - Beaded Baby Doll
Page 17 Terri Jenkins - Star Goddess (upper right)
Terri Jenkins - Miss Lemonade (lower left)
Page 19 Tonya Byrd - Lucille (left)
Heather Hilliard Barnes - Tasha (right)
Page 21 Aiysha Sinclair - collected vintage dolls
Page 23 Kianga Parker - Untitled quilt
Page 25 Kimberly Sigman - Child Development (center framed)
Melange Dolls - Daisy Mae (lower left)
Page 26 Shanna Allen, from the collection of - Chloe by Ashton Drake (upper right)
Niya Davis of Brains & Beauty Dolls - Malia (lower left)
Page 27 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (upper left)
Page 28 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (left)
Lethia Cobbs - Untitled (center)
Barbara Flemming - Untitled (right)
Page 29 Floyd Bell - Untitled (left)
Niya Davis of Brains & Beauty Dolls -Khari (right)
Page 30 Melange Dolls - Azalea (upper left)
Barbara Flemming - Untitled (lower right)
Page 31 Floyd Bell - Untitled
Page 32 Sharon Pittman- Untitled (upper left)
Heather Bonds - Ebony (lower center)
Paulette Richards - Bernadette (upper right)
Page 33 Gloria Grandy - Bernadette (center left)
Kimberly Sigman - Bibliophiles at the Brownstone (upper right)
Paulette Richards - Bernadette (lower right)
INDEX OF ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, AND CONTRIBUTORS
Page 35 Kimberly Sigman - Family is Everything (lower left)
Roseanne Kleinerman- collected vintage (upper right)
Page 36 Pamela Boddie - The Secret Keeper
Page 37 Sandra Rogers- Water Spirit
Page 38 Candace Thomson - Jois in Prayer with Altar
Page 39 - 41 Fana Baba Dayo - Zulu Doll
Fana Baba Dayo - Tall Dark Handsome
Fana Baba Dayo - Mother Earth
Page 42 Trish Williams - Azul (lower left)
Trish Williams - Akachi (upper center)
Trish Williams - Terra Firma (lower right)
Page 43 Cinnamon Willis - Zelie
Page 44 Pamela Boddie - West Indian Spirit Doll
Produced, written and curated by The Staff of the William Grant Still Art Center
Logo and Book Design Myshell Tabu
Specialized Photography Gail Oliver
William Grant Still Arts Center Staff Contributors Ami Motevalli - Director, Sofia Gabaldon - Administration, Monica Bailey - Arts Instructor, Myshell Tabu- Arts Instructor, Jacori “Aise” Perry - Arts Instructor, Marcus Miller - Arts Instructor, Byron Mapp – Gallery Attendant, Ande Richards - Arts Associate, Peter Woods - Arts Associate, Danielle Gomez - Arts Associate
The William Grant Still Arts Center is a facility of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs We thank all of our artists and collectors The Friends of William Grant Still,
in particular Bobbie Campbell, Marty Barnett and Van Young
The office of Council Person Herb Wesson,
in particular Billie J. Green, Edward Johnson, Andrew Westhal and Herb Wesson Jr.
Rosie Lee Hooks of the Watts Towers Arts Campus and Isabelle Lutterdot of the Barnsdal Arts Park and Campus, Scott Bae, Rebeca Guerrero and Daniel Tarica in DCA Administration
ing
Go
lub
C he
T To
Nightclubs evoke powerful memories. When we were young, those first outings to clubs were informal rites-of-passage that we walked through with friends. Multiple phone calls to plan the night and gatherings at a friend’s house to get dressed up and “pre-party” were the rituals we performed as we dreamed of the possibilities the night would bring. We changed outfits, sometimes swapping with friends, making sure our hair was on point. We doused ourselves in perfume and cologne – a fragrant calling card for the mate we wanted to attract. Love - or some facsimile of love - was always in the air! You may remember some of the spots that were popular here in L.A. – they were clubs and bars, with gay or straight clientele, or some combination of people intent on having fun. There were underground clubs too, and no matter what you had in mind, there was a space for every type of character. You could hear Chaka Khan sing at the Century Club, watch folks pole dance at Peanuts, or get a good pour at The Cork. Jewel’s Catch One was a cultural phenomenon and a welcome place for the Black gay community and all who came to party. Clubs were a place to shine, a place for self-expression and most importantly, a place to look good, show off dance moves, catch up with old friends and meet new love interests – we just knew we’d meet our partner for life on the dance floor or at the bar – and some of us did.
The Cork
THE LIVING ROOM
CENTURY CLUB
The Good Life
METRO
VENICE BEACH
Catch One
PROJECT BLOWED
PEANUTS THE TOWNHOUSE
TACOS $1 WINGS $5 WATER $1
PARENTAL DISCRETION The following section contains mild sexual content. Viewer discretion is advised.
PARENTAL DISCRETION The following section contains mild sexual content. Viewer discretion is advised.
INDEX OF ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, AND CONTRIBUTORS
Cover Adrienne Franklin - Maya Doll
Myshell Tabu - Logo
Page 3 Aise Born - Untitled painting
Page 9 Handmade Doll (upper left)
Gloria Davis - Uniquely Me(lower right)
Page 11 Kimberly Sigman - Blessing Her Crown (top left)
Kimberly Sigman - My Yoni Steam (bottom right)
Page 12 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (upper right)
Cinnamon Lewis - Kaleena (middle right)
Janice Webb - Lash Diva (lower left)
Page 15 Tracy L. Barwick - Beaded Baby Doll
Page 17 Terri Jenkins - Star Goddess (upper right)
Terri Jenkins - Miss Lemonade (lower left)
Page 19 Tonya Byrd - Lucille (left)
Heather Hilliard Barnes - Tasha (right)
Page 21 Aiysha Sinclair - collected vintage dolls
Page 23 Kianga Parker - Untitled quilt
Page 25 Kimberly Sigman - Child Development (center framed)
Melange Dolls - Daisy Mae (lower left)
Page 26 Shanna Allen, from the collection of - Chloe by Ashton Drake (upper right)
Niya Davis of Brains & Beauty Dolls - Malia (lower left)
Page 27 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (upper left)
Page 28 Gloria Grandy - Untitled (left)
Lethia Cobbs - Untitled (center)
Barbara Flemming - Untitled (right)
Page 29 Floyd Bell - Untitled (left)
Niya Davis of Brains & Beauty Dolls -Khari (right)
Page 30 Melange Dolls - Azalea (upper left)
Barbara Flemming - Untitled (lower right)
Page 31 Floyd Bell - Untitled
Page 32 Sharon Pittman- Untitled (upper left)
Heather Bonds - Ebony (lower center)
Paulette Richards - Bernadette (upper right)
Page 33 Gloria Grandy - Bernadette (center left)
Kimberly Sigman - Bibliophiles at the Brownstone (upper right)
Paulette Richards - Bernadette (lower right)
INDEX OF ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, AND CONTRIBUTORS
Page 35 Kimberly Sigman - Family is Everything (lower left)
Roseanne Kleinerman- collected vintage (upper right)
Page 36 Pamela Boddie - The Secret Keeper
Page 37 Sandra Rogers- Water Spirit
Page 38 Candace Thomson - Jois in Prayer with Altar
Page 39 - 41 Fana Baba Dayo - Zulu Doll
Fana Baba Dayo - Tall Dark Handsome
Fana Baba Dayo - Mother Earth
Page 42 Trish Williams - Azul (lower left)
Trish Williams - Akachi (upper center)
Trish Williams - Terra Firma (lower right)
Page 43 Cinnamon Willis - Zelie
Page 44 Pamela Boddie - West Indian Spirit Doll
Page 59 Heather Bonds - "Aldonia" Kimberley Sigman - "Empowered Advocate" Heather Bonds - "Destiny" Heather Bonds - "Black Panther" Page 64 Gloria Davis -"Untitled" Page 65 Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Page 68 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Shani" Beach Barbie Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Jamal" Beach Barbie Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Asha" Beach Barbie Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Shani" Beach Barbie Page 69 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Shani" Beach Barbie Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Nichelle" Beach Barbie Page 76 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Jamal" Shani Barbie Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Shani" Shani Barbie Page 77 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - "Shani" Pink Dress Page 78 Gloria Grandy - "Untitled" Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Page 79 Leithia Cobbs - "Untitled" Fana Baba Dayo - "Herero" Page 80 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - Soul Train "Shani" Soul Train "Jamal"
INDEX OF ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, AND CONTRIBUTORS
Page 81 Dr. Khalisha Jefferson - Soul Train "Asha" Page 82 Jerri Hubbard - "Untitled" Jerri Hubbard - "Untitled" Page 83 Jerri Hubbard - "Untitled" Page 86 - Uhuru "Untitled" painting Terri Jenkins "Ms. Juneteenth" Page 88 Uhuru - "Untitled" painting Page 89 Roseanne Kleinerman - "Untitled" (Penis man statue) Fana Baba Dayo - "Espirito" Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Page 90 Heather Hillard-Bonds - "Shaka" Heather Hillard-Bonds - "Sheena" Page 91 Pat Shivers - "Untitled" Heather Bonds - "Africa"
Produced, written and curated by The Staff of the William Grant Still Art Center Logo and Book Design Myshell Tabu Specialized Photography Gail Oliver William Grant Still Arts Center Staff Contributors Ami Motevalli - Director, Sofia Gabaldon - Administration, Monica Bailey - Arts Instructor, Myshell Tabu- Arts Instructor, Jacori “Aise” Perry - Arts Instructor, Marcus Miller - Arts Instructor, Byron Mapp – Gallery Attendant, Ande Richards - Arts Associate, Peter Woods - Arts Associate, Danielle Gomez - Arts Associate The William Grant Still Arts Center is a facility of the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs We thank all of our artists and collectors The Friends of William Grant Still, in particular Bobbie Campbell, Marty Barnett and Van Young The office of Council Person Herb Wesson, in particular Billie J. Green, Edward Johnson, Andrew Westhal and Herb Wesson Jr. Rosie Lee Hooks of the Watts Towers Arts Campus and Isabelle Lutterdot of the Barnsdal Arts Park and Campus, Scott Bae, Rebeca Guerrero and Daniel Tarica in DCA Administration