CAAM Museum Notes - October-December 2015

Special screening at dusk of The Wiz. Tour CAAM’s galleries and take in our new exhibitions. Free

to the public!

Saturday, October 17, 2015, 1pm – 3pm | Art Workshop with April Bey

NO GUNS FOR CHRISTMAS (2014, 7:00 min)

Based on two police shootings in Ohio, this documentary questions whether toy guns can really be innocent gifts. Directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert.

Governor, and of course, you, the taxpayer.

Over the years, CAAM has developed and exhibited nine to 11 exhibitions annually. Because of this ongoing level of commitment, we view CAAM as one of the cultural jewels of the Southern California region, and we have every intention of maintaining a strong, viable presence in the cultural community of Los Angeles, and beyond.

The 2015 Fall season is important for museums, and in keeping with this tradition, CAAM has mounted several

VERBATIM: THE FERGUSON CASE (2015, 16:47 min)

new exhibitions – such as Coloring Independently which features 80 film stills that form a portion of CAAM’s Permanent

This video juxtaposes the re-enacted testimony of two key witnesses in the shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Directed by Brett Weiner.

Collection, and Toward Freedom – which showcases photojournalist Irene Fertik’s work looking at the Ethiopian Jewish

Saturday, November 14, 2015, 1pm – 2:30pm | Conversations@CAAM

Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of the recently opened Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, will be the History Council’s next installment of it series Conversations@CAAM. Dr. Batchlor previously served as the Chief Medical Officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan that provides care to more than a million individuals throughout LA County. She was instrumental in developing a care delivery model that expanded access and resources to many of the County’s most vulnerable residents. She will be interviewed by Karani Johnson, a member of the History Council and former chairperson of CAAM’s Volunteer Council.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 7pm | FILMS AT CAAM - Liberty & Justice for All LITTLE WHITE LIE (2014, 65 min)

community in Israel and the Ethiopian community in Los Angeles. Hard Edged explores the abstract vernacular as envisioned by African American artists with strong ties to Los Angeles, and finally, Charles Dickson’s descriptive and other-worldly Metaphors opens in October. Please do come and visit and more importantly, experience for yourself the fine work being done at CAAM. Like many cultural institutions, we understand that if CAAM is to survive, we must continually evolve and adapt to new realities. More often than not, the public has more leisure time options available to them than they’ve ever had before. Understanding this means that we must redouble our efforts to capture the public’s attention by creating meaningful exhibitions that are not only visually appealing and offer new artistic points-of-view, but also enhance our understanding of what it means to be human in the 21st century.

You may not be aware that CAAM also rents spaces within the museum – namely, our Courtyard and our Conference Center. We have rented out our beautiful Courtyard, which features an atrium that floods the entire

Write messages on marbled paper that you create using the Suminagashi technique of water-printing and paper-marbling. This workshop is part of the programming related to the CAAM exhibition Hard Edged. RSVP preferred 213.744.2024.

Filmmaker Lacey Schwartz grew up in a typical upper middle class Jewish household in Woodstock, NY, with loving parents and a strong sense of her identity. Little White Lie is a personal story about the legacy of family secrets, denial and race. Director Lacey Schwartz will SKYPE in for discussion after screening. RSVP preferred at 213.744.2024.

Sunday, October 25, 2015, 12 noon – 3pm | Exhibition Walk-through & Artist Reception

Saturday, November 21, 2015, 1pm - 3pm | Art Workshop with Nzuji de Magahlahães

Join photographer Irene Fertik as she walks guests through the Toward Freedom exhibition and discusses her photography of the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel and the Ethiopian community in Los Angeles. RSVP preferred 213.744.2024.

Learn how to combine yarn and paint to make one of a kind, colorful canvases in this workshop led by Nzuji de Magalhães. This workshop is part of the programming related to the CAAM exhibition Hard Edged. RSVP preferred 213.744.2024.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 7pm | FILMS AT CAAM - Liberty & Justice for All

Sunday, November 22, 2015, 2pm | FILMS AT CAAM - Liberty & Justice for All

for a class, a Ph.D. candidate conducting original dissertation research on the history of African American cultural

MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY THAT SWINGS THE BAND (2015, 60 min)

THE GIRLS IN THE BAND (2008, 83 mins)

institutions, or a costume designer working up concepts for a soon-to-open Broadway production and who needs to

A feature documentary that chronicles the life and music of Mary Lou Williams, a renowned jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Directed by Carol Bash. RSVP preferred at 213.744.2024.

Sunday, November 8, 2015, Galleries open 11am - 5pm | Live Program from 1:30 pm - 4pm TARGET SUNDAYS AT CAAM in the spirit of gratitude

A gospel and inspirational show for all ages. Tour CAAM’s galleries and take in our new exhibitions. Free to the public!

When the world told them they couldn’t play, they did it anyway. The Girls in the Band tells the fascinating stories the women who comprised the big band known as The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. These women rivaled the famous men’s bands of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Some of their images can be seen in the current CAAM exhibition Coloring Independently. Directed by Judy Chaiken. RSVP preferred at 213.744.2024.

Sundays, December 6th and December 20, 2015, 2pm | Holiday Craft Workshop Gifts for the Holiday Season

Come and decorate a canvas bag or embellish a ceramic tile to share with others during the Holiday season.

Materials provided while supplies last. RSVP preferred at 213.744.2024.

Sunday, December 13, 2015, Galleries open 11am - 5pm | Live Program from 1:30 pm - 4pm TARGET SUNDAYS AT CAAM Holiday Remix

Enjoy classic standards reimagined with a host of great talent to warm the holiday. Tour CAAM’s galleries and take in our new exhibitions. Free to the public!

Courtyard area with natural sunlight, for book signings to weddings and receptions in. Both the Courtyard and our Conference Center are available for special events planned by non-profit organizations, corporations, educational and government institutions, and of course, private individuals. Earlier this year, Starbucks’ Howard Schultz hosted a conference in CAAM’s Courtyard on diversity which was attended by 300 of its southern California-based employees.

Although we are funded by the State of California, we invite you to consider renting CAAM’s unique facilities for your special events. For more information about how to book events, please call Laura Farmer at 213.744.7535.

We’re in the process of upgrading our Research Library which is open to the public and which provides in-depth research assistance to anyone who needs it whether it be a 5th grader writing a paper about the Civil Rights Movement

peruse the Library’s collection of vintage issues of Ebony magazine for inspiration.

Above all, we believe that CAAM provides a variety of services to the Los Angeles community. With the exception of Mondays, CAAM is open to the public six days a week and we invite you – LA residents and those passing through – to visit CAAM, which is always free to the public.

We want to exceed your expectations. I invite you to contact me directly at gdavis@caamuseum.org if you feel we haven’t met your expectations or feel there is something we can improve upon, or even just to say “hello.”

Thank you for your continued support of this incredible cultural institution which has so much to offer.

George O. Davis, Executive Director Donations to CAAM may be made online at www.caamuseum.org or mail contributions to Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037 The California African American Museum is a State-supported agency, Jerry Brown, Governor. CAAM partners with and is further supported by Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. CAAM is located in Exposition Park at 600 State Drive in Los Angeles. CAAM is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, and Sundays 11am - 5pm. Admission is FREE. Parking at 39th and Figueroa Streets is $10 per vehicle. Tel 213.744.7432. Fax 213.744.2050. Email: info@caamuseum.org. Facebook/twitter@caaminla.

Website: www.caamuseum.org. Museum Notes is published quarterly by the California African American Museum. Interim Executive Editor, Denise L. McIver. Design, Susan Dworski | The Blue One. Photos: Valerie Goodloe, Gene Ogami and Earl Dotson..

A youngster proudly shows her artwork created at a Target Sunday workshop.

Sunday, October 11, 2015, Galleries open 11am - 5pm | Film screening begins at dusk TARGET SUNDAYS AT CAAM

In this documentary, parents reveal their struggles with telling their Black sons that they may be targets of racial profiling by the police. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Blair Foster.

October - December 2015

especially west of the Mississippi. Founded in 1977 by State charter, CAAM opened its doors to the public

with the 1984 exhibition, Black Olympians. We continue to enjoy the enthusiastic support of area elected officials, our

Zna Portlock Houston Rev. Cecil L. Murray Joseph C. Phillips Paul F. Roye Vera B. Stewart Dr. Francille Rusan Wilson

With the advent of WWII California experienced a second wave of Black migration following the promise of work in the war-focused industries. Black neighborhoods, both old and new, continued to foster many vibrant and culturally rich communities despite the effects of segregation at all levels. This discussion, facilitated

by Dr. Toni Mokjaetji-Humber, will focus on post-World War II California and Black neighborhoods with an emphasis on the Los Angeles area. Dr. Humber will explore the challenges faced by African Americans such as discriminatory hiring and housing practices, the fight against redlining as well as highlight outstanding agents of social justice such as Loren Miller. RSVP preferred 213.744.2024.

A CONVERSATION WITH MY BLACK SON (2015, 5:06 min)

is committed to the sharing and exploration of the arts, letters, culture, and history of African Americans –

David A. Ford Eric Lawrence Frazier Kimberly Freeman Todd Hawkins Asa Heath Raphael Henderson

Black Neighborhoods in California, Post-World war II

This short documentary features interviews with white people on the challenges of talking about race.

Directed by Michèle Stephenson and Blair Foster.

t

CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

Susan Cole Hill, President Renee C. Bizer, Vice President Dr. Monet L. Daniels, Secretary Ellis Gordon Jr., Treasurer Keith A. Drake Shawn Farrar

Sunday, October 11, 2015, 2pm - 4pm | Discussion

A CONVERSATION WITH WHITE PEOPLE ON RACE (2015, 5:24 min)

he California African American Museum or as we refer to it, CAAM, is a free public cultural institution that

Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum Board

As a public artist, Dickson is no stranger to the paperwork and bureaucratic maze an artist has to traverse to solidify an art commission. Aside from prevailing over these challenges, Dickson’s real passion is trying to elevate the type of artworks that are reviewed, approved and allowed to be accepted in lower-income neighborhoods. Dickson shares his philosophy of how higher-end designs of artworks can serve to be not only functional, but change the landscape of the community and the vision of its residents and visitors. RSVP preferred 213.744.2024.

This film series showcases short, issue-ladened documentaries produced by independent filmmakers and artists. All screenings begin at 7pm. RSVP preferred at 213.744.2024.

Todd Hawkins, President Zna Portlock Houston, Vice President Kimberly Freeman Eric Lawrence Frazier Rev. Cecil L. Murray Joseph C. Phillips Dr. Francille Rusan Wilson

One-on-One with Charles Dickson – Raising the Conscious Awareness of the Aesthetics in My Community Through My Art

CAAM State Board of Directors

Saturday, October 10, 2015, 2pm | Artist Discussion

Museum Notes

Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037 T 213.744.7432 . F 213.744.2050 www.caamuseum.org Open Tues.–Sat. 10 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm. Admission is FREE Parking $10 at 39th & Figueroa Streets. Metro: Expo Line to Exposition Park stop adjacent to USC & the Rose Garden.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 7pm | FILMS AT CAAM - Liberty & Justice for All Documentary Film Screenings - Op-Docs & Panel Discussion

NON PROFIT ORG US Postage Paid Permit No. 1619 Los Angeles, CA

programs

A message from george O. davis, executive director

exhibitions

caam in the community revisiting 2015

Hard edged geometrical abstraction and beyond

The end of a year is always a good time to take stock, review the highlights of the immediate past, and chart the successes of the preceding months in order to prepare for the future...and a good time to share some of the more memorable community-centric programs and events that took place at CAAM over the past months which demonstrate the diversity of our public programming.

August 13, 2015 - April 24, 2016

Umbrella, 2012. Nzuji de Magalhães. Yarn, beads and oil on canvas. Courtesy of the artist

Hard Edged explores the evolving practice of geometrical abstraction in contemporary art, illustrating the rich interplay of tradition, innovation, and individual talent among forty-six visual artists of African descent.

The exhibition offers an expansive and exploratory appreciation of geometrical abstraction not only in painting but also in assemblage, installation, photography, video, quilting, and mixed-media works.

Features common to many works include the prominent use of lines and sharply edged shapes, a clear sense of composition, unity of form, intense contrasts, and flat fields of color.

Louis Jordan with admirers, Beware, 1946 Collection of the California African American Museum

coloring independently 1940s African American Film Stills from the collection of the California african american museum

August 27, 2015 – February 29, 2016 This exhibition features a selection of more than 80 film stills and related photographs from the museum’s unique collection surrounding African American films from the 1940s, a time of limited character roles and access to the mainstream movie industry. Typically referred to as “Race Films/Movies,” these independent productions were created with a Black cast and for an African American audience. Come explore the distinct images and stories we told more than 65 years ago as a part of the broader African American filmmaking tradition. Among the films selected are Beware (1946) showcasing music pioneer Louis Jordan, The Betrayal (1948) directed and written by Oscar Micheaux, and I Ain’t Gonna Open That Door (1949) starring Stepin Fetchit.

The approaches of the artists in this exhibition are very different, from perceptual to conceptual, from formal to boundary crossing. Some are minimalistic while others celebrate color and texture exuberantly. Although working at various levels of abstraction, the artists in this exhibition address such important issues as feminism, identity, colonialism, stereotypes, family relations, and social justice.

Right: MJZ, 2012, Brenna Youngblood. Tree, acrylic and spray paint. Courtesy of the artist and the Honor Fraser Gallery Cover: Luna Sunshine, 2015, Charla Puryear. Glass and wire. Courtesy of the artist

Sigd, 2010. Irene Fertik

Installation panorama.

The African American Journey West permanent collection

Now on view

This reprised exhibition chronicles the history of African Americans through artwork and historical artifacts that illustrate their long journey from the West Coast of Africa to present day California.

caam courtyard series metaphors

September 24, 2015 - April 10, 2016

The show draws widely from local sources, including CAAM’s Permanent Collection, private collectors, galleries, and the artists themselves, and it includes Chelle Barbour, Sharon Louise Barnes, April Bey, Joseph Beckles, Ronda Brown, Mark Broyard, Lavialle Campbell, Elizabeth Catlett, Castillo, Edward Clark, Charles Dickson, June Edmonds, Melvin Edwards, Kathie FoleyMeyer, Bre Gipson, David Hammons, Hillary Jaynes, Daniel LaRue Johnson, Rashid Johnson, Samuel Levi Jones, Doyle Lane, Jacob Lawrence, Isabelle Lutterodt, Enoch Mack, Eric Mack, Senga Nengudi, Nzuji de Magalhães, Kori Newkirk, Duane Paul, Doug Pearsall, Karl J-G Petion, Greg Pitts, Noah Purifoy, Charla Puryear, Miles Regis, John T. Riddle Jr., Michelle Robinson, Charles Rosenberg, Lisa C Soto, Devin Troy Strother, Holly Tempo, Matthew Thomas, Richard Turner, Tim Washington, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, and Brenna Youngblood.

Left: Brown People, Glass House, 2011, Kathie Foley-Meyer. Glass panels, neon tubing. Courtesy of the artist

We hope you’ll join us in recalling these events with pleasure, and we encourage you to visit CAAM frequently and participate in our public programs in order to learn, grow, and perhaps most importantly, give expression to your own incredible creativity!

Metaphors, Charles Dickson, 2015. Digital Image.

Collection of the artist

Charles Dickson is a prolific artist who is widely known as a public artist with the ability to create studio works ranging from assemblage, functional art and sculptures using various materials such as wood, found objects, metal, and glass. During the creative process Dickson imagines the raw materials before him being transformed into images, elements and shapes that will represent and symbolize the essence of the concept he envisions. Through this rendering process a metaphor will emerge illustrating how he seeks to convey and represent his views about a particular subject. In this exhibition, Dickson creates five “metaphors” in the form of sculptures consisting of various mediums to transform the space, tell a story, and engage the viewer with his whimsical visual designs.

Timkat, 2003. Irene Fertik

CAAM PAST AND PRESENT

Now on view

toward freedom: A photo exhibition of the Beta Israel Community in Israel and the Ethiopian community in los angeles

October 1, 2015 – January 3, 2016 Acclaimed photojournalist Irene Fertik shares a decade of images of Ethiopian communities establishing themselves in the environs of Israel and Los Angeles from 1992 through 2012. Through her photographs, Fertik allows us to view the beautiful and complex story of a people facing the challenges of starting anew in an unfamiliar land. The 42 images feature Ethiopian Jews who have relocated to their religious homeland, Israel and Ethiopians of various faiths who have made Los Angeles their home.

Gallery view.

CAAM would like to thank the following funders for their generosity. We are grateful for your support of CAAM and its mission: Bank of America Foundation, The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Ray Charles Foundation.

Explore the history of CAAM and its current contributions through a newly-installed exhibition mounted in the museum’s hallway. Learn about the people, programs, and events through colorful and informative panels which chart the highlights of the museum’s development. This exhibition was created by CAAM’s current History Council members and CAAM curator Tiffini A. Bowers.

Above from left: A youngster creates her own art project at the Teresa Tolliver-facilitated workshop, part of every Target Sundays at CAAM event. Performers at the CicLAvia hub at Exposition Park and ASCAP vocalist at our June 2015 salute to Black Music Month/Target Sundays at CAAM. CAAM’s Education Department hosted a moderated one-on-one discussion with Ed Lewis, a cofounder of ESSENCE magazine. He described the magazine’s early days and discussed the highlights of his career in publishing. Below: After touring the Expo Park museums and Coliseum during our 4th Annual Gift of Learning event, all the children attending received Christmas gifts courtesy of the LA City and County Fire Departments.