3/16/24 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism at The Met

Join Dr. Denise M. Murrell, and James S. Tisch Curator at Large in The Met’s Director’s Office, for a virtual tour of the groundbreaking exhibition The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism. Continue reading

3/23/23 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ FASHION MEETS ART: JEREMY SCOTT AND HYUNDAI FOR RE:STYLE EXHIBITION

Jeremy Scott has shared that he left the Italian luxury fashion house Moschino via an Instagram post after a decade and joins Hyundai in recycling the car company’s discarded electric automobile materials, from leather cut-outs to flat tires, and turning them into high fashion gowns.The haute couture collection, which forms part of a Hyundai exhibition, by Jeremy Scott combines deadstock fabrics with wheels, seat belts, tail lights, and wipers, bringing in the designer’s Moschino touch into a series of gala gowns. Continue reading

1/13/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ancestral Voices- Dianne McIntyre, Romare Bearden and Cecil Taylor

One of Bearden’s early dance collaborations was the modern dance work Ancestral Voices choreographed by Dianne McIntyre and presented by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At the suggestion of company founder and artistic director Alvin Ailey, Romare Bearden was commissioned to create the visuals for the work which premiered on the Ailey company, May 13, 1977.

Set to a score by jazz great, Cecil Taylor, Ancestral Voices has been described as an African ritual interpreted through the modern dance idiom. The cast included Ailey standouts Estelle Spurlock, Alistair Butler and Dyane Harvey. In addition to the front curtain, Bearden also created a backdrop, and designed the costumes and headpieces.

Bearden was a wonderful storyteller. And enjoyed retelling the story of creating the visuals for Ancestral Voices. Within  those retellings he mentioned how he and his wife Nanette have unsuccessfully tried to retrieve the set and costumes. “They tell us they have just disappeared”, he would simply say.

New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff attended the opening night performance. In a review published the next day on May 14th, 1977, Ms. Kisselgoff reported:

“Ancestral Voices is an abstraction of an African ritual, and the abstract note is obvious from the start in Romare Bearden’s beautiful front curtain of foliage and African forms. The theme of ritual onstage is the world’s four elements – earth, water, air and fire.”

The taping took place on a warm summer evening in Central Park dancer Dyane Harvey added, “I viewed the footage and was gently reminded of the experience of filming Ms. McIntyre’s work during that summer. The cast was comprised of Alistair Butler, Charles Grant, Bernadine Jennings, Dorian Williams and Dianne (McIntyre). As mentioned in the interview we embodied elemental forces against the beautiful backdrop designed and crafted by Romare Bearden. The actual filming process, in the scheme of dance filming, was painless. (Third World Cinema…?) I recall thinking how exhilarating it was to be outside at night performing Dianne’s spirited choreography with so much lavish color and nature surrounding and inspiring us!”
Dy

In a recent correspondence with Dianne McIntyre about the collaboration she wrote:

Hello Walter,

Here is a bit of background for you: Yes, Anna Kisselgoff wrote about the piece, which I was very sorry to read. It is a very bad review for a piece that I must say, was not my best work, and unfortunately (for me) because it had the beautiful costumes and sets by Romare Bearden.

Alvin Ailey invited me to do a work and suggested that Romare Bearden could do the costumes. I was very honored by that. In the work the dancers represented the four elements of nature – air, earth, fire and water. Romare created costumes so intriguing, unique, monumental that they looked like his collages come to life. The poster for that year marketing the Ailey brand was Romare Bearden’s rendering of his costume for Fire. A white and red poster – must be a collector’s item today.

Fortunately, a couple of years later, in a film about Romare was a segment I put together of excerpts from the dance. We shot it in Central Park in front of a fountain during one daytime and evening. The gigantic scrim created from a drawing Romare made for the dance was mounted on the lawn and I had the dancers performing in front and behind the scrim. It was a beautiful adventure.

I am grateful to Alvin Ailey that he introduced me to such a master artist. Romare gave me advice, guidance about my journey as an artist and I have always held him in my vision of the highest one can be as an artist. What he created and the way he worked always made me want to be like him – from watching him I say to myself: Stick to your vision, go for it all the way, don’t waiver, produce and practice every day even in the quiet.

Thank you, Romare Bearden.

Ancestral Voices

9/19/22 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP MEETS ART: A Life Less Ordinary: Skepta

Sotheby is proud to present the second annual edition of Contemporary Curated in London this September. Guest curated by British-Nigerian rapper, producer and DJ, Skepta the sale includes works from the most established to the emerging generation of artists, including a selection Skepta has handpicked for his edit and debuting his own painting for the first time. Continue reading

7/7/22 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ ART MEETS FASHION: Brooklyn Talks:A Tribute To Virgil Abloh

On the opening weekend of our special exhibition Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech, we honored the profound legacy of artist and designer Virgil Abloh alongside members of his creative community. The conversation featured curator Antwaun Sargent in dialogue with Tawanda Chiweshe and Tremaine Emory, founder of Denim Tears and creative director of Supreme. Continue reading

7/1/22 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ ART: Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech” Opens July 1

Virgil Abloh’s careful attention to Figures of Speech at Brooklyn Museum.Virgil wanted everyone to feel like they were considered, says curator Antwaun SargentVirgil Abloh was a curious tinkerer who streamlined his multifold of interests with care, attention and a subversive worldview.  Continue reading

1/9/21 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ ART TRIBUTE: USPS Honors Sculptor Edmonia Lewis in New Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service has become a champion of the arts through stamps that highlight both iconic and overlooked figures who’ve left an incredible mark on culture.Born of Haitian and Ojibwe descent, Edmonia Lewis is accredited by some historians as the first Black American sculptor. Continue reading

10/6/21 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ ART WITHIN THE ARTIST:Toy Tokyo Celebrates 20 Years of Designer Toys With Artist Watch Collection

Toy Tokyo and its founder Lev Lavarek are launching a new initiatives in honor of the store’s 20th anniversary.Toy Tokyo is dropping a new, limited-edition designer toy watch collection that features artwork from iconic artists like Quiccs, Ron English and Simone Legno of Tokidoki. Continue reading

4/29/21 O&A NYC WITH WaleStylez FASHION: WACKO MARIA x Jean – Michel Basiquat

WACKO MARIA‘s love of pop culture and art inspired a bevy of Spring/Summer 2021 joint effort, including another collaboration with the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.WACKO MARIA translates Jean-Michel Basquiat’s vivid illustrations into summery shirts.All of the Basquiat shirts will retail $333 – $353 when they launch May 1st on WACKO MARIA’s website.

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11/20/20 O&A NYC WITH WaleStylez ART MEETS FASHION: Takashi Murakami x PORTER Bags 85TH Anniversary

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr

Takashi Murakami brings floral motif to PORTER Bags.Marking the Japanese label’s 85th anniversary.Takashi Murakami has now reunited with PORTER for a new collection of bags.  Continue reading