Decadence of Another Kind Opening Night and Artist’s Talk
Read this week’s Pigment International Newsletter here.
The opening of “Decadence of Another Kind,” at the Bridgeport Art Center was a triumph despite the bitter cold Chicago weather on Friday. The exhibition mounted by Atlanta based September Gray Fine Art and presented in partnership with Pigment International features the work of 13 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, many of them Atlanta based. In attendance at the opening were artists Kevin Cole, Eleanor Neal, Kevin Okeith, Preston Sampson, Shirley Woodson, Michael Scoffield and Jamele Wright Sr.
The six artists also participated in a spirited Artist Talk on Saturday moderated by September Gray and Patricia Andrews-Keenan. Much of the talk centered on the intricacies and nuances of abstract art and the importance of mentoring in the arts. According to Gray what sets these artists apart is the distinct voice derived from the soil and ancestors of the South, offering a nuanced perspective on honoring the past, confronting the present, and preparing for the future.
According to Jeff DeLong, director and marketing for the center, it was a record January Third Friday opening for Bridgeport. The exhibit, curated by Gray and Marci Ruben continues in the 4th Floor Gallery at Bridgeport through March 1st.
PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH LAKESHORE JACK & JILL
Pigment International brought an art vibe to the Jack & Jill Lake Shore Chapter Founder’s Day celebration on January 20th at Taste 222. The group brought work by artists Paul Branton, D. Lammie Hanson and Candace Hunter to the group’s Harlem Night’s themed event. Event Chair Jennifer Martin invited the group to participate. On January 27th Pigment founder Patricia Andrews-Keenan will speak to a group of Jack & Jill young people about Black art and the importance of supporting Black artists at Navy Pier. The backdrop will be Perspective An Exhibition of Fine Art Presented by Diasporal Rhythms and Navy Pier. The exhibit speaks to the importance of collecting and preserving Black art and offers a perfect backdrop for discourse with the students. The conversation will begin at 1 p.m.
VALERIE A. COOPER ASSUMES NATIONAL ROLE FOR THE SOCIETY, INCORPORATED
H-DAP Founder to serve as National Archivist and Chair of the Archives Committee
Valerie A. Cooper has been appointed National Archivist and Chair of the Archives Committee for The Society, Incorporated. The appointment was announced during the National Executive Board Meeting in December 2023 by National President Kelly Whiting, Esq. The Society is a national organization of women, incorporated in 1983, and dedicated to enhancing, exposing, and promoting youth within the fields of literary, visual and performing arts, while serving as a beacon of friendship, service and support for professionals and young artists alike.
