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Epilogue

I have worked in museums for over twenty-five years and worked at the Hampton University Museum for seventeen years. Living with the works of Albert Smith, Hale Woodruff, Palmer Hayden, Joshua Johnson, Henry O. Tanner, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, Augusta Savage, Charles White, the murals of John T. Biggers, Elizabeth Catlett’s prints and sculptures, Samella Lewis, James Phillips and the list goes on and on has been an amazing journey that continues. I have walked by the works on display many times and even talked to some of them. I have talked to groups about them when giving tours and planned programs around them and yet each time I see them it is still a wonderful and new experience almost like looking at them for the first time. When researching the artists for a new label or working in art storage to pull a piece that another institution may want to borrow it is like making new friends or visiting your favorite Aunt.

African American art is so diverse and energizing as seen during the opening of New Power Generation 2008: A National Juried Exhibition that opened in February where we showcased the work of emerging and working artists. Hampton as well as other repositories and private collectors of art created by artists of African descent are important to the voice of the artist.

Vanessa D. Thaxton-Ward

Curator of Collections

Hampton University Museum

An African American Indian contribution to the Fine Arts through the Humanities

Honorable Otto Neals

Text by Otto Neals

Otto Neals, painter, sculptor, and printmaker was born December 11, 1930 in Lake City, South Carolina.

My talent as an artist, I believe comes directly from my ancestors. I am merely a receiver, an instrument, for receiving some of those energies that permeate our entire universe, an I give thanks for having been chosen to absorb those artistic forces. I try to paint and sculpt African people, working always to portray those characteristics that are true of their beauty, their power, and their love. We are but shadows of those who have gone before us and before I enter the world of the spirits. I hope by example, to touch a positive nerve in our youth.

Rasta Woman by Otto Neals

The Creator, I believe, has allowed us, as artists to be a bit more perceptive than others. We are able to peer inside a block of stone and extract an image. or a log may reveal a form that others may not see.

When I stood at the base of the great temple of Ramses at Abu Simbel. it felt as though I was there before, as though I had a hand in its construction. Perhaps it is true. Perhaps some of the energy that had moved the hand of some great ancient African carver has this day moved mine. I would like to think so.

At a much younger age, I heard voices, which I now believe were my ancestors speaking to me. Although I cannot remember the content of the messages. I am convinced that they have guided my life to this day.

BARRY MASON

Text by Barry Mason

When I am engaged in the creation of my works,I feel a strong presence of the ancestorsdirecting my path in every shape, stroke, form, color, word.Almost like I was painting in a tranceor that of an out of body experience.

Sketchbook - Ancestral Calling

Ancestral Calling by Barry Mason

I feel that it is fair to say, when artists arein the midst of their creative transformations,some things can and cannot be explained.Not because the artist don’t know or ignorance.It’s because in our own lives, we are constantl dealing with the abstract , not everything about us is all that clear.Thus art represents the real and the abstracts of life,

the clear and not so clear.

just know what I know when I know itand, then, sometimes, I don’t.But, I do wish to and as an artist I am always in a journey to know.

Hurricane 2 Sudan by Barry Mason

And when I reach back to find some answer(s) from my ancestors,

it all comes together. I let go and let the process flow

freely -- without question, explanation or second thoughts.

Dr. MOHAMED BUWE OSMAN

Text by Abdi-Noor Haji Mohamed

Welcome to the Online Art Exibitions> Dr. Mohamed Buwe Osman is a living talent and a legend. He is a medical doctor, a painter and a poet whose work touches the inner feelings of the soul. Dr. Osman´s skills as a painter have to a large extent contributed to the understanding the establishing a link between arts and medicine which is a rare possibility to have a medical doctor with such great artistic potentiality. He writes and paints about many geners including the evolutionary stages a man undergoes from conception to birth and death. I have visited his website and found his work very impressive and glaringly outstanding which do not only pass a message across but has a healing power from which humans can benefit from. I dedicate this poem to Dr. Osman for his excellent creative work in the field of Arts and Medicine.

You are a doctor

You supply love

You relieve pain

You inject hope

You are an artist

You soothe the soul

You touch the heart

Your hands are gifted

Hugeaux

Text by Honorable Dr. Margaret Burroughs

Excerpts from poem

"BLACK / B L A C K" .

Think BLACK / Love BLACK / Believe in BLACK/

Unite with BLACK Brothers

LOVE BLACK.

Sketchbook - ARTE MECCO "The Well"

Organize BLACK / Build for BLACK / Clean up BLACK

Pray BLACK / Worship Black

LOVE BLACK

ARTE MECCO "The Well" by HUGEAUX

Conceptual Digital Photography

BLACK Hands / Rejoice BLACK / Laugh BLACK

Be a proud BLACK Person

Love you BLACK Self