Now that we are in the middle of the fall social season, events are happening everywhere. Take the Greater New York Chapter of the Links, for example. The ladies, along with Anita Farrington, the dean of student affairs at New York University’s (NYU) Poly School of Engineering, were out in full force to host a cocktail reception and art preview acknowledging the Faculty Resource Network at NYU that has so magnaminously presented “Rising Up: Hale Woodruff’s Murals at Talladega College.” The exhibit, featuring artist Woodruff, is currently on loan from Alabama’s Talladega College, and it’s on display at the NYU campus.
Before I tell you how fun the party was, let me tell you how exciting the exhibit is. Woodruff was a historical muralist who vividly captured historical events indigenous to the African-American culture. The bold strokes of his artist brush, rich colors of his palate and his fanciful imagination transformed the pages of history books and placed them onto the canvas, perhaps portraying what really happened without the taint or slant of perspective that sometimes comes with written history. Most notably among Woodruff’s works is the Amistad collection.
The story of the Amistad is as fascinating as it is horrific. The Amistad was a boat, made in Spain and owned by a Spaniard living in Havana, Cuba. As the legend tells, a group of captives, who were originally kidnapped from Sierra Leone, were bought to Havana, where they were to be sold off into slavery. While being transported from Havana to Puerto Príncipe, Haiti, the captives overpowered their captors, killing the captain. Once in control, their goal was to return to Africa. Their only guide back to Africa was the eastern star, which shone only in the night sky. As it turned out, they traveled east by night, but without the stars to guide them by day, they ended up heading north, eventually landing on the eastern tip of Long Island.
Upon reaching land, they were immediately brought before the court, which transported them for trial in New Haven, Conn., where they faced charges of mutiny on the high seas. The courtroom was packed throughout the lengthy and intense trial.
At the center of the trial was Joseph Cinque, leader of the revolt aboard the Amistad. Woodruff, in his Amistad series, brings the courtroom to life. The viewer becomes transported upon gazing at the mural, feeling the rampant range of emotions as Woodruff depicted them to be at the trial; it’s as if the viewer is there amongst the crowd, cheering for justice.
Eventually, all of the captives were freed, as this was the time in American history when the international transport of humans for the purpose of slavery was finally outlawed. The captives were all declared free, and in 1842, they returned to Africa.
Like the saying goes, ain’t no party like a Greater New York Chapter of the Links party, as they know how to do it right. Offered as hors d’oeuvres were a variety of chicken satay from plain to curry and jerk. This was complemented with succulent fried shrimp, a tasty fruit platter and a selection of breads and cheese to round off the plate. Of course, there were a selection of wines, but perhaps the most thirst-quenching beverage was the limeade. All of our friends were there, and those who weren’t were missed. The program was extremely interesting, which was a welcome change from the usual fare.
The very next evening, there was yet another elegant affair. This one was a dress-up affair, and the venue was the Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was the Harlem School of the Arts’ 2013 gala. Honored were actors Laurence Fishbourne and Gina Torres, Janice Savin Williams, Christopher J. Williams and Arturo O’Farrill.
It was quite a week for Afro-Latin jazz artist O’Farrill, who performed in “Pueblo Harlem, Familia, Comunidad y los Artes” at the Harlem School of the Arts’ (HSA) Herb Alpert Center, where he is an artist-in-residence, a few days earlier in celebration of Hispanic Heritage.
While New York offers a bevy of places to host a gala affair, this venue happens to be one of my favorites for any occasion, as the view overlooking the southwest corner of Central Park, Columbus Circle and the cross street of 57th Street, is spectacular. The room for hosting the cocktail reception is spacious, allowing for guests to mix and mingle amongst the several tasting stations that were filled with delectables, along with a delicious selection of appetizers.
Quite eye-catching were two HSA art students who were busy at the canvas, creating a jazz masterpiece right before the guests’ eyes. One of the artists, 15-year-old Maya Lee, proclaimed she had been at HSA for the past 10 years. Beginning with dance classes and following with piano (which she still takes), Lee finally selected art as her primary medium of choice. When she decided to apply for LaGuardia Performing Arts High School, HSA was very instrumental in helping her create her portfolio. I could actually feel her excitement as she expressed the overwhelming feeling of joy she felt upon receiving her acceptance letter.
HSA has become a cornerstone in cultural and arts education for the children of the community. If you are ever there on a Saturday morning, the high level of energy is infectious; to see the children so actively engaged in the variety of arts programs the school has to offer is heartwarming. Once run by the late opera diva Dorothy Maynard, the school’s now President and CEO Yvette Campbell competently and graciously ruling at the helm.
When asked how she managed to run the organization when people remember all too well that it wasn’t that long ago that the HAS was on the brink of closing, she replied, “I push hard, demand a lot and don’t take no for an answer.” And what prepared her for the position? “Dance,” she replied.
Campbell, a former dancer with Alvin Ailey and math major, has all of the right moves, and she moves so well.
Acknowledgements throughout the evening were made to the Ford Foundation, Morgan Stanley Urban Markets Group, Goldfarb Properties, Nielson, Chahill Gordon & Reindel LLP and, of course, the Herb Alpert Foundation, whose generosity and commitment to the arts helped keep the institution alive. In other words, Alpert put his money where his mouth and his heart were.
The program was hosted by “NBC News” anchor and host of “The Debrief” David Ushery with the help of HSA’s performing artists and precocious youngsters, who have talent beaming out of them from every pore. Among the many in attendance was NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin, Melvin Van Peebles, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker and Rona Sebastian.
The accolades were profuse, underscoring the passion and vision that HSA displays so unabashedly. As someone in the audience was overheard saying, “HSA is a rare breed that possesses all the excellence and determination to succeed!” So true.
Until next week … kisses