A lecture by African American sculptor John Solomon Sandridge is planned for Tuesday, February 12 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Alabama Center for the Arts located at 133 2nd Avenue in Decatur. A reception for Sandridge will be held prior to his lecture at 6:00 p.m. in the Center’s main gallery.
Sandridge’s bronze sculptures of African American cowboy and western-themed subjects are a large part of the University’s recently obtained Wideman Collection. Sandridge’s work with other bronzes by Marshall Mitchell and reproductions of works by Frederic Remington are on display now through February 25 in the main Gallery of the Alabama Center for the Arts. Gallery hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. After the initial showing, the University plans to place the sculptures into its permanent collection, as well as making them available for exhibition at other venues.
A lecture by African American artist Debra Raffe will be held on Thursday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel on the second floor of Founders Hall.
Although Riffe is a Mississippi native, Birmingham, Alabama has been called home since 1996.
Riffe rediscovered her love of illustrating when she taught herself how to needlepoint. In 2004, Debra decided to convert her needlepoint art into designs for linoleum block relief prints. She has taught linoleum block printing, locally and regionally, and she has received the honor of many juror awards.
Riffe’s latest exhibition focuses on and celebrates the 50 year anniversary of the civil rights movement. Her collection titled “Holding the Line” consists of portraits of the leading activists of the movement.
“My linoleum block relief prints reflect my love for the south and all things southern,” states Riffe. “The majority of my compositions depict singular, figurative images of African Americans placed in rural settings of the American South. Individuals are represented at work or at play performing everyday tasks in timeless, solitary, reflective moments; tasks which represent concepts of social status and identity.”
Currently on display in the University’s gallery in the Sandridge Student Center are posters from the Library of Congress’ Carl Van Vechten Photographs Collection. The collection consists of reproductions of ten portraits taken by American photographer Carl Van Vechten between 1932 and 1964. The portraits on display consist of portrait photographs of artists and celebrities synonymous with the Harlem Renaissance.
The gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located on the upper floor of the Sandridge Student Center.
For more information about these or any events at Athens State University please call 256-233-8296.
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