Spiral was a collective of African-American artists initially formed by Romare Bearden, Charles Alston, Norman Lewis, and Hale Woodruff on July 5, 1963. It has since become the name of an exhibition, Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective.[1]
Active from the summer of 1963 through 1965, the group of artists met weekly to discuss the role of African-American artists in politics and the civil rights movement, as well as in the larger art world,[1] and organized one group exhibition. The group also discussed topics such as the African American experience and the African American image in art.[2]
The group was initiated after artists Romare Bearden and Hale Woodruff invited other artists to discussions in Bearden's loft. Initially the group was concerned with logistical issues, such as obtaining buses to travel to the March on Washington in the summer of 1963. Soon afterward, their efforts turned toward aesthetic concerns, including what author Ralph Ellison called a "new visual order."[3] The members of the group were at varying stages in their careers when they first started meeting. While they did agree that their place, as artists, in the civil rights movement was important, they had differing views on what that place would be. The artists in the group were moved to come together and discuss their own engagement in the struggle for civil rights, even though each found engagement in a different way. The collective allowed for a shared response to the courage that defined the struggle for civil rights.[4]
In the years leading up to the formation of Spiral, most of the artists were doing figurative work. Several started to experiment with abstraction as they grew as artists and began working more closely together. Bearden expressed the want of collaborating on a collage. But because the group used different techniques and mediums in their works, they decided that there would be other ways to impact the movement.[1] Although the group was active for only a short time, Spiral proved to be important as an historical initiative, and was one of the first artist groups to call for the cultural community's involvement in social change.[1]
The group's only exhibition was May 14 through June 5, 1965, titled First Group Showing: Works in Black and White. The exhibition was in part a response to the trend of major art institutions to overlook the work of African-American artists. Bearden had suggested the exhibition's black-and-white theme because it comprised both socio-political and formal concerns.
The Spiral group was relatively ignored in much traditional art history since its demise.[5] But interest in the group was rekindled by a group exhibition of the collective in Birmingham and New York in 2010-2011, and the associated catalogs. The exhibition looks at the way the Spiral collective came into its own during a period of American history full of unrest, and the varied visual responses of African-American artists.[4]
Woodruff suggested the name "spiral" in reference to the Archimedean spiral that "moves outward embracing all directions, yet continually upward".[1] The name also represented the diversity of styles and interests represented by the work of the members as they "sought to move toward common goals as individual artists and as African-American people".[1]
Exhibitionsedit
Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective was on view at the Birmingham Museum of Art from December 5, 2010 through April 17, 2011. It was organized by Emily G. Hanna and Amalia Amaki.[4] The exhibition was on view at the Studio Museum in Harlem, July 14 through October 23, 2011. Spiral: American Masters was on view at Evolve the Gallery (accompanied by a full catalog) from April 12 through May 24, 2014.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefSchriber, Abbe; Haynes, Lauren (2011). Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective. New York: Cosmos Communications.
^ARTnews, The Editors of (2015-12-12). "'Why Spiral?': Norman Lewis, Romare Bearden, and Others on the 'Contradictions Facing Them in Modern America,' in 1966". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
The Sacrament Bee reviews Spiral: American Masters
April 11, 2024
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Spiral was a collective of African American artists initially formed by Romare Bearden Charles Alston Norman Lewis and Hale Woodruff on July 5 1963 It has since become the name of an exhibition Spiral Perspectives on an African American Art Collective 1 A few of the paintings on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham Alabama Contents 1 History 2 Artists 3 Name 4 Exhibitions 5 References 6 External links 6 1 ReviewsHistory editActive from the summer of 1963 through 1965 the group of artists met weekly to discuss the role of African American artists in politics and the civil rights movement as well as in the larger art world 1 and organized one group exhibition The group also discussed topics such as the African American experience and the African American image in art 2 The group was initiated after artists Romare Bearden and Hale Woodruff invited other artists to discussions in Bearden s loft Initially the group was concerned with logistical issues such as obtaining buses to travel to the March on Washington in the summer of 1963 Soon afterward their efforts turned toward aesthetic concerns including what author Ralph Ellison called a new visual order 3 The members of the group were at varying stages in their careers when they first started meeting While they did agree that their place as artists in the civil rights movement was important they had differing views on what that place would be The artists in the group were moved to come together and discuss their own engagement in the struggle for civil rights even though each found engagement in a different way The collective allowed for a shared response to the courage that defined the struggle for civil rights 4 In the years leading up to the formation of Spiral most of the artists were doing figurative work Several started to experiment with abstraction as they grew as artists and began working more closely together Bearden expressed the want of collaborating on a collage But because the group used different techniques and mediums in their works they decided that there would be other ways to impact the movement 1 Although the group was active for only a short time Spiral proved to be important as an historical initiative and was one of the first artist groups to call for the cultural community s involvement in social change 1 The group s only exhibition was May 14 through June 5 1965 titled First Group Showing Works in Black and White The exhibition was in part a response to the trend of major art institutions to overlook the work of African American artists Bearden had suggested the exhibition s black and white theme because it comprised both socio political and formal concerns The Spiral group was relatively ignored in much traditional art history since its demise 5 But interest in the group was rekindled by a group exhibition of the collective in Birmingham and New York in 2010 2011 and the associated catalogs The exhibition looks at the way the Spiral collective came into its own during a period of American history full of unrest and the varied visual responses of African American artists 4 nbsp A few more of the works on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art Artists editCharles Alston painter sculptor illustrator and teacher Emma Amos painter mixed media Romare Bearden collages watercolors oils and prints Ernest Crichlow painter illustrator Calvin Douglass painter Perry Ferguson painter Reginald Gammon oil paints watercolors drawings and prints Felrath Hines abstract expressionism Alvin Hollingsworth comics paints Norman Lewis painter William Majors drawing painting paper collages 3D canvases Richard Mayhew painter Earl Miller painting pencil drawings Merton Simpson abstract paintings Hale Woodruff murals paintings prints James Yeargans painterName editWoodruff suggested the name spiral in reference to the Archimedean spiral that moves outward embracing all directions yet continually upward 1 The name also represented the diversity of styles and interests represented by the work of the members as they sought to move toward common goals as individual artists and as African American people 1 Exhibitions editSpiral Perspectives on an African American Art Collective was on view at the Birmingham Museum of Art from December 5 2010 through April 17 2011 It was organized by Emily G Hanna and Amalia Amaki 4 The exhibition was on view at the Studio Museum in Harlem July 14 through October 23 2011 Spiral American Masters was on view at Evolve the Gallery accompanied by a full catalog from April 12 through May 24 2014 6 References edit a b c d e f Schriber Abbe Haynes Lauren 2011 Spiral Perspectives on an African American Art Collective New York Cosmos Communications ARTnews The Editors of 2015 12 12 Why Spiral Norman Lewis Romare Bearden and Others on the Contradictions Facing Them in Modern America in 1966 ARTnews com Retrieved 2023 05 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a first has generic name help National Gallery of Art The Art of Romare Bearden A Resource for Teachers 2003 page 34 http www nga gov education classroom pdf bearden tchpk pdf a b c Birmingham Museum of Art 2010 Spiral Perspectives on an African American Art Collective Schwendener Martha July 27 2011 Spiral and the 60s Village Voice p 28 Archived from the original on September 19 2011 Art review At Evolve the Gallery civil rights inspired works by African Americans sacbee Retrieved 2016 01 19 External links editPerspective on an African American Art Collective at the Birmingham Museum of Art Studio Museum Harlem Art Topics Romare Bearden and SPIRAL 2010 Reviews edit The Village Voice reviews the exhibition The Sacrament Bee reviews Spiral American Masters Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spiral arts alliance amp oldid 1211840908, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
