Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield (September 8, 1930 – January 9, 2005), was an arts administrator who helped found several performing arts institutions in the United States.
Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield, also known as Motojicho, was born on September 8, 1930, in Washington, D.C., the only child of Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield and Lugene Ellen Green.[1][2] While a student at Dunbar High School, he played football and became interested in painting.[1]
After high school, he served in the Air Force until 1952.[1]
Whitfield studied theatre at Howard University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. After graduation, he enrolled in the master's degree program at the UCLA Film School, becoming one of the first African Americans to study there.[2][1]
He was married four times, divorced three times: his 1950 marriage to Barbara Ellen Cobbs ended in divorce; his 1960 marriage to Barbara Ann Grant ended in divorce; his 1974 marriage to actress Lynn Whitfield ended in divorce in 1978; and he was married to Loretta Collins from 1993 until his death in 2005.[1] He had three children.[1]
Careeredit
In 1963, Whitfield co-founded with actor Frank Silvera the American Theatre of Being in Los Angeles. While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards, Whitman Mayo and Isabel Sanford.[1] Also in 1963, Whitfield designed the sets, lights and costumes for Silvera's production of the James Baldwin play The Amen Corner, becoming the first African-American production designer to work on Broadway.[2] The following year, Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA).[3] The goal of PASLA was to help train inner-city youth in the performing arts.[2][1]
He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and was enlisted by Robert Hooks, of the D.C. Black Repertory Company, to be its Artistic Director.[2][1]
In 1971, Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In this role, he had perhaps his greatest influence, because this program provided funds for many African-American artists and arts organizations.[2][1]
Association with L.A. Rebellion filmmakersedit
Although his tenure at UCLA Film School pre-dates the period generally associated with the L.A. Rebellion, Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement. Larry Clark taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film As Above, So Below (1973) through the organization. Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima's film Ashes and Embers.
^ abcdefghijklmnopShinhoster Lamb, Yvonne (2005-01-23). "Arts Administrator, Playwright Vantile Whitfield Dies". Washington Post. Washington, DC. Vantile Whitfield, known as "Motojicho," an influential playwright, director of stage and screen and founding director of the Expansion Arts program at the National Endowment of the Arts, died Jan. 9 at the Washington Home of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 74 and was considered a dean of black theater.
^ abcdefghijkWhitfield, Lance. "Vantile E. Whitfield". LanceWhitfield.com. Retrieved 2011-11-13. While Vantile is very well known for his own artistic work, perhaps his most significant contributions have resulted from his work as an arts administrator — through which he made it possible for many African-American artists and arts' organizations to receive funding to support their works.
^Blaine, John; Baker, Decia, eds. (1973). "Neighborhood Arts Centers". Community Arts of Los Angeles (Report). Los Angeles Community Art Alliance. p. 32. hdl:10139/2728. OCLC 912321031.
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University: Vantile E. Whitfield papers, circa 1953-2005
May 04, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Vantile Whitfield news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield September 8 1930 January 9 2005 was an arts administrator who helped found several performing arts institutions in the United States Vantile WhitfieldBorn 1930 09 08 September 8 1930Washington D C USDiedJanuary 9 2005 2005 01 09 aged 74 Washington D C Other namesMotojichoAlma materHoward UniversityUCLAOccupation s Arts administrator director playwright educator actor and production designerSpousesBarbara Ellen Cobbs m 1950 div 19 Barbara Ann Grant m 1960 div 19 Lynn Whitfield m 1974 div 1978 wbr Loretta Collins m 1993 wbr Children3AwardsNAACP Image Award Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award Contents 1 Background 2 Career 3 Association with L A Rebellion filmmakers 4 Death 5 Awards and recognition 6 References 7 External linksBackground editVantile Emmanuel Whitfield also known as Motojicho was born on September 8 1930 in Washington D C the only child of Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield and Lugene Ellen Green 1 2 While a student at Dunbar High School he played football and became interested in painting 1 After high school he served in the Air Force until 1952 1 Whitfield studied theatre at Howard University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957 After graduation he enrolled in the master s degree program at the UCLA Film School becoming one of the first African Americans to study there 2 1 He was married four times divorced three times his 1950 marriage to Barbara Ellen Cobbs ended in divorce his 1960 marriage to Barbara Ann Grant ended in divorce his 1974 marriage to actress Lynn Whitfield ended in divorce in 1978 and he was married to Loretta Collins from 1993 until his death in 2005 1 He had three children 1 Career editIn 1963 Whitfield co founded with actor Frank Silvera the American Theatre of Being in Los Angeles While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards Whitman Mayo and Isabel Sanford 1 Also in 1963 Whitfield designed the sets lights and costumes for Silvera s production of the James Baldwin play The Amen Corner becoming the first African American production designer to work on Broadway 2 The following year Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles PASLA 3 The goal of PASLA was to help train inner city youth in the performing arts 2 1 He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and was enlisted by Robert Hooks of the D C Black Repertory Company to be its Artistic Director 2 1 In 1971 Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts NEA In this role he had perhaps his greatest influence because this program provided funds for many African American artists and arts organizations 2 1 Association with L A Rebellion filmmakers editAlthough his tenure at UCLA Film School pre dates the period generally associated with the L A Rebellion Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement Larry Clark taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film As Above So Below 1973 through the organization Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima s film Ashes and Embers Death editWhitfield died from complications of Alzheimer s disease on January 9 2005 1 Awards and recognition edit1969 NAACP Image Award 2 1 1970 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award 2 1 1992 ETA Creative Arts Foundation Citation 2 1 Jeff Citation for Among All This You Stand Like a Fine Brownstone 2 1 1996 AUDELCO Pioneer Award 2 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Shinhoster Lamb Yvonne 2005 01 23 Arts Administrator Playwright Vantile Whitfield Dies Washington Post Washington DC Vantile Whitfield known as Motojicho an influential playwright director of stage and screen and founding director of the Expansion Arts program at the National Endowment of the Arts died Jan 9 at the Washington Home of complications from Alzheimer s disease He was 74 and was considered a dean of black theater a b c d e f g h i j k Whitfield Lance Vantile E Whitfield LanceWhitfield com Retrieved 2011 11 13 While Vantile is very well known for his own artistic work perhaps his most significant contributions have resulted from his work as an arts administrator through which he made it possible for many African American artists and arts organizations to receive funding to support their works Blaine John Baker Decia eds 1973 Neighborhood Arts Centers Community Arts of Los Angeles Report Los Angeles Community Art Alliance p 32 hdl 10139 2728 OCLC 912321031 External links editVantile Whitfield at IMDb nbsp Stuart A Rose Manuscript Archives and Rare Book Library Emory University Vantile E Whitfield papers circa 1953 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vantile Whitfield amp oldid 1218953916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
