KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES, April 19, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Shelly Legler is a Kansas City-based mother and artist who began working as a model before transitioning to the other side of the lens. Shelly not only runs her own … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News
NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat: Uniting African-American County Officials for Empowerment and Advocacy
MIAMI, April 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) proudly announces the NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat, scheduled to convene from April 25-27, 2024. In the heart of downtown Miami, the InterContinental Miami will serve as the backdrop for this transformative gathering. This event stands as a beacon of empowerment, providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic advocacy for African-American elected and appointed county officials.
NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat: Uniting African-American County Officials for Empowerment and Advocacy
The Leadership Summit & Retreat promises a dynamic agenda, featuring insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and moments of relaxation. Attendees will engage with industry leaders, executives, and fellow county officials from across the United States, fostering connections and exchanging ideas to drive positive change in their communities.
“We are thrilled to host the NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat in Miami,” expressed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kionne McGhee, President of NABCO. “This event serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication to empowering Black county officials and amplifying their voices in the decision-making process. By convening in Miami, we not only foster a supportive environment for collaboration and growth but also symbolize our collective resolve to drive meaningful change and representation within our communities. Together, we are forging a path towards a future where every voice is heard, every perspective valued, and every opportunity realized.”
The summit features captivating sessions and events, including an opening night rooftop party, insightful panel discussions, networking mixers, and guest speaker presentations. Notable speakers include US Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Journalist Roland Martin.
The summit’s agenda boasts an array of captivating sessions and events:
April 25:
Opening Night – Welcome to Miami Rooftop Party
April 26:
NABCO 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat: Politics vs Policy Panel
Cocktails & Conversation with District Attorney Fani Willis
April 27:
Leadership Summit & Retreat Sessions
Saturday Night Live – Live Band + Farewell Party
NABCO’s commitment to advocacy on behalf of African-American elected and appointed county officials remains steadfast. Since its establishment in 1975, NABCO has served as a vital forum for networking, information sharing, and issue advocacy, championing the diverse populations in America’s counties, boroughs, and parishes.
Join us for an event that promises to inspire, empower, and ignite change. For more information and registration, visit Eventbrite.
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
Brandace Dean
About NABCO:
The National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) is a leading advocacy organization representing African-American elected and appointed county officials across the United States. Since its inception, NABCO has been dedicated to amplifying the voices of its members and advocating for equitable policies that serve underserved populations.
For more information about NABCO, visit NABCO’s Website.
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Maternal Health
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Board of Trustees Committees meet, discuss recent events
… how it affected the African American population. He said these … always educated on how racism and racial injustices affect … incoming students and faculty on racism and discrimination education. “ … not in relationship to racism by being discriminated against … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News
The advancement of women’s rights struggles against racism and inequality
… have widened.” This is because racism, sexism and other forms of … , according to the UNFPA, an African-American woman is more likely to … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News
Lexington unveils historical markers honoring African American history
LEXINGTON, Va. (WDBJ) – In a poignant ceremony, the City of Lexington honored its rich African American history Thursday with the unveiling of two historical markers.
These markers serve as powerful reminders of the past, shedding light on previously unrecognized and often overlooked aspects of the town’s heritage.
“Today we’re celebrating part of Lexington; it’s history that has been unrecognized,” said Vice Mayor Marylin Alexander.
Alexander has made it her mission to make sure that history is told – with historical markers.
“We needed to give more respect to the history of the Black community and make sure it’s recognized and celebrated,” explained Alexander.
The first marker pays tribute to Lexington’s connection to the Green Book, a vital resource for Black travelers during the era of segregation. Highlighting four establishments listed in the Green Book, the marker underscores the resilience and entrepreneurship of the local Black community. Historian Eric Wilson says it was a safety guide during their travels.
“So, you can really see network of local businesses, entrepreneurs, as well as barbers, restaurants, all the cleaners, other kinds of support, laundry, for travelers and also for residents,” said Wilson.
The second historical marker delves into a darker chapter of Lexington’s past – the displacement of African American burial grounds.
“I’m old enough to remember when they dug up the cemetery, the old cemetery, and they built the houses on Lewis Street,” said Lexington native Bill Hoffman. “And they found bones there.”
Wilson says slaves and free people of color were buried at the corner of Washington and Lewis as early as the 1840s. The city acquired the property and closed it in 1880.
But the Black community didn’t give up – and made that known to the city council in1989.
“They’ve clearly been maintaining it, tending to the graves with their own dime, the city wants to sell that property now not just close it,” said Wilson.
In 1946, officials sold the land. As houses were built – remains and gravestones were uncovered. Details of those left behind remain unclear.
“And while it hasn’t yet been possible to find out, you know, a sense of who would have been there or how much, there is definitely this sense that there are still bones and remains under that ground,” added Wilson.
Yet, this new acknowledgment of the cemetery’s history brings a sense of healing to those affected by its displacement.
“When I was here, there wasn’t much of an embrace of African American history here,” said Hoffman. “But seems to be now,”
“So we have only thing that we can do now is to continue moving forward and make great things happen,” said Alexander.
Residents expressed gratitude for the growing embrace of African American history in Lexington, noting the importance of preserving and honoring these stories for future generations. Moving forward, town officials and historical leaders pledge to continue their efforts to safeguard and promote this vital aspect of Lexington’s heritage.
Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
Magic Castle Trial: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Magician Charged With Revealing Secrets
On the East Coast, all eyes are on Donald Trump and his criminal trial over alleged hush-money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels and others.
And on the West Coast, another trial is happening. Yet it, too, involves a beautiful, blond woman and a charismatic showman with a penchant for pulling the wool over people’s eyes.
But this trial is unfolding within the insular walls of the Magic Castle — the legendary private club for magicians set inside a foreboding Victorian mansion, formerly a private residence, perched upon a Hollywood hilltop and established in 1963.
The defendant is Murray the Magician, aka Murray Sawchuck, a veteran stage illusionist and comedian who for years has held a residency at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. (The Tropicana shuttered on April 2 and is expected to be demolished later this year — but Murray will be touring the world with his act until he installs himself at a new home on the Strip.)
An affable 50-year-old with a platinum blond pom-pom for a hairdo and a thick Canadian accent — he hails from Burnaby, British Columbia — Sawchuck offers no outward clues that he could ever stand accused of being a dark arts felon.
But Murray also has a P.T. Barnum-esque knack for publicity.
He was quick to notice the power of reality TV and found ways to harness it — first on an episode of Blind Date where he impressed his date with tricks; then as the resident magic historian on Pawn Stars and later advancing to the semi-finals on America’s Got Talent in 2010.
He adapted swiftly amid the rise of YouTube and social media, churning out hundreds of sticky videos in which he pranked cops and security guards with magic, or gifted a homeless person with $1 that turned into $100.
“We did billions of views on that,” says Sawchuck, who amassed an audience of 1.8 million subscribers on the platform.
The troubles began in late January, when he and his showgirl wife Dani cooked up a new video, inspired by the bickering of Lucy and Desi Arnaz, in which he’d perform a series of tricks for the camera — mostly basic illusions one could purchase off of Amazon. She, playing the role of unimpressed wife, reveals how they’re done.
A bouquet of flowers, for example, is shown to be sucked into the base of the trick table on which it stands. A sword-swallowing act is rendered all the less impressive when she flicks the blade — and it coils up like a measuring tape. The whole thing took 10 minutes to make. Then they posted it to YouTube.
“About five hours later, my video producer calls me and goes, ‘It’s up to 2 million views. I’m like, you’ve got to be kidding me,’” he says. “We were shocked.” The videos went on to rack up 65 million views — by far the most popular videos ever posted to his channel.
The comments started piling up, too — 20,000 in all. Most were positive. But a minority, from a faction of outraged magicians from around the world, were decidedly not. They lambasted Sawchuck for breaking the cardinal rule of magic: Never reveal the secret to a trick.
Then on March 5 came a letter, printed on The Academy of Magical Arts stationery, as if issued from the Hogwart’s Dean of Admissions Office itself:
“Dear Mr. Sawchuck,” it read. “You have been suspended pending an investigation by the Committee of Member Conduct regarding complaints that you are violating our rules by exposing magic online.”
It went on to inform him that a “meeting” regarding the matter would be held at a future date. “In the meantime,” it closed, “you are not allowed to enter the Magic Castle.”
The tribunal occurred at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. It was held around a round table inside the Castle’s Houdini Séance Room.
“Everything in there is Houdini artifacts,” Sawchuck explains. “His metamorphosis trunk. His handcuffs. His straitjacket. It’s a really cool room. You have your dinner and then somebody comes in to conduct a seance. And as it happens, the walls move, the paintings change. Things appear, things disappear. It’s a very cool experience.”
But on this night, nothing was moving except the pens of six Magic Castle board members — five men and a woman — taking studious notes as Sawchuck argued his case.
And what was his defense? Sawchuck read from a document containing 11 bullet points explaining why he did what he did. Among them:
- “Exposing MAGIC shouldn’t be ‘Black and White’ as written in the by-laws many years ago before the internet was invented. If magic is being exposed to enhance a performance making it more enjoyable and NOT vindictive or directed as mean or personal, it really should be considered accepted as a performance piece.”
- “If you are TEACHING MAGIC, you are EXPOSING MAGIC.”
- “Now more than ever there is no secrecy for magic… it also forces magicians to be more entertaining and charismatic. The day the internet was given to us common people to use, we lost the ‘code of secrecy’. We lost a lot of things, not just in magic but in life. Brick and mortar buildings, middle men in distribution. Every business either gained or suffered from the internet.”
- “Penn & Teller Reveal tricks and made a name for their first 20 years and now have helped more magicians get on TV than anyone with Fool Us. Houdini wrote a book on it, Unmasking of Robert-Houdini, along with going to LIVE shows in disguise and debunking mind readers and spiritual healers and he was the President of The Society of American Magicians from 1917–1926. Amazing Jonathan exposed Black Arts nightly in his show. All four artists are honored at the Magic Castle. Houdini even has his own Séance room which the Magic Castle makes a fortune booking out nightly for the experience.”
The hearing lasted 90 minutes in total. Sawchuck left the panel with a copy of his notes and a thumbdrive containing video of popular magicians exposing tricks — some of whose photos adorn the walls of the Magic Castle, Penn & Teller among them.
He says he noticed no dirty looks as he walked in or out of the Magic Castle.
But there was one notable interaction. He showed up an hour early and had a glass of wine at The Owl Bar, also known as the Dean Martin Bar, because it used to be part of the set on The Dean Martin Show. “It was Milt Larsen’s favorite place to hang out,” he explains. “He was the one who created the Magic Castle along with Bill, his brother.”
While sipping his cabernet, a member since 1983 took a seat beside him.
“I said, ‘Hi, I’m Murray,” Sawchuck recalls. “He said, ‘I know who you are. I have to be honest with you: I’ve seen your videos online. And I think they’re hilarious. They’re really fun. I know you get a bit of heat for it, but I haven’t laughed that much in a long time.”
“I said, ‘Well, that’s what it’s about. It’s just fun,” Sawchuck says.
The Magic Castle board is currently considering the case but has not yet issued a decision.
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment
Top 5 things to do this weekend: Chain of Parks, blues and jazz festivals and more
Chain, chain, chain. Chain of art. LeMoyne’s 24th annual festival spreads out under the oaks this weekend.
The Far Out Funk and Blues Fest jams at Tucker Civic Center in honor of Tallahassee’s 200th on Friday, Blue Tavern gets jazzy and Retrofit Records brings in Beach Fossils for Record Store Day on Saturday.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
1. Get a taste of art at the Chain of Parks
From pottery to paintings, jewelry to jam, artisans will be selling their wares this weekend at LeMoyne’s 24th Annual Chain of Parks Art Festival, which gets underway at the Bloxham, Lewis and Randolph “Chain of Parks,” in Downtown Tallahassee from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. The weekend will be filled with interactive children’s art activities, street food, live entertainment, street art, folk art, and local heritage re-enactments.
This annual festival draws tens of thousands of people from the Big Bend Southeast region to see 150 artists who have traveled from all over the country to display their original fine art works. Visitors can check out the Chalk Art Oasis, where professional street artists will create 3D art on the pavement with chalk and temporary paint. Visit lemoyne.org.
Coming up:Black artists put folk and country music in spotlight at Word of South
2. Far Out Funk and Blues lights up Tucker Center
Indaba, Inc. presents the Far Out Funk and Blues Fest, a groundbreaking musical celebration in honor of Tallahassee’s 200th anniversary on Friday, April 19, at the Tucker Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St., with performances running from 6 until 11 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$60. Here’s the lineup: Keith Rodgers: Founder of Black On Black Rhyme/The Back Talk Poetry Troupe; Pharaohs of Funk: A dynamic ensemble playing jazz, funk, R&B, rock; DieDra Ruff and the Ruff Pro Band: The Alabama Blues Queen; Scottie Clinton: P-Funk royalty, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop; Nellie Tiger Travis: Renowned blues singer known for her powerful voice. Klymaxx: The iconic all-female band celebrates their 40th Anniversary; Zac Harmon: Award-winning blues artist. Loose Ends (headliner): British R&B sensation with hit records spanning the 1980s and 1990s. Visit tuckerciviccenter.com.
Restaurant:‘People’s faces light up’: Baker brings joy with Sweet Boozy Cakes in Railroad Square
3. Rusty Wright at BBC at The Legion
Masterful storyteller Rusty Wright takes the stage with his band for the last show at BBC at The Legion, 229 Lake Ella Drive, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, with a sound fusing Texas-style blues; swinging boogie and Southern guitar rock. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show. Visit bbclegion.com. The BBC at the Legion performances are coming to a close at the end of April.
4. Record Store Day at Retrofit Records
Retrofit Records, 439 W Gaines St., celebrates a big Record Store Day on Saturday, April 20. There will be celebrating with DJs, refreshments for patrons, swag, and tons of the special/limited edition Record Store Day releases/titles from noon to 9:30 p.m. Brooklyn, New York, band, Beach Fossils (Captured Tracks/Bayonet Records) will play a free, live in-store performance at 7:30 p.m.
5. Jazz Fest and more at Blue Tavern
Blue Tavern’s spring jazz festival is a Mini-Fest on April 18-19 and is being produced as a special bicentennial event. Seating is limited and advance tickets will be daily only, with a $5 advantage if you purchase early. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of show. Visit bluetaverntallahassee.com. Friday’s lineup features Clave at 5 p.m., RoboCromp at 7 p.m. and The Indefatigables at 9 p.m.
Players and lovers of Celtic music can join in for the 3rd Saturday Traditional Irish Session from 4-6 p.m. at the tavern. A doubleheader follows with Firefly Rebellion at 7 p.m. Saturday and Larry & the Reeftones at 9 p.m. Kaye Rhinehart and Domenick Yoney combine forces and harmonies to shine a little light. The late show features Larry McCraw (lately of Tao Jonz) with a special band put together just for this event, titled the Reeftones: Larry & Keith McCraw, Bluegill Bill Pollock, Scott Buchanan and Robby Turner. $10 cover. Visit bluetaverntallahassee.com.
Pride Week:Tallahassee Pride Week celebrates joy, explores LGBTQ history
Bonus event: Pride in the Plaza
Celebrate the pride and joy of the diverse Tallahassee LGBTQ+ community at Tallahassee Pride’s annual Pride in the Plaza from noon-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Kleman Plaza. Presented in partnership with Visit Tallahassee and the City of Tallahassee, this inclusive, family-friendly festival features musical performances, delicious eats and food trucks, and local and regional vendors all in the name of celebrating with Pride. Visit tallahasseepride.com.
Bonus Event: 3rd Tallahassee Earth Day Festival
Citizens for a Sustainable Future and Earth’s Garden LLC will hold the 3rd Annual Tallahassee Earth Day Festival: People vs Pollution from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at The Hole, 3030 South Adams St. The festival will feature eco-workshops, hands-on activities, and live performances, all designed to foster a deeper connection to sustainability practices and environmental justice.
Highlights include the “Decolonize = Decarbonize” panel discussion and a sustainable cooking demonstration by Smarter By Nature. This year’s festival is supported by The Foundation for Leon County Schools, The FAMU-FSU Gulf Scholars Program, Lola Hampton and Lewis Pinder Center for Agro-Ecology, and Florida Humanities. Visit tallahasseeearthdayfestival.com.
Bonus event: Due South festival
Due South, an annual festival hosted by Thomasville Center for the Arts, is an art, food and music event that weaves together show-stopping talent across performing, visual and culinary arts at the Ritz Amphitheater in Thomasville, Georgia, from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the gate. The lineup includes Tallahassee band Two Foot Level as the opener, followed by Eddie 9V and then headliner, Boy Named Banjo. Visit thomasvillearts.org.
OTHER EVENTS
Blue Tavern: Join the Earth Day Sing-Along from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. “Tally Green Sing” will feature Hot Tamale, “Pastor Kim” Buchanan, Tim Lynch, and others. Bluesday Tuesday with John “JB” Babich runs from 8-10 p.m. Babich is the keys player for Revival. $5 cover. Grant Peeples is up for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Rachel’s Reading Club plays 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. by Free Movie Night with “Radio Bikini.”
The Bark:Bambi Lamb w/ Copyright Claim, Faro, Almost at The Bark, 507 All Saints St., on Friday, April 19. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m. $10, all ages. Loudass Country Band, Pat Puckett, Brett Eugene, Durty Suns plays on Saturday, April 20, at The Bark. Doors open at 8 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m., $10, all ages.
Great Oaks Pub in Southwood: Elements Band makes a debut performance Friday, April 19, at Southwood’s Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. This group is fronted by Jennifer Parks, a New Orleans transplant. Parks honed her musical skills during a lifetime of playing in the Big Easy. Jennifer provides the vocals, and saxophone, alongside veterans Erik Luoma (guitar), Chip Mikell (bass), Don Gormly (keys and harmonica), Bill Landing (sax), and Jeff Sumerall (percussion). No cover, full restaurant and bar. Call 850-942-4653 for reservations.
House of Music: Dixon’s Violin plays at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. Tickets are $25 at eventbrite.com; $30 at the door if still available. Dixon’s life mission is to inspire people, which he has done at concerts across North America, including TED talks/performances, 10 years at Burning Man and Electric Forest, plus radio, TV, and film appearances. Blues guitarist Selwyn Birchwood is back for a show at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Tickets are $25-$35. Visit houseofmusictally.com.
J School Journals: The award-winning film platform for journalism students at Florida A&M University presents its bi-annual screening with five thought-provoking documentaries premiering at noon Saturday, April 20, in Lee Hall Auditorium, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Curated by JSchool Journals Director Kenneth Jones, the selection of documentaries represents a diverse range of untold stories, highlighting the talents and critical thinking abilities of student filmmakers. For more information about the event, visit SJGCMEDIA.com.
The Sound Bar: Soul Medicine is on tap at 8 p.m. Friday, at 1105 W Tharpe St. Tim Russell plays at 8 p.m. Saturday. $5 cover. Visit thesoundbartallahassee.com.
The Wine House: Corine Samwel and Douce Ambiance will be performing at The Wine House on Market Street from 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 19, for an evening of European art songs, standard jazz songs, and Gypsy Jazz instrumentals in a warm ambiance with good food and drinks. Cover is $10.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment
Top Texas Personalities on How They’d Like to Be Drawn
We adore parlour games. Beyond the intriguing info that might be gathered, it’s a lifesaver when dinner-party chatter turns into an extended pause or veers into politics. Here’s one we love to pull from our quiver of queries: “Who do you dream of doing your portrait?” The artist — living or dead — can work in any medium, from painting or sculpture to photography. For April Arts Month, we approached some of our favorite Texas personalities with this hypothetical. Some took the assignment to heart and sent back thorough, insightful answers. Others offered a quick and witty réponse. We adore them all.
CORNELIA GUEST, actress; animal activist; daughter of C.Z and Winston Guest; former Deb of the Decade; author of The Debutante’s Guide to Life.
“Having been painted by Andy Warhol, I think I’d like Julian Schnabel, as I adore his work. Or perhaps an Old Master … maybe Tiepolo … I would love him to paint me with all my dogs.”
HOWARD AND CINDY RACHOFSKY, among ARTnews Top 200 Collectors; residence is a Richard Meierdesigned art repository, The Rachofsky House; founders TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art.
Howard Rachofsky
“How about Nicolas Party, our 2024 TWO x TWO honoree. His haunting and mysterious figures stay in your mind long after you’ve been in their presence, and his eccentric color palette would show me in a new light.”
Cindy Rachofsky
Outdoor Dining with Bering’s
“Mine would be Gustav Klimt — similar to his painting The Kiss. Being married to Mr. Romance (dashing husband and art-world partner Howard Rachofsky), I think of us when I see that beautiful painting. The romantic subject matter, the sentimental iconography and intimate embrace … I love it all. Howard, not so much.”
BRIAN BOLKE, luxury merchant; founder of Forty Five Ten and The Conservatory; chaired Dallas Museum of Art’s Art Ball and TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art.
“For sure, Andy Warhol. I’d want a series, of course, in big bold colors, but I’d be perfectly happy with a Polaroid.”
JOHN SUGHRUE, co-creator and producer of Dallas Art Fair; founder, Brook Partners and Fashion Industry Gallery; developer, Museum Tower; president, Dallas Contemporary.
“Gabriel Rico creates sculptured works comprised of found and created objects that can read almost like a mathematics equation. Indeed, math equations can be embedded in the work. I find the work aesthetically beautiful; it inspires contemplation and self-awareness. If Rico could compose my portrait in equation form, perhaps the mystery of my life might be solved. That would get my attention.”
DONALD ROBERTSON, @drawbertson; prolific illustrator and pop artist; bon vivant; launched VivaGlam! for MAC Cosmetics; collabs with Jenna Lyons, Veronica Beard, Mark Cross, Mattel, Colette Paris.
“Rory Gevis. I believe in buying art from living artists — the dead ones don’t need the cash.”
ROBERT McCLAIN, founder of blue-chip McClain Gallery; known for his commitment to Texas greats from John Alexander to Dorothy Hood; fresh off chairing Rothko Chapel Art Auction.
“There is no art form that has informed us so much about the human condition as portraiture in its long history and influence. For my portrait, two artists come to mind, both from entirely different periods in history, but both gifted in capturing the psychological and emotional gravity of its sitter. Egon Schiele, the brilliant young Viennese artist who died at 28, created most of his works in the decade of WWI. His self-portraits capture a grotesque beauty rippling with agony and smoldering sexuality. If there is one portrait that haunts me, it’s Diego Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X. Francis Bacon declared it one of the greatest portraits that has ever been made.”
CAMERON SILVER, founder of L.A. vintage powerhouse Decades; created exhibition for MOCA; dresses top celebs for the red carpet; starred in Bravo’s The Dukes of Melrose.
“I would love to be photographed by Wolfgang Tillmans. Many years ago, I attended an opening reception at Regen Projects in Los Angeles, followed by a dinner in honor of Mr. Tillmans. The rawness of the images left an indelible impact that continues to captivate me.”
REBECCA RABINOW, director of The Menil Collection; decadeslong curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; under her Menil watch, exhibited under-recognized women artists from Chryssa to Ruth Asawa (up now at Menil Drawing Institute).
“Many years ago, as a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I helped organize an exhibition focused on Henri Matisse’s interest in textiles. A preparatory research trip included an afternoon at the artist’s foundation, which operated from Matisse’s former Paris apartment overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame cathedral. As we were sorting through a trunk of fabrics that Matisse had kept in his studio, his grandson went to the closet and pulled out a white fur coat. I immediately recognized it from various artworks. He insisted that I try it on, and wouldn’t you know, it fit perfectly! Everyone in the room agreed that if Matisse had been present, he would have insisted on drawing my portrait. I wonder what the drawing might have looked like.”
DAVID AND ANN SUTHERLAND, founders of Sutherland and Perennials brands; art collectors.
David Sutherland
“I would want Lucian Freud, an artist whose work is anything but realistic — which would scare me — but totally recognizable. A ‘soft’ Picasso, if you will.”
Ann Sutherland
“I will take Alberto Giacometti as a sculpture, as his stylized bronzes represent the Existentialist point of view. As I ponder his figures, I realize that his viewpoint would translate me as tall and thin — something I have always admired but not quite achieved.”
WILLIAM CURTIS, founding principal of classical architecture firm, Curtis & Windham Architects; founding board member, Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art; recipient of ICAA Arthur Ross Award, Palladio Awards, and multiple John Staub Awards; watercolorist.
“I would go with John Singer Sargent and request a watercolor portrait. Unlike typical oil portraiture, watercolor is a fast and loose medium that results in many happy accidents. We might all benefit from the lightness, brevity, and clarity of beholding our own image in watercolor.”
DUAL, buzzy Texas artist acclaimed for aerosol action; successfully rebounded from tagging trains to gallery walls; collabs with LeBron James Family Foundation, Pabst Brewing Company, Dickies Workwear, Sprite.
“If I had to choose a single artist, it would be ARYZ. In the street art/graffiti scene, there have been so many artists that created awesome portraits, but ARYZ is the one to me who has a unique style. His juxtaposition of subject matter along with composition creates a strong painting that also has a very mysterious feel. His selection of location for his street work is damn near perfection.”
LESTER MARKS, Art League Houston’s 2002 Texas Patron of the Year; often figures in ARTnews Top 200 Collectors and Art & Antiques 100 of America’s Top Collectors issues; recently segued from blue-chip to investigating Black artists.
“I would choose George Condo. No one including myself wants to look at a realistic portrait of my ugly mug. George could spice things up a bit!”
ANITA SMITH, interior designer; art collector; co-chaired $10 million capital campaign to restore Project Row Houses’ Eldorado Ballroom; co-chair with Leigh Smith and their respective husbands, Gerald Smith and Reggie Smith, of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Gala, April 6.
“Georgia O’Keeffe … To spend time with this amazing trailblazer female artist would be a treasured gift.
MICHELLE NUSSBAUMER, famed interior designer; owner of Ceylon et Cie; queen of the Ikat; chatelaine of a chalet in Gstaad and hacienda in San Miguel de Allende.
“It’s a toss-up, starting with John Singer Sargent. Who wouldn’t want to be immortalized by the famous 19th-century society painter? I especially love his portrait Madame X. I wouldn’t mind a portrait by Frida Kahlo. Imagine the variety of color, ethnic dress, and flower crowns. Not to mention her pet monkeys.”
LEIGH SMITH, fearless supporter of performing and visual arts; art collector; co-chair with Anita Smith, and respective husbands Reggie Smith and Gerald Smith of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Gala April 6.
“My fantasy portrait would be painted by either Francis Picabia, Will Cotton, or a funky Surrealist-type portrait by George Condo. Picabia’s portraits are moody and dramatic women with simplified features often heavily outlined. Will Cotton has painted pop icons like Katy Perry into his fantastic landscapes of candy, whipped cream, cupcakes, and cotton candy. His narratives reflect desire, indulgence, and our overblown consumer’s ‘land of plenty.’ And Cotton’s work is just pretty. Of course, George Condo would not paint me in a flattering light, but the result would be a gorgeous, strange, and iconic painting.”
GARY TINTEROW, director of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; scholar of 19th- and early-20th-century European painting and sculpture; the force behind the MFAH’s dazzling Kinder Building and Sarofim Campus.
“One of my most prized possessions is a portrait silhouette of me by Kara Walker that she gave to me. But if I were to transport myself to another era, I would sit for Nicholas Hilliard or Anthony van Dyck.”
NANCY STRAUSS HALBREICH, former board member, Dallas Museum of Art; former senior associate of Fine and Decorative Arts, Heritage Auction Galleries; dedicated philanthropist; daughter of former Dallas mayor Annette Strauss.
“I’m afraid John Singer Sargent would be too on the nose. Let’s go with Magritte. He’ll likely cover my face with a green apple or a tree … but given that I shun the spotlight and am camera-shy, that is just fine.”
CHRISTEN WILSON, two passions: art and fashion; chaired DMA’s Silver Supper and TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art; often found front row at NYC and Paris fashion shows.
“My choice would be Cindy Sherman. She wouldn’t just photograph me, she’d ‘Shermanize’ me, turning my likeness into a piece of art that screams fashion, but with a skew.”
TANNER MOUSSA, furniture designer alongside his sister, Mackenzie Moussa Lewis; co-founder MOUS.
“Magritte, who painted The Son of Man, which popped up in the iconic The Thomas Crown Affair. I’m drawn to his portrayal of the ethereal unknown — head in the clouds, piquing curiosity, blending reality with the unexpected.”
JAMES SURLS, one of the preeminent living artists from Texas working in the U.S. today; sculptor; heroic works in wood are in collections of Smithsonian American Art Museum, MoMA, Guggenheim, Whitney.
“I asked my wife, artist Charmaine Locke, who she would choose to do her portrait, and she said Georgia O’Keeffe. I asked her why, and her answer was ‘Because she did very vivid, colorful, and romantic portrayals of nature and was one of the most important, if not the most important female artists of the 20th century.’ That answer made me wonder who indeed I would choose. There is much to make me think that Vermeer may be the most important and best painter of all time … He would not only paint what represented the outside of me, but also what was inside of me.”
ERIN MATHEWS, titan in the real estate world; art collector; Chanel aficionado.
“My dream artist would be Jean-Michel Basquiat. I’m confident his portrait of me would show more than just the physical but also the true ‘me’ — with empathy.”
JANET HOBBY, board chairman of The Menil Collection; partner in art advisory MKG Art Management; with husband Paul Hobby, among Houston’s dashing philanthropic arts couples.
“The artist that comes to mind is Tomoo Gokita. He’s inspired by ’60s and ’70s Japanese and American subcultures, and his work is emotionally charged. His portraits are always distorted and eerily anonymous. Very unsettling, but super interesting.”
CERON, solamente Ceron; our own Warren Beatty in Shampoo; hairstylist to the stars.
“I would looooveee [exact enunciation] Michael Shane Neal. I’m fascinated with the fabulous way he portrays people. So elegant and beautiful. I’m a huge fan, but I would need gobs of money to afford a sitting. Love-love-love his work.”
PHOEBE TUDOR, Astrodome savior; passionate preservationist; benevolent friend of Hermann Park, Houston Ballet, Asia Society, and Rice University.
“My choice would be Slim Aarons, I’m kind of into the whole Swans thing right now. I would get family and friends to join me in creating one of his stylish scenes, maybe inside the Astrodome!”
BARBARA DAVIS, founder of Barbara Davis Gallery, incubator for eminent international contemporary artists such as Julie Mehretu, Andrea Bianconi, and Shahzia Sikander.
“I would choose Chuck Close, because in his interpretation, he’s able to reveal the essence of the subject.”
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment
Beyoncé and country music will be the center of a new Max documentary
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is hitting the big screen once again. This time, she’ll be the focus of a new CNN documentary which examines her recent plunge into country music and the ongoing conversation surrounding country’s landscape as it pertains to Black artists.
The documentary titled, “Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance” from CNN FlashDocs will be available in late April, nearly one month since the Grammy-award winning singer released her highly acclaimed album, “Cowboy Carter.”
“Beyoncé’s highly anticipated album “Cowboy Carter,” released March 29, arrived during a revolution within country music as the latest arena of the culture wars in America. Some in the industry are welcoming more diverse artists, while others stick to a much narrower view of a genre that predominately centers around straight, white men,” Warner Bros. Discovery wrote in a press release.
The company adds, the documentary “examines the impact of how high-profile artists like Lil Nas X and Beyoncé are challenging the country music status quo and how Black artists in Nashville have been laying the foundation for this transformation for some time.”
“Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance” features some prominent voices and Black power players in the country music scene, including banjo player Rhiannon Giddens, who also is featured on Beyoncé’s hit “Texas Hold ‘Em.” It incorporated interviews with renowned artists such as John and T.J. Osborne of Brothers Osborne, Rissi Palmer, Aaron Vance, and Denitia.
The documentary also features analysis from culture and country music experts Touré, Larisha Paul, Chris Molanphy, Kyle Coroneos, Keith Hill, and Co-Directors of the Black Opry Holly G. and Tanner D.
“Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance” is executive produced by Eric Johnson with Emily Taguchi serving as Supervising Producer and Ashley Santoro as Senior Producer.
As fans know, Beyoncé first announced “Cowboy Carter” during a surprise Super Bowl commercial in February when she released singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The songs instantly took the internet by storm, as did the album once it was released. She has since broken many records and made history, and it’s clear her strides will have a long term impact on the country music sphere and music industry as a whole.
Prior to the release of he album, the superstar opened up about creating the project on Instagram.
In a post, she wrote, “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.
“It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history,” she continued. “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
The new documentary will be available on Max April 26.
RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment