African American Fine Art at the Camelot in Prince George 's County
By Mary Wells
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2005
African American Fine Art came to Prince George's County in grand style recently at the stylish Camelot on the grounds of Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Walter Shannon and Lauren Ishmael, organizers of the largest African American art show on the eastern shore, selected Prince George's County to host its inaugural art show.
The show drew a huge crowd of upscale patrons who came to meet the artists, purchase fine art and attend seminars such as how to invest, collect and maintain art collections.
"We selected Prince George 's county over other areas because of its large African American population," Shannon, co-organizer of the event, said. Shannon and his wife, Caty, own and operate the Louisville , KY based E & S Art Gallery and Doll Graphis, an art publishing and distributing company. " Prince George 's County is full of people that know and appreciate African American fine art," Shannon said. He has been in the business for more than 25 years. "There is no other community more deserving of this inaugural event," he said.
Ishmael, a co-sponsor, and Mitchellville resident, is owner of Powerhouse Consultants LLC. "Appreciating African American fine art as an investment to pass down to family is why we included a seminar on appraising fine art," Ishmael said. "We wanted to present a venue where people can come and buy African American fine art without having to go to a flea market or some other show to pick up art painted by African Americans," Ishmale said.
Some of the featured fine artists include Charles Bibbs; Dane Tilgman; former NFL player turned sculptor George Nock and "Twin", identical twin brothers Jerry and Terry Lynn, who paint together. Some pieces from artists from the Harlem Renaissance period were included.
The Informer caught up with the featured 30 year-old twin fine art painters as they were leaving a demonstration of their talents in the dining room of the Camelot. They got settled again upstairs showing how one twin will start painting on a canvas and the other "just knows how to blend in. We've been painting together ever since we can remember," said Terry. "We also helped our grandfather in Tennessee lay bricks when we were youngsters, like eight years old and up through the teen years. When we got home, we'd just automatically start painting together. We also paint our own canvases, too," he said
The show also featured local artists Crystal Pittman and Ulysses Marshalla and Wisson West, co-owner of two galleries in Prince George's County.
One of the popular seminars was led by appraisers Alvah Beander, President of Melanin Art Appraisals of Alexandria, VA and Mark Dabney, owner of Hannibal Art Appraisals of Brooklyn, NY."It is important for collectors to photograph and measure their art pieces and note any markings on them or the frame or on the back immediately," for insurance purposes, Dabney said. "I do not do any appraisals from photographs for that reason," he said. "There could be markings that a photograph will not show."
"On sight inspection is important," said Beander. "Appraisals cannot be done by photograph or written descriptions. It has to be done on sight," she said. "Although it is important for collectors to write down descriptions and photograph their pieces, this only helps us to look for certain things on the paintings to get to it quicker," Beander said.
Millie Townsend said she has been collecting for years, "just because I like African American fine art. I never thought about documenting and measuring and writing down anything. I just buy because I like a certain piece. I'm going to start doing that. I never thought of it as an investment or if I had a fire or theft."
Marcus Sandwell said in the parking lot that he was delighted to find so many African American fine artists in one place. "I will be back tomorrow to go to the seminar on investing in African American fine art," he said.
The Legacy Fine Art Show will come back next year to Prince George's County, according to Nate Pope, of NPJ Advertising & Public Relations, Inc. "We had wonderful response from the public," Pope said. "We also got wonderful response from the Prince George 's County Administration and look forward to working with them again next year."
Delegates Carolyn Howard and Michael Vaughn of the Maryland House of Delegates helped with the ribbon cutting.
Visit www.legacyfineartshow.com to find out more information about next year's show or call (301) 343-3332 or (502) 568-2005.
