Not all artists in the PFF Collection are “superstars,” but all possess certain qualities in their work that attracts our attention. They all speak from an internal spark of passion. Many are driven to invent their own aesthetic languages of form. Others cleverly extrapolate on existing languages to invent new visual inflections, etc. The voice of every PFF artist adds a significant wavelength to the narrative spectrum of African-American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro global Western presence.
‘Them 1’ 
‘Them 3’ 
‘Improvisation’
Recently, friends to the Collection Norman Girardot and Diane Labelle, introduced us to the work of Alvin Booth. Alvin lives in Lancaster, PA and wears his distinguished presence well into his seventh decade. His life has informed him about the many facets of ordinary Black experiences, mostly in Pennsylvania.
Although he has been a vehicle and an avatar for creative expression for most of his life, Alvin never really considered himself an “Artist.” It was quite recently in his personal history that the astute eyes of Norman and Diane encouraged him to accept that proper label.
Each one of these dynamic compositions, these clustered arrays of linear elements are rendered in ink on paper. His drawings speak through themes of personal introspection, and weave in the lyrical or geometric notations of music as well as patterned and figurative shapes. They all draw from direct and indirect references derived from a lifetime of fluid imagination.
We recently got to meet Alvin and his companion Kathy in Bethlehem, PA. What truly wonderful spirits!!
Added to the Collection are PFF472—Them 1, PFF473—Them 3, and PFF482—Improvisation.