The public is invited to enjoy a new exhibition: Another American’s Autobiography: Selections from the Petrucci Family Foundation’s Collection of African American Art.
Collection Updates
Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel)
This past year, we purchased Dr. Imo Nse Imeh’s piece, “Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel),” which is part of his “Benediction” series. This group of paintings envisions angels sent to Earth to be bonded to the skins of Black men and boys to bear witness to their traumas, triumphs, and lived experiences. Imeh graciously volunteered to share his reflections on this work and the conditions that brought it to bear.
Ralph Chessé: Self-Taught Artist and Puppeteer
Ralph Chessé is a self-taught artist who focused on painting, printmaking, theatre, and puppetry. His work has been exhibited at the Gildea Gallery, the Lucien Labaudt Gallery in San Francisco, the Duncan Gallery in New York, and the Marc Antony Gallery in New Orleans.
Collection Spotlight: Chawne Kimber
Dr. Chawne Kimber is a mathematician, wordsmith, and quilter who we’ve been fortunate to get to know during her tenure as head of the mathematics department at Lafayette College.
Her pieces make us reconsider the art world’s dated distinctions between “craft” and “high art” in relation to quilts and textiles.
New PFF Loan: “Creating Community: Cinque Gallery Artists”
There are a handful of people who have devoted their careers to the preservation and celebration of African American art history. One of the greatest championing voices behind this work is Susan Stedman, guest curator of “Creating Community: Cinque Gallery Artists” at the Arts Students League of New York. As the art world’s interest in […]
In Memory of Winfred Rembert
We recently received the sad news of Winfred Rembert’s passing. While we did not have the pleasure of meeting him in person, his masterful artworks and life-long commitment to depicting his experiences in the Jim Crow South made a significant impact on us. Winfred Rembert’s life was extraordinarily tough. He spent the ‘40s and ‘50s […]
The Meticulous Improvisational Art of Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith
In spite of a global pandemic, we have been fortunate to be able to continue to grow our collection this past year. We feel particularly lucky two have acquired two pieces from the magnificent artist, Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith, whose work was introduced to us by our friend, consultant, and fellow collector, Lewis Tanner Moore. […]
Irvington Scholar Spotlight: Dahanah Sejour, MPH
In 2015, Dahanah Sejour was recognized for her outstanding academic achievements through PFF’s Irvington Top 12 Program. We are excited to catch up with her and spotlight her achievements since graduating.
The Fluid Imagination of Alvin Booth
Although he has been a vehicle and an avatar for creative expression for most of his life, Alvin only recently began considering himself an “Artist.” Each one of his dynamic compositions speak through themes of personal introspection, and weave in the lyrical or geometric notations of music as well as patterned and figurative shapes.
Mavis Pusey: Expanding the Definition of Black Art
Almost a year ago, we were fortunate enough to acquire the last remaining set of thirty-six prints from the estate of the late Mavis Pusey who died on April 20th 2019 at the age of 90.
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Honors Jim Petrucci
The AACCNJ recently honored Jim Petrucci at its Corporate Awards Dinner hosted on October 17, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Princeton. The partnership between the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ), Petrucci Family Foundation (PFF), and the School Board of Irvington New Jersey began in 2017 with the launch of the I AM Leadership Program…
For Immediate Release – Afrocosmologies: American Reflections at the Wadsworth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kim Hugo, (860) 838-4082 Kim.Hugo@wadsworthatheneum.org Image files to accompany publicity of this exhibition are available for download at http://press.thewadsworth.org. Email to request login credentials. Afrocosmologies: American Reflections at the Wadsworth October 19, 2019–January 20, 2020 Hartford, Conn. (Sept. 23, 2019)—Afrocosmologies: American Reflections presents a window into a dynamic cosmos of influences […]