Harlem: Experience Its Culture Through Art

Audoubon Society Mural in Harlem

From the Harlem Renaissance to contemporary visual artists who currently display, work and live in Harlem, the Arts have provided the bustling backdrop of the area’s rich cultural heritage for over 100 years. Harlem has long been established as a global destination for entertainment and the arts, drawing in historians and artists alike. It’s no wonder well-heeled galleries are moving from SoHo to establish studios and exhibition spaces above 106^th Street, contributing to the vibrant energy and creative legacy Harlem has to offer.

"The Spirit of Harlem" Mural in East Harlem

Walking down any given street in Harlem, one can find its rich cultural history visually interwoven at every turn. Grand murals such as “The Spirit of East Harlem” displays the neighborhood’s diverse character from diasporas, murals and homages of prominent Latino figures are ubiquitously painted on brick facades by James De La Vega. Themed murals have been commissioned throughout Harlem to display not only the neighborhood’s rich culture, but also pressing social issues; a few murals featured about town are part of the #Educationisnotacrime campaign, drawing parallels to the Baha’is in Iran, linking it to the social struggle of education inequality in the United States, as well as other areas around the world. Even the Audubon Society has found this public medium in Harlem, drawing attention to climate-threatened birds on street walls.

Art is plentiful in other environments in Harlem, from the subway station displays, to any given café or restaurant, to community gardens. Harlem is always visually stimulating, boasting compelling narratives behind the works of art.

Walking tours of Harlem with a focus on murals will be available in late Spring/Summer, but while it’s cold outside, Harlem is also home to a plethora of formidable art spaces, galleries and institutions, celebrating the neighborhood’s heritage and culture (but indoors). Below are our recommendations in the neighborhood, mostly above 106^th Street, from Central Harlem, East Harlem, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights/Inwood, West Harlem/Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill.  

"Keeping it Clean" by Betye Saar, photo courtesy of
 The New Your Historical Society

The New York Historical Society, a Harlem Renaissance partner of Harlem One Stop, will host the exhibition, “Betye Saar – Keepin’ It Clean” through Monday, May 27, 2019. The exhibition features contemporary artist Betye Saar, “a key figure in the Black Arts Movement and the feminist art movement of the 1960-70’s.” who has “shaped the development of assemblage art in the United States as a device to illuminate social and political concerns.” The exhibition is presented in the Joyce B. Cowin Women’s History Museum, part of the Center for Women’s History and is organized by the Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles. (Adults: $10, Seniors, Students and Teachers: $5, Children 12 and under accompanied by adults: free, Members: Free)

El Museo del Barrio, photo courtesy of artforum.com

Currently viewing at El Museo del Barrio through April 14, 2019 is “Lucio Fontana: Spatial Environment”, which coincides with the artist’s exhibition at The Met Breuer, “Lucio Fontana: On the Threshold.” The exhibition was, “conceived in relation to the artist’s innovative Spatialism movement, starting from 1949, Fontana’s Spatial Environments are immersive environments that viewers enter and navigate.” El Museo del Barrio’s permanent collection is also worth taking in, featuring a 6,500-object Permanent Collection of Caribbean, Latino and Latin American art. (Suggested admissions: Adults - $9, Students and Seniors - $5, Free for members and children under 12, free for seniors on Wednesdays)

"Race, Myth, Art and Justice Exhibtion"
 photo courtesy of CCCAD

From now to Saturday, June 15, 2019, The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute of New York hosts the exhibition, “Race, Myth, Art and Justice Exhibition” which “explores intersecting ideas of race, myth, art, and justice through the lens and unique interpretation of twelve inter-generational photographers.” (Suggested donation: $5.00)

Joiri Minaya. Redecode II: La Dorada, 2018

On view at Columbia University’s Miller Theater, curated by Wallach Art Gallery’s Deborah Cullen is, “Joiri Minaya: Redecode II: La Dorada” which focuses on the “construction of the female subject in relation to nature and landscapates in a ‘tropical’ context, shaped by a foreign gaze that demands leisure and pleasure,” in which, “the Dominican-American artist transforms the lobby of Miller Theatre with a new installation from her series, Tropical Surfaces, in which she specifically deconstructs and re-imagines tropical design, pointing to it as an invention of the Global North's imaginary.” (Free Admission)

"The Grey Cat" by Romare Bearden

The Essie Green Gallery features the “works of Black Masters such as Romare Bearden, Charles Alston, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Charles Ethan Porter, Edwin Bannister, Allen Stringfellow Sam Gilliam Alma Thomas, William S. Carter and many other artists of the 19th and 20th centuries” which can be viewed Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 AM – 6 PM. (Free Admission)

Harlem Perspectives II, image courtesy of
FACTION Art 

Harlem Perspectives II will be viewing at FACTION Art Projects through Saturday, March 2, 2019, showcasing an “eclectic mix of local artists who live and work above Manhattan’s 110th Street,” with works from artists “who deconstruct history through their process of art making,” and is co-curated by Leanne Stella of Art in FLUX. (Free Admission

Faith Ringgold, Illustration from Tar Beach, 1990.
Image courtesy of the Artist and
 ACA Galleries, 
New York

Until March 31, 2019, The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling features “Sugar Hill Songbook: Select Work by Faith Ringgold” which “features a collection of works on paper, soft sculptures, quilts, and illustrations inspired by the rich cultural and political heritage of the artist’s home of Sugar Hill.” The exhibition is “accompanied by a year-long program of intergenerational activities exploring the global impact of the life and legacy of Faith Ringgold and how she has sparked the imaginations of children through art and storytelling, empowering them and their families to better understand and address the complexities of racism, representation, and identity with dignity and hope.” (Admission: Children ages 0 to 8 – Free, Youth ages 9 to 17 - $4, Seniors (65+) - $4, Students (with ID) - $4), Adults - $7, Visitors with EBT Card and a form of ID as part of Museums for All program – Free with Culture Pass, Sugar Hill Children’s Museum – Free, Cool Culture card holders – Free, Every third Sunday of the Month for PLAYDATE! – Free)

Harlem is home to many more galleries and arts institution; please visit our website, www.harlemonestop.com, for a more comprehensive calendar of programs, celebrating the rich, cultural heritage of Harlem.

Milagros Verendia - Contributor for Harlem One Stop

Outdoor Exhibition - "Boundless in the City", Works by Artist Andrea Arroya Presented by New York Restoration

New York Restoration Project (NYRP), is pleased to present “Boundless in the City” an original exhibition of site-specific, outdoor works created by award-winning artist Andrea Arroyo, during her Artist's Residency at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the first of its kind for the museum.

The project started as part of Arroyo’s recent exhibition “Boundless - The Women of the Mansion,” featuring indoor and outdoor works at the oldest house in Manhattan.
For “Boundless in the City,” the artist will create new versions of the outdoor pieces, installing them in four different gardens in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
This traveling exhibition aims to reactivate each garden with Arroyo’s lyrical works, taking art outside the museum realm and making it available to the public in unexpected locations.

 

 “Boundless in the City” will take place from August 31st to October 31st, at the following locations:

August 30th – September 11th: Rodale Community Garden, 437 East 114th St. Manhattan, NY 10029 (East Harlem)
September 14th – September 28th: Toyota East Children’s Learning Garden, 603 East 11th St. Manhattan, NY 10009 (East Village)
October 1st – October 14th: LDC of Broadway, 900 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206 (Bushwick)
October 17th – October 31st: Willis Avenue Community Garden, 378 Willis Ave. (@ 143rd St.) Bronx, NY 10454 (Bronx)
 
About the exhibit: 
­The works in the exhibit are inspired by women from historical and contemporary New York and by the City’s natural landscape and history.

Each piece, executed in mixed media and repurposed materials, will be integrated within the natural environment of plants, grass and other elements of each individual garden.
With “Boundless in the City” Arroyo creates a multi-level conversation, bridging local culture and history and connecting the experience of women past and present, from the Lenape Nation to contemporary society, including the most recent wave of immigrants who make New York such a vibrant city today.

Arroyo has been exploring notions of identity, gender, class and social justice throughout her career. For the artist, the struggles of the women in history mirror the struggles of women in contemporary society, who defy social norms and prejudice in order to achieve their goals.

About the artist:
 Andrea Arroyo is an award-winning artist with an extensive trajectory; her work is in the collections of The Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the New York Public Library, among others.
Honors include: Global Citizen Award Artist, Clinton Global Initiative, 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Award; Groundbreaking Latina in the Arts; Official Artist of the Latin Grammys; Art in Embassies Program of the US Department of State; Empire State Arts Alliance Award; Harlem Arts Alliance Award, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships and multiple awards from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, the Puffin Foundation and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
Commissioned works include projects for the International Museum of Women, The New York Botanical Garden, The New York Women's Foundation, the Morris-Jumel Mansion and El Museo del Barrio. Her permanent art can be seen in a New York subway station, two New York Public Schools and other public spaces.
 
Ms. Arroyo’s work has been published extensively, including in The New Yorker, The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune and has been the subject of over one 150 features in the international media. For more information visit: www.andreaarroyo.com

About NYRP: 
New York Restoration Project is a non-profit organization driven by the conviction that all New Yorkers deserve beautiful, high-quality public space within ready walking distance of their homes. Since our founding in 1995 by Bette Midler, NYRP has planted trees, renovated gardens, restored parks, and transformed open space for communities throughout New York City’s five boroughs. As New York’s only citywide conservancy, we bring private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support, fortifying the City’s aging infrastructure and creating a healthier environment for those who live in the most densely populated and least green neighborhoods. Visit nyrp.org for more information.

All programs are subject to change, please visit www.andreaarroyo.com for updates.

The exhibition and its public programs are presented in partnership with the New York Restoration Project and sponsored in part by the generous support of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Chicago Tribune June 29, 2004

Allen Stringfellow, 1923-2004

With scraps of paper and applications of glue, Allen Stringfellow reconstructed the worlds he knew. As a collage artist, he created jazz scenes and depicted families at birthday parties and picnics. Mr. Stringfellow, 80, died Wednesday, June 23, 2004 of cancer in his Near 

North Side home. He was an artist who came of age in the Depression, learning his craft at the University of Illinois and in Milwaukee before perfecting it as a student and printmaking instructor in the South Side Community Art Center, the city's first for African-American artists, which opened in 1941. "Because we were black, the white galleries just weren't open," Mr. Stringfellow once told the Tribune. He later worked to change that, opening the Walls of Art gallery in the Gold Coast neighborhood, which his niece Diane Dixon described as the city's first black-owned gallery. Born in Urbana and raised in Champaign, Mr. Stringfellow, the son of a nightclub manager and one of seven children, showed an inventive streak from a young age, said his sister Sylvia Williams. "From grade school, in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades, he just drew," she said. "It was just a natural instinct." As a young adult he fashioned costumes for his father's employer and designed apparel. Later in life he took to wearing only red. "It was just something he came up with some years back; he just said, `I am going to wear red clothes,'" his niece said. He also worked as general manager of the Armand Lee & Co. framing house in Chicago, his niece said. Other survivors include several nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. July 10 in Nicole Gallery, 230 W. Huron St., Chicago.

(Image: Baptism by the River, Collage, 2000)

Source: Chicago Tribune, shared by Essie Greene Galleries,419A Convent Avenue, New York, 10031 212 368-9635

Celebration of Women's History Month: Ruby Dee

March is Women’s History Month and every year, Harlem One-Stop pays homage to women who have achieved great things and made valuable contributions to society. This year, we’re honoring Ruby Dee, an actress who has appeared in hundreds of plays, movies, and television shows, the author of several books, and a staunch political activist.

Ruby Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in 1922 in Cleveland, 

Ohio, and grew up in Harlem. She fell in love with acting during her teen years studying at both Hunter College and the American Negro Theater in Harlem. Dee began her career as a stage actress making her debut in 1946 in the Broadway production of Anna Lucusta and was married to blues singer Frankie Dee Brown from 1941-1946. In 1948, she married fellow actor Ossie Davis, her best friend and frequent co-star whom she met while starring in Robert Ardrey’s play Jeb about a black soldier who returns home to his family in the south with a broken leg after serving in World War II.  Dee then made her film debut playing Jackie Robinson’s wife Rae Robinson in the 1950 biographical film The Jackie Robinson Story starring Robinson himself. Dee’s next big break came in 1959 when she landed the role of Ruth Younger in a Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun in 1959, for which she received critical acclaim. Sidney Poitier was her co-star in the playing the role of Ruth’s husband Walter. Dee and Poitier would reprise their roles in a 1961 television version the play.

Dee continued getting more and more honorable roles in film, theater, and television and often collaborated with her husband. She starred in Davis’ 1961 Broadway play Purlie Victorious in which Davis played the title role of preacher Purlie Victorious Judson who tries to save a local Georgia church and Dee played a housemaid. The two would play the same parts in a 1963 film version of the play. In 1965, she became the first black woman to star in lead roles playing Cordelia in King Lear and Kate in The Taming of the Shrew at the American Film Festival in Stratford, Ct., and she was the first black actress to star on an evening soap opera playing Alma Miles on Peyton Place in 1968.

In 1980, Dee and her husband launched a half-hour talk show called Ossie and Ruby that aired on PBS where they presented the work of black artists. They received high praise for their roles in Spike Lee’s 1989 drama Do The Right Thing where Dee won an Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture and Davis for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. In 1998, celebrating 50 years of marriage, the two wrote an autobiography called With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together which is an honest account of their lives as a couple and as individuals as well as the professional and personal challenges they’ve faced and overcame.

  

Ossie Davis’ unexpected death in 2005 was a devastating loss for Dee, but despite her grief, she continued to work receiving a Screen Actors Guild award and an Academy Award nomination for her role as the mother of notorious drug dealer Frank Lucas played by Denzel Washington, and most recently narrated the 2013 biographical television film Betty and Coretta about the widows of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Other notable roles during the later years of Dee’s life include those of Grandmother Baxter in a 1979 television production of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings based on Maya Angelou’s classic novel, prolific author Zora Neale Huston on the 1990 PBS special Zora Is My Name, and Rowena in the 1991 film Decoration Day for which she won an Emmy.

Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were very active during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s participating in several marches including the 1963 March on Washington where they served as emcees. They spoke out on numerous issues fighting for the rights of African Americans, and were close friends with both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X with Davis delivering the eulogy at the latter’s funeral. Dee was a member of many civil rights groups and organizations including NAACP, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The two have also earned many awards and recognition for their activism and contributions to the arts. Dee won a National Medal of the Arts in 1995 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000. In 2004, she and Davis received Kennedy Center Honors. In 2007, Dee and Davis’ memoir With Ossie and Ruby won a Grammy for best spoken word album, a category that includes audio books.

Other books Dee has published include My One Good Nerve which features a collection of short essays, stories, and poems, and the children’s books Two Ways to Count to Ten, and Tower to Heaven.

While Dee has firmly established herself as a successful actress and activist, Dee has never forgotten her roots and credits growing up in Harlem to be a major part of her identity. "I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It's in me so deep," she has said. 

Ruby Dee passed away on June 11, 2014 at age 91 at her home in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Alison Martin for Harlem One Stop

7 Days to Valentine's Day - A few ideas to get you started..

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you’re probably thinking about what to get that special someone in your life for this most romantic day of the year. Harlem’s many boutiques and gift shops, including museum gift shops, offer an array of treasures that will surely bring a smile to both your and your loved one’s face. Below is a list of some neighborhood gems and their featured wares.

What would Valentine’s Day be without flowers? Harlem’s premier florist, La Fleur d’Harlem, will be open all day Saturday and Sunday February 13 and 14 for those looking for the traditional

dozen red roses for their sweetheart, or for one of owner Louis Gagliano’s creative custom arrangements. You can get the time-honored dozen long-stemmed beauties (or “two dozen,” says Gagliano), or have your roses arranged in a round bouquet. If you want, he’ll also make up one of his special floral “sculptures” using two types of orchids on a dogwood frame. Tell him what you need, and he’ll try to help. “People use us as consultants,” he says. “They tell us their stories, and want us to give them something that will help their relationship.” At 203 W. 144th St., (646) 850-5973.

The handcrafted, artisanal delights of the Harlem Chocolate Factory will be on sale at a special “Made with LOVE” Valentine’s Day pop-up on Saturday, Feb. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. at Vivrant Beauty, along with the creations of a local jewelry maker and other Harlem artisans. And, of course, Vivrant’s own selection of skincare, hair care and cosmetic products are available too. At 220 St. Nicholas Ave. (at 121st St.) (212) 865-0100.

There’s a Chocolate Day Lecture at the historic Morris Jumel Mansion, on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., where you can learn more about the food you love the most! MJM Executive Director Carol Ward and Assistant Curator Kelsey Brow will discuss all things chocolate, from the history of its consumption to the ways and means of the chocolate pot. Tastings, of course, will be included. At 65 Jumel Terrace, (212) 923-8008.

Admission: $30, $25 for members. Advanced registration is required.

The Museum of the City of New York’s Gift Shop, in the museum is a Valentine’s Day treasure of love, with bargain gifts ranging from a Floating Hearts Note Card Set for $11.95 and a Guide to New York’s Most Romantic Spots for $24.95, to higher-end handmade jewelry from New York designers like a pair of Double Heart Clip Earrings, signed by the artist in 24-karat green gold over silver alloy for $540. At 1220 Fifth Ave. (at 103rd St.) (212) 534-1672.

At the Gift Shop of The Studio Museum in Harlem,

you’ll find attractive items at reasonable prices such as a trademark Studio Museum Umbrella for $9.99, T-shirts and mugs inscribed with the truism “Black is Beautiful” (T-shirts $25, mugs $12 )and a colorful Stanley Whitney Pocket Tote Bag for $25. At 144 W. 125th St. (212) 864-4500.

 

For that stylish special someone, a chapeau from Flamekeepers Hat Club, might be just the ticket. This unique boutique sources its hats and caps from designers all over the world, and also design its own. Most of their wares are sold to men, but owner Mark Williamson points out that “30 percent of our clientele are women.” Caps start at $45 and hats at $85. At 273 W.121st St., (212) 531-3542.

 

At Nilu, a small but welcoming space that’s a community favorite, you will find simple but creative items from local artisans and designers. The shelves display chic designs alongside homey items, with offerings that include decorated scarves, unique jewelry, purses and totes, and stylish shirts, dresses, sweaters, hats and shoes that will dazzle your special lady. There’s also an assortment of scented candles and some original paintings. At 191 Lenox Ave. (at 120th St.) (917) 806-8635. 

Dress your man up and put a smile on his face with items from Harlem Haberdashery, an upscale men’s clothing store that offers stylish clothing, shoes, hats, and other accessories from the exclusive 5001 Flavors brand popular among celebrities and sports figures. Each piece combines the distinctive style of fashion from the Harlem Renaissance era with the latest, cutting-edge trends in fashion today. The products are designed in the store’s Harlem facility and are not available anywhere else in the world. At 245 Lenox Ave. (bet. 122nd and 123rd St.) (646) 707-0070.

Appealing skin and hair care products for men and women with the most luscious scents imaginable at Carol's Daughter, founded in 1993 by Lisa Price and named for her mother.

Tantalizing scents include Almond Cookie, Black Vanilla, Monoi, Ectasy, and Ocean found in body lotions, colognes and shower gels with prices ranging from $8-$32. Or try some of the limited edition items like Vanilla Truffle Body Cream and the Lavender and Vanilla Body Cream both for $29. At 24 W. 125th St., (212) 828-6567.


Alison Martin, Contributor
Harlem One Stop/Beat on the Street