Museum receives splendid gifts

Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell, distinguished Haitian painter and poet, made a generous gift to the museum of four major paintings from among her recent work. Just Passing through (l996), St. Ursula’s Passion (1999), At the Immaculate’s Shrine (2000) and Teramen (2000) join Quiet, a work already owned by the museum via purchase.

Mrs. Phipps-Kettlewell has received a Guggenheim Fellow in painting, Grolier Poetry Prize and a Bunting Fellow in painting at Harvard University. Her exhibitions and poetry—including recent verse in Callalou—continue to draw critical praise.

Just Passing Through was inspired by the tombs and gravestones of Haiti where in the south they may sometimes be seen in people’s front yards. Built of sturdy materials and brightly painted, they sometimes overshadow the house. Goats, cows and sheep pass by along with peasants all going about the ordinary activities of life. Goats are the totemic animal of the Haitian spirit of death confirming the extent to which Just Passing Through is a comment of our fleeting time on earth.

Just Passing Through, acrylic on canvas

Not so fast!

Pearl Allen announced near the end of the 38 th season of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity that this was her last round as organist for the production. Ms. Allen, who joined the staff of the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts half a century ago as Wardrobe Mistress in the Sewing and Costuming Department, is a gifted keyboard artist and soon found all of her talents valued by the NCAAA. In l970, our first production of Black Nativity was mounted. Mrs. Allen joined noted Musical Director John Andrew Ross at the piano and organ. Every season since, except for a short period of illness, Mrs. Allen performed with the show. She gave a decidedly uplifting gospel accent to the sound of Black Nativity, an uplift that evinced her personal warmth and kindness.

I’m not so sure we’re going to let her retire so soon.

The NCAAA will dedicate its 39 th season of performances to Mrs. Allen in appreciation for her enormous contribution to the life of the show, as well as to the larger work of the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts and the NCAAA.

High tea for our children

More than thirty children twelve or under who took part in the 38th season of Black Nativity were treated to high tea at the museum. They shared tea and dainty sweets served on china and glass while learning more about Langston Hughes and the meaning of Black Nativity.

Miss Lewis instituted high tea for the youngsters many years ago as a way of acquainting them with the finer points of social etiquette as well as expressing our appreciation for their contribution to the show. In the pass, the tea took place at a downtown hotel, but this year the young people sat surrounded by paintings from their own cultural tradition.

Following the tea, the children were spellbound by the tricks of the magician Bonaparte who pulled rabbits out of hats and birds out of scarves. To say that the youngsters enjoyed his performance would be an understatement. They were amazed and fascinated by Bonaparte, who also mystified and entertained the adults as well.

Black Nativity children under the watchful eye of Elma Lewis

Aspelta gets a visitor

Carlos Stuart, painter, sculptor and graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, visited King Aspelta recently, reviewing the full scale recreated coffin of the ancient king that he created in 1994 based on a Nubian specimen in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Mr. Stuart found the coffin, which is rendered in gold, in excellent shape. He surely thought “a thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Aspelta: A Nubian King’s Burial Chamber is presently the only exhibition focusing on this historic civilization of the Nile Valley on view in our region.

Carlos Stuart with Barry Gaither

Sharing joy

Vivian Cooley-Collier was feted by family, friends and longtime associates at the museum on the occasion of her sixtieth birthday. A gifted mezzo-soprano, Ms. Cooley-Collier has performed in Voices of Black Persuasion for more than thirty seven years. Her solos have been a regular feature of Black Nativity. Working closely with the late NCAAA Musical Director John Andrew Ross, she performed in the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Africa, as well as throughout the region. Her surprise party brought together many in the family of the NCAAA some of whom had not seen each other for many years. As a highlight of the afternoon, Mrs. Cooley-Collier sang “My Funny Valentine” to rage reviews.

A surprised Vivian Cooley-Collier

Elderhostel visits

In a first collaboration, the museum hosted a series of visits by members of Elderhostel, and international program dedicated to life long learning for seniors. The schedule included lectures as well as gallery tours, and was organized through Discover Roxbury.

A new adventure for seniors

A Mayoral press conference

Mayor Thomas M. Menino speaks at his press conference announcing new initiatives in the Black and Pink Campaign addressing breast cancer.

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