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Benny Andrews, who has worn many hats over the past 50 years as a painter, writer, printmaker, book illustrator, and teacher presents his “John Lewis Series” in an exhibition that will open with a reception from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, November 17th and will run through November 30, 2006. This series is Andrews’ illustrations for the children’s book “John Lewis in the Lead – A Story of the Civil Rights Movement”.
There will be a book signing on Saturday, November 18th from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The books illustrated by Benny Andrews that will be available at the signing are: “John Lewis in the Lead”, “The Harlem Cook”, “Delivering Justice”, “Poetry For Young People”, “Pictures for Miss Jossie”, “Everything That Rises Must Converge”, and Benny Andrews Monograph.
Born in rural Georgia in 1930 to a sharecropper family, he witnessed early in life “the survival of people from a very rough, oppressive world” he explains. His art is direct, plain-spoken and portrays human subjects as sublimely noble. His work is narrative and always carries a critical message which is evident in his series entitled: “Migrant Series”, “Women I Have Known”, “Musical Interlude”, “Dream Variations”, “Cruelty and Sorrows”, “The Human Spirit”, “Getting the Spirit”, “Stations of the Cross”, and “Poetry for Young People – Langston Hughes”.
He creates works of oil and collage on paper that range from the horrific to the glorious to celebrate human dignity. His materials are simple but familiar – fragments of material or rope, colored paper, bags, along with paint and drawing.
Mr. Andrews was Professor of Art at Queens College for 30 years, received a Bachelor of Fine Art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1958, and served as Director of the Visual Arts Program for The National Endowment of the Arts 1982-1984. He spends his time going back and forth between his studios in New York and Connecticut. He has work in permanent collections in over 35 museums including the Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Modern Art, The Hirshorn, Art Institute of Chicago, Detroit Institute and The High Museum.
Parish Gallery primarily, but not exclusively, represents visual artists of significance from Africa and the African Diaspora. In selecting art and artist, Parish Gallery exercises high ethical, curatorial and market selection standards, catering to the spirit of social preservation and regeneration in collecting art. Parish Gallery is open Tuesday thru Saturday from noon until 6:00 PM or by appointment.
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