The Friends of African American Art & Culture celebrates first-ever art acquisition
May 19, 2022
Honor a major milestone at FAAAC presents Modern Rhythms on June 2
CMA affinity group the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) announces their first-ever art acquisition — Oliver Lee Jackson’s Monotype IV (2006) — recently gifted to the museum in memory of D. Delores Logan and now showcased in Modern Rhythms, a new gallery featuring works on paper from the CMA Collection. This major milestone will be celebrated on Thursday, July 2, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with the program FAAAC presents Modern Rhythms.
“We’re delighted about this special event where we will officially present our first art acquisition and also remember our dear friend, Delores Logan,” says FAAAC President Therese A. Griffin. “African American art is enjoying a nice moment in history right now, and FAAAC is pleased to play a small part in helping to shine a light on both the art and artists who have helped shape American culture.”
The evening begins with a cocktail reception hour in The Loft that includes the smooth jazz stylings of saxophonist Dante Lewis, light appetizers, and a cash bar. The CMA’s new curator, Michael Neumeister, then discusses the works newly on view in the light-sensitive gallery. Afterwards, attendees are encouraged to visit the Modern Rhythms gallery and to enjoy self-guided tours of works on view by Black artists throughout the collection galleries.
This event also serves as the annual meeting for members of FAAAC. During cocktail hour, President Griffin briefly reviews the activities of the 2021–2022 fiscal year.
The Modern Rhythms gallery uses Jackson’s Monotype IV as a basis with which to consider the relationship between visual art and music. In the late 1960s, Jackson was associated with the Black Artists’ Group (BAG), an interdisciplinary St. Louis collective led by the saxophonist Julius Hemphill. Like many artists of the period, he was inspired by jazz’s dynamic, expressive qualities and saw parallels between creating music and his own artmaking. Drawn wholly from the museum’s collection, Modern Rhythms presents Jackson’s work in dialogue with peers — including Romare Bearden, Betty Blayton-Taylor, and Wadsworth Jarrell — whose practices were variously informed by musical sources.
FAAAC gifted Monotype IV to the museum in memory of the late D. Delores Logan, who was both a member of the FAAAC board of directors and the CMA board of trustees. Known in both local and regional arts circles for her patronage and advocacy, Logan also served her community in many other areas — supporting both social services and small business concerns.
Dante Lewis is a popular jazz saxophonist across the Carolinas and the Southeast who plays a variety of music ranging from R&B to jazz standards. His musical talent and energy make listeners fall in love with the saxophone and keep coming back for more.
FAAAC presents Modern Rhythms
Thursday, June 2 | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. | Curator talk at 6:30 p.m. | Self-guided tours at 7:00 p.m.
$5 / free for FAAAC members | Cash bar
This program is supported by Richland County Government.
About FAAAC
Inclusive of all genders, ethnicities, and ages, FAAAC was established as a member affinity group by the CMA board of directors in June 2011 to attract more diverse populations to the museum as visitors, members, and donors. Its mission is to educate, enrich, and inspire the community and visitors to the state while increasing engagement with members of the community interested in African American art and culture.
About the CMA
The Columbia Museum of Art is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning and community enrichment for all. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, S.C., the CMA ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and creative educational programs. At the heart of the CMA and its programs is its collection, which encompasses 7,000 works and spans 5,000 years of art history. Established in 1950, the CMA now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually and is a catalyst for community creativity and education, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. It is the recipient of a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education, a National Park Foundation Award, and two Governor’s Awards for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina. In order to serve even more audiences, the CMA underwent a transformation. Funded by a successful capital campaign, the two-year renovation project garnered new collection galleries with a progressive thematic layout, new studios for artmaking, cutting-edge program and event spaces, and an entrance on Main Street. Overall, more than 20,000 square feet of functional space were added to the building’s existing footprint. To learn more, visit www.columbiamuseum.org.
