RARE Vintage 1974 African American BLACK ARTS Lithograph, LAWHORN Signed
This is a wonderful and RARE Vintage 1974 African American BLACK ARTS Lithograph on Paper, by the esteemed Los Angeles fine artist and printmaker, Vernon Lawhorn 1948 - 1996. This artwork depicts a young African tribal mother, who carries a small infant boy in her arms and holds a large wicker basket on top of her head. The subject's robes and unique jewelry suggest that she is North African.
Hand signed and numbered in pencil in the lower right corner: LAWHORN 106/250. May not be produced without written consent of the artist. Approximately 17 x 22 inches.
Very good condition for decades of age and storage, with one small spot of discoloration where the plastic wrap was torn over that area of the print. This item was acquired from the contents of the long - defunct Gallery/Tanner in Los Angeles, California, which was founded by African American fine artist and luminary, Samella Lewis 1923 - 2022.
I acquired the entire remaining contents of this closed down and important early Los Angeles African American art gallery, and will be listing many more important, historic, and incredibly rare 1960's - 1970's Black Arts Movement artwork and ephemera in the days and weeks to come. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks!
The parable that best describes the vibrant work of this African Heritage artist is Diversity. Through the skillful and creative use of pencil, acrylics and oils, Vernon brought life to his subjects in the most extraordinary cultural way ever. Vernon was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and was the son of a Baptist Minister. He excelled in art from a very early age, and later went on to graduate from the University of New Mexico with a B. Degree after receiving a scholarship in both art and track.
Vernon's 26 year professional life was filled with a multitude of accomplishments, such as: California Art Council Award for creating six building size murals in Vallejo, California in 1980, creation and publication of Black History material for schools and colleges, one man shows for museums, galleries, and group exhibitions. His art has graced the sets of the television and movie industry over the last decade, and received recognition and numerous awards, while his paintings and drawings adorn the walls of entertainers and celebrities.
This charismatic, gifted, personable, kindly man touched the lives of many; from the young offenders at Juvenile Hall, who society had given up on, to up and coming artists that were inspired by his gracious caring, to his peers in the art world from coast to coast. From the intense mastery of colors, paint and pencil you will see memorable moments of art imitating life; from the tender young Masai boy sleeping with a lion cub, to the dignified power of African nobility, to the stunning and creative Africa Moves in Black and White. Vernon has created moments that have and will continue to stand the test of time. Moments that have captured the minds and souls of traditional and ancient Africa.
Go back centuries and remember the jungle sounds, adventurous moments, and everlasting civilizations, and you have remembered the art of Vernon C. Vernon was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and in 1974 created one of the first representations of The Founding Fathers in art form. Jane, Vernon's soulmate of 18 years, and wife of ten, is the extension of his unfulfilled dreams and aspiration. The Artist - My Husband. April 17th 1948 - August 23rd 1996 Like A bright flame that was extinguished, we had no chance to say goodbye.
But Your flame my love burns through me. Your charisma, personality, heart and souls are before the eyes of the universe in the legacy you leave behind. The legacy to me is like wearing your shirt - it caresses me, I know that you are not far.
I continue in your honor and pay tribute to you by carrying on what we did together - Only now, we are truly as one. In deep loving memory of my Soul mate, Husband, and Best Friend. The Palmdale Playhouse's latest art exhibit, "Africa Moves: The Legacy of Vernon Charles Lawhorn, " features art from the late artist, who died at 48 years old of a heart attack, in August 1996. He was born and raised in Chicago and excelled in art from an early age and later went on to graduate from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree, after receiving a scholarship in track and art. "A lot of his last pieces were born here in Palmdale, " Jane Lawhorn, Vernon Lawhorn's widow said. "Africa Moves" features about 30 pieces of Vernon Lawhorn's artwork, including early work from about 1969, to his last piece, "Africa Moves in Black and White, " a stunning and creative acrylic painting of a zebra with many hidden images in it. Some of the images include a young boy praying, a hand, a body, the continent of Africa and an ostrich head."The beauty of it is the images are in the white, as well as the black, so it really makes you work, " Jane Lawhorn said. Through his mastery of color, light source, paints and pencils, Vernon Lawhorn brought life and culture to his subjects in a most diverse and extraordinary way. The couple were married for 10 years when Vernon Lawhorn died. They knew each other for about 16 years, total.
Jane Lawhorn is also an artist and some of her work is on display. She designed and framed her husband's artwork. "Young African Kings" features a young Masai boy lying with an orphaned lion club. "This was from different material, " Jane Lawhorn said. The idea that he had in his head about putting these two young future kings together.
"The Pearl We Hold Most Dear" features a pair of hands pulling a pearl from the ocean. Inside the pearl, are images of children. The pearl's shells represent Africa.
"I created this painting to express the feelings I have toward the children of my African heritage, " Vernon Lawhorn wrote. The hands are used to dramatize a divine lifting of a pearl from the shells of Africa. This pearl signifies what I feel is the dearest and most precious gift of this world.As one sees the reflection in the water given by the shells, they can realize the continent from which the children's heritage began. Nine pieces of Vernon Lawhorn's artwork, including "Africa Moves, " were featured in season one of "The Jamie Foxx Show, " which ran on the WB from August 1996 to January 2001.
The exhibit will be on display through March 1, during regularly scheduled hours at the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. School murals instill youth self-esteem, community pride. A long and dull wall covered with a rainbow, colorful alphabet, and families holding hands, is more than just decoration at Grant School in South Vallejo. The Family Mural Project represents one of many avenues that artists, parents and other community members have taken to bring art to children in their school settings. Such projects are vital as state and local arts funding dries up and educators lose time to teach art under the high stakes of No Child Left Behind legislation.
No Child Left Behind demands students meet performance standards in English and math. The bright Grant School mural represents the combined creativity and love of 17 Vallejo families who worked together, said Vallejo artist Harold Beaulieu of the Art Department, who got a grant to pay for the project. It brought much joy to the parents and the children. They were doing something both could appreciate and see, said Grant teacher Flora Ann Hankins. Finding ways for young people to participate and show pride in the community through art is one of the major goals of the Art Department, Beaulieu said.
Murals in public places, like schools, put children's art in the public spotlight, and instill both private and public pride for everyone involved, he added. Further, doing murals helps teach young people to respect their peers, work together and complete a project. They also help keep walls free from ugly graffiti, he said. At Grant School, mothers, fathers and grandparents joined children of all ages during the 14 weeks on the project that meets state educational standards. Beaulieu came into the classroom and gave lessons about art and techniques.
"The site was very depressed and with the mural, it's alive and thriving, " said Jodie Johnson, Grant School special education pre-school teacher. Families made the paint at home from eggs, starch, food coloring and Kool-Aid. The recent desecration of Vallejo's new skateboard park near Wardlaw School is a sign young people need an outlet for creative expression, he said. The Grant School mural is a little more than a year old, and Beaulieu hopes it sticks around long enough for several generations of family members to enjoy and take pride in the colorful painting. That hasn't always been the case with murals at Vallejo schools.
Most have been erased over the years, which Beaulieu called a tragedy. "The tragedy of the destruction of public art that's been done by the community is that the community can't show what they've done, " Beaulieu said. In Vallejo, school officials painted over a utility box at Federal Terrace Elementary that students had painted, transforming it into a crayon box and a large hand holding the crayons. That was also the fate of the murals students painted at Peoples High School and Richardson Park, Beaulieu said. Eight murals done by Vallejo artist.At various schools around town also disappeared, one by one, he said. Most recently, Beaulieu and others protested when a mural that graced Lincoln Elementary School for more than. 30 years was painted over. As part of a Comcast Cares clean-up day this month, the mural was removed and repainted with a bright jungle theme.
Beaulieu said he tried to convince the principal to allow him and others to restore the mural, but that was unsuccessful. Principal Diane Clark told the Times-Herald earlier the mural was faded and chipped. Beaulieu called it "criminal" that the mural which he called a vital part of the community's history is gone. He said Lincoln School mural was never tagged or painted with graffiti.
Vallejo school district spokeswoman Tish Busselle said she didn't know why various school murals had been painted over but would look into the issue. Lately, Beaulieu has been devoting most of his time and effort completing public art projects in Richmond, in Contra Costa County. One of his more visible projects is The Healing Wall in Richmond. This project involves everyone in the community - from gang members to politicians - painting butterflies on the wall as symbols of faith and healing.