The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: News

Students interested in the Harlem Renaissance recently had the opportunity to attend "Parallel Influence: The Unwritten Story of the Relationship of Black and White Arts, The Harlem Renaissance as a Source of Inspiration," a lecture given by Curlee Raven Holton on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. It was Sponsored by The Multicultural Center, The Fowler Family Foundation, and The Lehigh Valley Association of Independent CollegesConsortial Professors Program.

Holton, Chair of Lafayette College's art department and a teacher of printmaking and African American Art History, has been professionally exhibiting work for over 25 years in more than 100 exhibits. His work has been displayed in regions reaching as far as Cairo, Egypt to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Yale University and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

"Art is another creative expression of how the African American community sought to find a new vision," stated Holton. While many are familiar with the literature and music produced from the Harlem Renaissance, the influential art produced from this era is not as recognized. This decade of creative activity was sparked by a large, post-World War I migration of many African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. Many resided in the tenement buildings of 125th St. in Harlem, NY.

Holton noted that the result of this urban art movement was "a unique American expression. It was truly American, but at the same moment, uniquely different. If you look at the context of how the African American experienced the history of America, you can see where things may differ." The renaissance called heavily upon the philosophy emphasized in Alain Locke's 1925 essay "The New Negro." Locke, the first African American Rhodes Scholar, called upon society to shatter the racial, social and psychological obstacles hindering black achievement.

"The Harlem Renaissance is a perfect lens to look through this phenomenon of African American art culture," stated Holton. He helped demonstrate the struggle of Harlem artists to overcome prejudice by showing the PBS film Against the Odds, documenting the William E. Harmon Foundation. For the first time, African American art had a national audience through sponsored exhibitions.

These artists did not achieve success without struggle. They had to establish themselves in a prejudiced world where "even churches and graveyards were segregated," said Holton. "Art had to be modern and accessible to the public. Art had to be tied to the community in order to move them. In short, not simply art for art's sake."

Throughout his lecture, Holton mentioned the many "heroes that exist within the culture," referring to influential individuals such as W.E.B Dubois, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington and artist, Palmer Hayden. Perhaps one of the most important artistic figures of Harlem was Aaron Douglas, whose 1934 mural entitled, "Aspects of Negro Life" adorns a section of the New York Public Library.

Holton concluded his lecture emphasizing that although the Harlem Renaissance stretched to only a decade's length, its artistic and cultural effects still hold effect. "Black is a construction. White is a construction," he stated. Holton calls on all nationalities to embrace their heritage. As for his past, "I embrace it." He believes that the Harlem Renaissance's embrace and celebration of culture was a new way of "recovering the story. It was almost like therapy; you embrace the pain, bring it to the surface, and then it liberates you."

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