Barbara Jones-Hogu (1938 - 2017) was born in Chicago. She received a BA from Howard University, a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a MS, with a concentration in printmaking, from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Jones-Hogu was an influential artist associated with the Black Arts Movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. As a member of OBAC (Organization of Black American Culture), she was one of the muralists who created the important "Wall of Respect" in 1967 on the south side of Chicago, a public work that inspired the creation of socially, politically and culturally themed murals across the urban American landscape. In 1968, Jones-Hogu became a founding member of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AFRICOBRA). As a member of AFRICOBRA, she participated in formulating the group’s mission statement that stressed Black independence and artistic self-determination. Her famed screen prints created during her participation in the group were exhibited widely at venues including the Studio Museum in Harlem, Howard University, Cornell University in New York, and the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston. Several books and catalogues over the years have included her work and she is featured in Creating Their Own Image: The History of African American Women Artists, the most important text on the subject, published in 2005. "Unite", perhaps her most well known screen printed image is included in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. In recent years, several scholars in the fields of art history and Afro-American studies have noted her achievements in lectures and critical essays. Jones-Hogu lives near Chicago, and continues to make art, teach and make documentary films.Courtesy of Lusenhop Fine Art, Chicago

Artist’s Statement: In an interview with Beverly Ross Normand in February, 2009, Barbara Jones-Hogu stated, "Elizabeth Catlett influenced me and inspired me to create the image in the "Unite" silk screen print. In 1968 I was in Mexico, primarily to see the Mexican murals, and I visited Catlett. She was working on a sculpture with an arm up similar to the athletes who took this posture in the Olympics in Mexico that year. I wanted to create an image, too, to speak about the need for unity for my people. So I was inspired and impressed to create "Unite". Mexican muralists, Charles White, the German Expressions, and many Black artists have influenced me. I am studying videography/filmmaking and I realized that I really did not know that much about the camera, so I started to take photography classes. My instructor, Don Louba, laughs at me when I say that I am not a photographer because he thinks that I am. To the young and new artists, I say, continue producing and creating your art imagery to validate yourself."

We thank David Lusenhop for contributing to this article and assisting Rald Institute with our fundraising efforts!

Mitchell Caton (1930-1998), born Theodore Burns Mitchell in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was an extremely gifted artist who grew up on the south side of Chicago and was a popular muralist whose public murals include many in Chicago, such as the one on the Regal Theater and the Wall of Respect, as well as many other murals in America. Mitchell conformed to his own personal philosophy, which involved discipline and scholarship. He was highly respected by Chicago artists and was reportedly merciless in his critique of them and their works, motivating them to work harder and improve in technique and skills. The late photojournalist Onikwa Bill Wallace once said, "Caton would talk about us like dogs, tearing our work or activities apart to reveal all of our failures. But he was a genius and he was always so right that we just put up with it. He made us try to do better and we all admired and loved him for it." Caton earned an art scholarship at the University of Little Rock and later attended the School of the Art Institute and studied at the Art Students League in New York. He was commissioned to do various art work and murals around the country, as well as in Chicago. He did extensive independent study, frequently traveling to Europe.

Mitchell Caton was married to the late Betty Bradford and they settled in the Hyde Park community of Chicago in 1955 with their two children. Many great artists visited and learned from him in his townhouse in Hyde Park until his death.

"I met Caton in the mid 1980’s through our close, mutual friend, the late Charles L. Whitman," Beverly Normand wrote in 2009. "At that time, I functioned as Cultural Chairperson for a public school and spoke to Caton about the possibilities of doing a mural there. He was quite receptive to the idea and was willing to do it for practically nothing, just to enrich the children. However, the school missed the opportunity because of limited vision and experience, a condition many Americans suffer from. In some ways, we are all guilty of devaluing the arts. That is why art education must be strengthened and made a priority. The famous philosopher, Maxine Greene, of Columbia University in New York has expressed this need so eloquently in her writings for the past forty years, but we remain complacent, even cognitively delayed in imagination."

With the exception of his public murals, most of Mitchell Caton’s valuable works have not been seen by the public. Chicago artist Calvin Jones recently stated, "If you have one of Mitchell Caton’s works, you are very, very lucky."

Joanne Scott was born into a prominent, scholarly African American family in Chicago and was raised in the Park Manor/Chatham community. "She excelled in academics and the arts as early as elementary school and was popular, insightful, sensitive, caring and extremely friendly as a child," professor Beverly Ross Normand, Scott’s classmate at Ruggles Elementary School, recently recalled. "We attended different high schools, and she became a protégé of Chicago’s leading artists and arts organization very early. She made considerable contributions working and volunteering in the Hyde Park community and all over Chicago. For over four decades, I have observed her tirelessly helping individuals, even strangers, learn about art. She was always smiling , energetic and extremely thorough. It is not surprising that she became a powerful catalyst in the lives of so many college students, artists and educators and earned the respect of the arts community quite early."

Joanne Scott is a founding member of Sapphire and Crystals, a women’s art coalition, and her work has appeared in numerous art venues. She has served on art organizations and is considered by some of her students as their "most influential, motivating teacher." Her beautiful, contemporary paintings, drawings and photographs often depict her pride and interest in her African American heritage.

Sura Dupart was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Adam and Maudwina Mason Dupart, who migrated from New Orleans, Louisiana. "My father was an artist who made wooden toys. This was probably my first influence. At the elementary school that I attended, we were required to do soap sculpturing in third grade and I enjoyed doing it. I attended Dunbar High School in Chicago and met the artist Omar Lama there. I believe he was my greatest influence. He motivated me to do my first painting," Dupart said.

Dupart studied cabinet-making while in high school. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in art from Chicago State University and his Masters degree in art from Govenors State University in Illinois. He is not especially impressed with obtaining degrees, but feels that studying with master artists is quite helpful. He was motivated by the work of artist Jessie Richardson. He studied wood sculpturing with Atu (Harold Murray) for years and felt it was of great benefit, and studied with other great artists such as Jamaican born sculptor Harry Dietrich, who Dupart worked with for about fifteen years. "I have worked with sculptor Roman Villarrel for many years now, and have learned a great deal about stone carving. Villarrel and I share a studio gallery building in Hammond, Indiana. Working with him has been an important part of my development over the past ten years," Sura Dupart said.

A percussionist, too, Sura Dupart has studied and played music since 1963. He played with the group Sun Drummers for many years and has been with the AACM Big Band and a group called E.S.P., also. Dupart formed the group Side Pocket a few years ago and has recorded with them, also. Among his awards is First Place in
Sculpturing from the DuSable Museum of African American History, an award from the Alyo and Muntu Dance Theaters, the 2009 awards from Adami, WPSLA, the AACM, and Sun Drummers. He recently received an award in Sculpturing from the City of Hammond, Indiana, also. He is currently exhibiting at the Silver Room Gallery in Chicago, was presented by E.T.A. Creative Arts Gallery in their "In the Spirit of Art" exhibit in 2008, and on exhibit at the South Shore Cultural Center, to name a few. Sura Dupart lives in Chicago with his wife, Herbalist/Artist Omiyalle Dupart.

Rald Institute and its Board of Directors are honored and thankful for the participation of Sura Dupart in our Art Sale/Auction.

Eric Werner (1941 - 2011), one of Chicago’s most gifted photographers, was selected to be included in the Black Metropolitan Research Consortium in 2008 and he was quite pleased. "I’m excited to have been chosen. BMRC is currently preparing to archive my work," he said in an interview while relaxing in his south side home filled with his own photographic treasures and stunning sculpture that he has made or collected over the years. An exhibit of his magnificent photographs of dancers was featured at The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for Black History Month, 2009, and due to public demand, was extended.

Werner studied at The Community Film Workshop in Chicago from 1970 to 1973 after returning from Vietnam. He earned his Bachelors degree from Governors State University and also worked on his Masters degree there. From 1971 to 1977, he worked for Art Color Photographers, and then became Director of Centric Media Productions. He then worked as Staff Photographer for the Andrew Corporation. In 1984, he launched his career as a freelance photographer servicing corporate, private and nonprofit clients. His work has been published in many books, newspapers and magazines and his clients include high-profile companies and organizations such as Coca-Cola USA, Citibank, Proctor & Gamble, Quaker Oats, United Way and Coors. His work is in the private collections of individuals such as Michael Jordan, the late Gwendolyn Brooks, and many other famous people.

Werner has been honored with various and numerous awards in photography contests, art and film festivals. In 1990, he began volunteering for the Chicago Park District, and founded the Picture This Camera Club to teach students the technical aspects of photography as an art form. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Cultural Center Community Grants Board and on Jazz Unites Board. Most recently, he has assisted Rald Institute with in-kind services for which its Board of Directors and Beneficiaries are most honored and appreciative.

Eric is happily married to the lovely Andrea Goens Werner.

Lauren Deutsch - A lifelong resident of Chicago, Ms. Deutsch began a career in photography in 1978, as a documentarian of the CETA funded Artists-in-Residence Program. She worked in photography and graphic design throughout the 70s and 80s, and began an association with the Jazz Institute of Chicago as a member of the Board of Directors in 1980. As a board member, she helped produce and promote concerts, program the Chicago Jazz Festival, develop a high school jazz curriculum and negotiate a home at the University of Chicago for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s archives.

In the 80s, as a co-owner of Salsedo Press, a worker-owned printing company, Ms. Deutsch developed sales strategies, helped to refine customer service procedures, worked in various production areas and actively participated in the early coop labor movement in Chicago.

Ms. Deutsch’s tenure as Executive Director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago began in 1996. Her background in community organization and the arts provided the impetus to develop programs in collaboration with a variety of small and large institutions, including the ten-year old JazzCity program, a collaboration with the Chicago Park District, which provides access to high caliber jazz performances to communities all over Chicago, the Jazz Links teacher-partnership that provides in-school residencies and after school opportunities for students to perform with and learn from jazz veterans, and in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs, the conception and programming of Millennium Park’s Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz concert series. In 2006, she partnered with a cultural arts organization in Poznan, Poland to program and present a 6-concert, Made in Chicago festival and was commissioned to create and exhibit her music-inspired artwork.

Throughout the 80s to the present, she has continued to create, publish and exhibit photographic work-mounting exhibitions throughout the U.S. and publishing here and in Europe and Asia. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, in Warsaw, Krakow and Poznan, Poland, Moscow, New York and several smaller venues in Chicago. She was nominated in 2001 by the Jazz Journalists Association for an award in ‘Excellence in Photography’ and was named Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune in 2003.

Rald Institute wants to thank Lauren Deutsch for her donations and support and salute her in honor of Women's Month.

Stacey Brown, currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia, offers an eclectic collection of original paintings for the contemporary art lover. Born and reared in Murfeesboro, North Carolina, his artistic journey of discovery began with aspirations for a career in graphic design. After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta, he embarked on a successful ten year career in his chosen field, but something was "missing" in his life. That something "missing" drew him to his paint brush, and he decided to pursue his true love, Fine Art.

His passion for the arts has led him to a successful career as a full-time artist, expressing himself through acrylic paintings on glass, and watercolor on paper. He remains visually aware of his surroundings by incorporating colors that correspond with current contemporary trends, as well as remaining in tune with his roots with traditional landscapes, and urban neighborhood scenes that exude keen observations of everyday life.

Stacey’s paintings have graced the walls of the mansion on the hit reality show BET College Hill, the Atlanta Street of Dreams Home Tour, and the 2008 Tom Joyner Fantastic Cruise. Just recently, he was commissioned by Verizon Wireless to create an original painting entitled, "Crowns of Praise" for the How Sweet the Sound 11-city national gospel tour (www.howsweetthesound.com). His painting will represent the Atlanta market. Discriminating art lovers throughout the country and abroad collect his eclectic and contemporary creations, which has led him to emerge as a visionary artistic talent for the 21^st century.

Rald Institute is happy to have the participation of Stacey Brown in our 2009 Art Exhibition. Mr. Brown is supportive of organizations committed to children, the disadvantaged, and the arts. He supports organizations that have provided free services and he believes in volunteering.

In a recent interview in March, 2009, Stacey Brown stated that his brother, the late Michael Brown, was his greatest artistic influence. "I was also greatly influenced by the works of Romare Bearden and Jackson Pollock," he said.

John H. Blanton was born in Dayton, Ohio and grew up in Chicago. "I was given my first camera for Christmas when I was seven years old and have been taking pictures ever since," he said. "Gordon Parks was my first inspiration. I learned a lot from Roy Lewis, and Bobby Sengstacke, too," he said. Blanton studied film and video in Chicago at Columbia College and learned photography as a darkroom technician while working for the United States Military in Verona, Italy. He retired from the Chicago Park District and has done freelance photography for television stations. Many of his works were published in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, and Muhammad Speaks, and he continues to work.

Rald Institute is especially privileged to have had Blanton’s assistance. We are grateful for his generosity and proud to display his beautiful photographs.

Bayyinah Amina (1943 - 2011) Born Elaine Boyd, Bayyinah Amina was the only daughter of the late William and Eddie Mae Boyd, who first lived in the Ida B. Wells housing project in Chicago. William was a steel worker who eventually owned Boyd's Lounge and Liquors on 47th at Lake Park. Eddie Mae was an artist and housewife, who learned how to paint by numbers in oils, but was also involved in other craft mediums. It was Bayyinah's mother, and her God-Mother, Anna Smith, a Chicago Public School teacher, who influenced and encouraged Bayyinah's early drawings and provided supplemental instruction. "In those day, I attended Holy Angels School, which did not provide art classes," Bayyinah said. She attended Saint Dorothy, Loretta Academy, and Hirsch High School, where she received more exposure to fine arts. Bayyinah traveled and painted in Southern California for a year after high school. After returning to Chicago, she enrolled in the Art Institute's evening school while working at the Main Post Office in Chicago's Loop area. She married and had two children before completing her B.A. in Art Education at Roosevelt University in 1971. "I changed my name twice," she said. "First to Amina, after marrying a Muslim, then to Bayyinah, after gaining a clearer understanding of Islam and making Hajj (Pilgrimage)."

In a recent interview, when asked about those who influenced her most, Bayinnah stated, "I was most impressed by the work of Charles White, because he had a captivating command of anatomy. The figures within his compositions dominate and exude quiet strength. His figures project a feeling of being three-dimensional. Paul Gauguin's use of rich color was so fascinating, revolutionary, and gave us a glimpse of a tranquil way of life, while painting tropical landscape. Francisco Goya, on the other hand provided a different genre and purpose. Goya felt the need to depict social upheaval quickly; he was the recorder of history. Among the contemporary artists that I studied with, Jesse Richardson's influence and teachings benefited me immensely. I studied the art of gilding fruit, furniture and frames and learned how to paint by painting reproductions of various impressionist artists. Sculptor, Howard Mallory introduced me to Ceramics as a student at the South Side Hull House."

Bayyinah worked in a variety of media, including fabric design, pen and ink, silk screen prints, ceramics, painting, photography and jewelry, and has done outstanding works. A Master Teacher, she taught art in Chicago Public Schools for 26 years before her recent retirement in 2007. One of her works featured in the 2009 Rald Art Sale is a Raku pottery design made in 2001 in Saugatuck, Michigan when she received the Ox Bow Scholarship to study vessel construction. She also worked on recycled sculpture projects and Quranic calligraphy.

Artist's Statement: "The art curriculum should allow students more freedom to be creative. Since the current systems are so tailored for a specific response in the academic area, the fine arts should encourage students to think outside the box. Art is a vehicle to express and to awaken a certain consciousness. Sometimes the artist takes us someplace we don't want to go, and the work makes us uncomfortable because of our own subjective response to it; i.e., Graffiti. The young artists' success will be measured by how well they stay focused on their goals and diversify their work in other mediums."

Rald Institute and our beneficiaries thank Bayyinah Amina for donations, support, encouragement and mentoring, and for years of exemplary art instruction for Chicago's high school students.

Melvin King, a renowned African American artist, has exhibited all over the United States and internationally. His works are in the private collections of famous people such as Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and many others. Typically, his beautiful original paintings and prints depict scenes of African American life and history, but he also loves abstraction.

An intensely humble and spiritual man, King has made continuous contributions to the Chicago community, and has his own organization, Creative Artists Association, which assists artists of all ethnic and religious backgrounds with every aspect of creating and marketing their works. He teaches and organizes exhibitions at the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago and is an active member of Apostolic Church of God, where he also teaches.

Rald Institute is grateful to Melvin King for making it possible to obtain one of his recent original abstraction paintings for our art sale.

Candace Hunter is a visual artist, lecturer, arts writer and performance artist. She served as the Arts & Culture Editor for the N'Digo Newspaper for years, was an arts correspondent for WTTW-Channel 11 Television in Chicago, arts correspondent for WBEZ Radio, is a sought-after arts auctioneer and often sits on panels for the city of Chicago and arts entities within the city. Her work has been collected nationally, including but not limited to, The Interfaith Center of Manhattan, Church of the Three Crosses, SonEdna Foundation, CBS Sunday Morning, Dan Parker, Julian Roberts, Arleane Crawford, Kai El'Zabar, and an endless list of other collectors.

During the past two years, her work has been highly successful in a two woman show at the Nicole Gallery, a solo show at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, group shows at the Flat Iron Building, The National Black Fine Art Show, the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival, "Women in the Course of Their Daily Lives" at the Grace Institute in New York City, and the Midsummer Arts Faire in Illinois where she won first place in the Young Collector's Gallery.

Her work is impacted by her fascination with family history, cathedrals, bridges, the eyes and hands of the Emperor of Ethiopia, and a deep love of race. "At present, I have completed thirteen collages, dating from the early 1800's through to the present generation. Ideally, there will be thirty collages chronicling my family and a race I so love," she wrote.

Candace Hunter studied Fine Arts at Barat and Mundelein Colleges, is based in Chicago's Hyde Park area, and has resided and studied in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Korea, and Brazil.

Rald Institute is thankful for an opportunity to feature her work and for a donation made from her recent collaborative work with Faye Edwards of Faie African Art in Bronzeville.

Arlene Turner-Crawford was a child of the 60's who was turned on by the Black Arts Movement. She is an image-maker who works in the media of drawing, painting, collage and graphic illustrations. Art connects in her life. The first connections were through her Nana, Norine Elizabeth White Dixon, her grandmother and mother to her first inspiration and mom, Ruth Dixon Turner. "My Nana was good friends with my art teacher at Sexton Elementary, Mae Banks. Ms. Banks felt I had promise, and arranged a meeting for me with Dr. Margaret Burroughs. I remember Dr. Burroughs was warm and engaging. She encouraged me to visualize myself as an artist." The next significant connection occurred at Harlan High. Her Studio Drawing class was where Murry DePillars completed his student teaching. "Murry DePillars engaged our class with technical and aesthetic information, ideas about the Black Arts Movement and information on the presence of African-American artists in art history."

Arlene majored in art at Northern Illinois University, where the image-maker was born. Mobilized student demonstrations on campus prompted NIU's School of Art to hire Nelson Stevens and Dr. Grace Hampton-Porter. Both, Grace and Nelson mentored the only two Black students in the art department at the time. Through Nelson Stevens, Arlene met many of the members of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AfriCobra). "As an assignment in my Contemporary Black Art History course, Nelson arranged for me to interview Jeff Donaldson. Jeff was one of the architects of the Wall of Respect and a founder of the Organization of Black America Culture (OBAC). That interview was a dynamic experience for me. By the end of four hours, I had a confirmed passion to be a part of the Black Arts vanguard." Jeff Donaldson invited her to participate in the Conference of Functional Aspects of Black Art (CONFABA).  Because of this conference, Arlene developed relationships with many African American artists which thrive to this day.

As a student, Arlene joined the National Conference of Artists, Inc. NCA is the oldest national organization of African American visual artists, educators, historians, museum personnel, students and collectors. Arlene was the first African American to be confirmed with a Masters of Science in Art Education degree from Indiana University's Herron School of Art. While living in Indianapolis, her visual statements were seen on the first Indianapolis Black Expo Program Booklet and as part of the mural project, "Urban Walls". In 1982, as Vice President of the Chicago Chapter of NCA, Arlene chaired the planning committee for the 25th Anniversary Conference, which was held in Chicago in 1983. Arlene is currently an Executive Board member of the African American Arts Alliance; a founding member of the Sutherland Community Arts Initiative and Sapphire & Crystals, an African American women's artist collective. In addition to her creative efforts, she is a wife, mother, university administrator and friend.