Charles Ethan Porter: Many Firsts as a Determined Black Artist

 We are close to the end of February and Black (Art) History Month. Last week, was about a contemporary artist and this week it's about a long-ago artist, who enjoyed so many "firsts" in his quest and determination to live his life as an artist. 

 

His name? Charles Ethan Porter (1847-1923) was born to a mill worker and a housekeeper. They were free, but with a large family and low-pay work were very poor. Charles Porter had to do hard work at an early age to pay his way through school. Of his many siblings, he was the first to graduate from high school.

 

 

As an artistic prodigy, he was the first black man admitted to the prestigious National Academy of Design. Porter's talent was such that he earned the support of benefactors including the governor of his home state, Connecticut and Mark Twain.

After completing his program at the academy, Porter's determination led to another first. He sold all of his art to pay for his studies in Paris - the first black artist to do so. In spite of his cultural differences in France, he stayed for two years learning all he could from master teachers.

Returning to the USA, he eschewed the growing European style of Impressionism and became known as one of the American "nature mystics." 

 These were artists who preferred still live paintings of flowers and produce along with scenes in nature. He was able to garner support for his art and live modestly until post Civil War.

 

The full sting of being a black artist meant he couldn't even sell his art going door to door. He would teach students, auction his art and barter his art to support himself. Finally, in failing health, he returned to the town where he was born to live out his remaining years in total obscurity.

 

 

 

It was a solo exhibit of his works in 1987 that brought his work back to awareness for his artistic contribution and now his works reside in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Seattle Pacific University and several other well-known galleries.

 

 

 

Lois Mailou Jones: Extraordinary and Original Artist

It's black history month and, as in past blogs (Archive: Henry Ossawa Tanner, Feb., 2012), it's a pleasure to recognize a very distinguished artist, who preferred to be known as an artist - not a "black artist" or a "female artist".

Her name was Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998). She started painting at an early age. After high school, she won a scholarship to the Boston School of Fine Arts. Upon completion of her education, she applied for a teaching position at her alma mater. She was refused due to her race.

She took a teaching position at Palmer Memorial Institute. (In time, Jones founded their art department.) While at Palmer, Jones was offered a teaching position at Howard University as professor of design and watercolor painting. She remained at Howard until her retirement in 1977.

On a sabbatical from the university, she attended art classes in Paris and came to understand how very talented she was. In her own words:

"The French were so inspiring. The people would stand and watch me and say ‘mademoiselle, you are so very talented. You are so wonderful.’ In other words, the color of my skin didn’t matter in Paris and that was one of the main reasons why I think I was encouraged and began to really think I was talented."

France allowed her the opportunity to paint with complete freedom. She began to combine African motifs with Western techniques. Her first internationally recognized painting was titled: " Les Fetiches" (1938) (Smithsonian American Art Museum.)

 Below is a small sampling of Jones' works and her artistic evolution:

"The Ascent of Ethiopia" (1932)

"The Lovers" (1950)

"Ubi Girl from Tai Region" (1972)

"Initiation Liberia" (1983)

 One last note:  Jones was honored by President Carter for her achievements in art, her works are found in major museums and collections, and there's a posthumous biography titled, "Lois Mailou Jones: a life in vibrant color." All serve to confirm her as an extraordinary and original artist without regard to gender or race. Agreed?