Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / April 7, 1979, edition 1 / Page 18
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it 18-THE CAROLINA TIMES SAT.. APRIL 7. 1979 aoooooooocoeoeoo FESTIVE ..."f - f . ..'V . n. oooccocoooceooo 4 Artistic expressions, cultivated through years of hard work, were exhibited to an appreciative audience under open skies at the Kuumba Mmelita Sunday on a lawn of North Caro lina Central University. Bathed in bright sunshine and rhythmic vibes from. exterior of heads, in a way that just didn't pierce the ear's inner canal. Mrs. Martha Hayes, her 12 year old daughter, Gwendolyn, and 14 year old son, Henry, styled and set hair for free. Mrs. Hayes operates Cape Fear Beauty Institute and Hair Weaving in Fayette- - - : I A!A ' ' 1 vV i I I sed the lawn laden with cameras, catching a candid shot here and a portrait there. "Hey Robert, how about a portrait of you and the daughter?" Silas Mayfield asked of a friend who posed for four or five different shots. Mayfied, a 1972 Central graduate in geo graphy and a former law student, says he's heading to be one of the best por trait photographers in the world. But right now he's sharpening his skills on por traits, weddings, banquets, and dinners. Dancers representing Kay Sullivan's Dance School caught several photograph er's shutters as they danced creative dances to Duke Ellington's classic tune, "Satin Doll", and the more contemporary "Magic Mind' by Earth, Wind and Fire. The youthful dancers have been taught several years by the hard working instructor, some since early childhood. Photos by William Covington V Al mm- X with the disadvantages of immovable, microhones and no stage props, Neverthe-" less, the author's warm feel for Bobby Bolden, an early jazz musician, came through the lines. The cast includes Yusef Saliim, Minnie Forte, Eve Cornelius, Amad Sha bazz, and Hayes Sameer. Lance Jeffries, a nation ally known poet, took the stage in the hottest part of the. afternoon, reading two works one of a former student and another about TreDie', a beautiful black woman, the poet's wife. Accompanied By percus sionist Monsieur's- vibrant and moving notes, the experiences of this Afro American bridged, several generations, who watched, and heard. Poet Jakr Shelton was one of the performers who were critical of' negative experiences in black life styles and suggested alter native behavior. "Mama is Still Mama" was satirical verse about young people who become educated and somehow for get the one who made it possible - "Mama'.' For many, the Kuumba Mmelita was a pleasant diversion from Sunday afternoon in front of the tube or on the phone, de scribed as favorite past times. Celestine Beckett re marked that she would "have been asleep, because Durham is pretty dull on Sundays." Ms. Beckett said a friend invited her to attend. noon to earry evening, heads bobbed and weaved to jazz; watched graceful dancers; dined, and enjoyed several graphic works displayed on little tables dotted around . the natural amphitheatre. Just as music is a cul ture's lifeblodd, rhythmic expressions from the North Carolina Central University Jazz band did the hard work of attracting to the lawn several hundred people within an hour Many who attended said they had planned to do other things but just couldn't pass up the festive air. The 30-piece jazz group performed several popular tunes jncludinr,A ,Chil4 4 is Bom", a Thad Iones tune, and "Bluesette" written by Toots Thielman. Conducting the orchestra was youthful NCCU Profe fesor William Moon, assisted by his brother, Edward Moon. Both men are natives of Nashville, Tenn., and have been at NCCU less .than a year. As music from the band flowed, music of a different type was being made on the trying to develop the craft so that eventually I can sell it .and support myself." An eye-catching bird, made by a fine thread woven in and out of a cotton background giving an etched effect brought a number of com pliments. Ms. Wilson is em ployed by the School of Social Work at UNC and lives in Greensboro. who "felt a strong need to maintain our black culture" . said Valerie Barnwell, a member of the group, and chairman of Duke's Black Student Alliance. It's not every day that you'll experience so much talent, all in one setting. - A scene from Rebecca Ransom's play "Bobby Bol den 's Blues" was performed 111 jTsX I Ii ,, ' CVgf " l .llfM IUM.lll.ll.nl X , J M P , ' ' " f , - iK&AfrX ville. She is teaching her children the craft, that she Says is not being taught well by many schools in the state. She formerly operated three beauty salons in Fayetteville, but so inex perienced were her workers, she says she decided to train cosmetologists instead. Her hair weaving school is reported to be the only one in North Carolina. Photographers criss-cros- When she is not instructing the dancers, Mrs. Sullivan operates Pine Knoll Rest Home. The creativity of Renee Wilson's crewel embroidery caught the eye of many of the artists and art lovers. Like many of the partici pating artists, for Ms. Wil son, this was the first time any of her work has been displayed. The modest mother remarked that she is .,. f...... vft ..wnnwii(imvvi rHi. T. J i ) -: a. 1 Colorful leather .goods' were displayed for saleby ll Marvin Kelly, now a-resi-dent of Alexandria,' Va., a -a founder of Blackfrica, . a ; Harlem (New York) cul-:r tural organization. All kinds of leather goods are produc- ed by the artist who says v black artists can make a living selling their art, if the art is functional and -serves the needs of the ; people. "An artist must relate : his work directly to the people who are to sustain his work", said Kelly. He said that rich patrons and the government have cor- " nered the art market. "Much of the funding of art stifles an artist's crea tivity. Many artists are try ing to create so that they can get grants, not so that , they can reach people." While there were many out-of-town artists, the majority of the artists were Durham based. Yusef and Friends, a well-known local j jazz group, Rachiim's Trio , (expanded to include about ' ten artists) performed ' several well-known tunes and some originals. Jazz vocalists Debbie ' Joyner performing with NCCU's Jazz Band, and Eve i . Cornelius with Yusef and Friends, warmed up an al- , ready eighty-degree day a few notches on the faren-: heit scale. l, "Dance Black", a group ' of Duke students, directed by choreographer Sharon !' Madison-Sultan, creared : movements depicting the history of black dance from Africa - the Carribbean movement - and jazz in the U.S. to Ralph McDonald's ' 'The Path". The group was founded about four years : ago by black Duke students f r- r At: . 4 The people who made it possible, received some recognition near the pro gram's end, but nothing commensurate with the time they spent producing the event. Ms. Barbara Taylor and Ms. Wendy Merritt, the program's producers, were kept, busy all day with last minute scheduling, setting up ex hibits. Masters of ceremony Walter Norflett and Shan ga (Donald Baker), smooth ed over the day's difficulties making everything seem that it was planned that way. M t ' t K vV' - " - --'2 r& o ii S- iV ' s -v. .. ... " . f ::iiS '-.-" ill ii.1 WPP
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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April 7, 1979, edition 1
18
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