Selma Burke, one of the most notable American sculptors and art educators of the 20th century, spent the last 40 years of her life in New Hope, where she was deeply engaged in the local arts community. Her influence on the arts in our region, as well as African American artists worldwide, inspired the Invitational African American Art Show coming to the Mill at the end of May. The show will be an homage to her legacy, and an inspiration to us all.
Born in Mooresville, NC, in 1900, Burke would make sculptures from the white clay she found on her parents’ farm. After moving to New York City for a private nursing job, a renewed interest in art changed the course of her life, and she went on to earn an MFA from Columbia University. While best known for her bas-relief portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that inspired the dime, Burke was also a member of the Harlem Renaissance Movement and a celebrated art teacher.
Throughout her life, Burke was passionate about sharing her expertise with aspiring artists, founding the Selma Burke School of Art in New York City and the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh. Here in Bucks County, she was the head of the Art Department at the Solebury School and also taught at Robert McClellan’s New Hope School of Art. What’s more, Burke founded the Bucks County Sculpture Show in 1977, which is still held annually today.
Phillips’ Mill is honoring her legacy with an exhibition of works by many of the African American artists she inspired, including Lambertville artist James E. Dupree, a protégé of Ms. Burke, and a nationally recognized artist with a studio in Lambertville. Dupree is among the nearly 30 artists selected by the committee to be in the show; each has something unique to offer, and some, like Dupree, knew Burke personally.
“Dupree was invited to exhibit in the show, ‘Artists for Goode,’ (1984-5), relays Mary Flamer, PMCA Board Member and Chair of the Selma Burke Invitational Art Show Committee. Wilson Goode was running for mayor of Philadelphia at the time. Ms. Burke attended the event where she met James. She ‘took a liking’ to him. Subsequently, Ms. Burke attended the Studio Museum in Harlem exhibition where James was in residence, and sat through the show to show her support.”
Kimberly Camp, an award-winning artist whose work will also be represented in the show, recalls that “Selma Burke was extremely generous to us back in the ’70s and ’80s, letting us know we could come to her studio. I can remember meeting her at a National Conference of Artists meeting. She was very involved with the organization’s Philadelphia chapter.”
A professional artist for more than 50 years, and a former museum president/CEO, Camp’s beautiful paintings and unique dolls have been showcased in more than 100 exhibitions. She will have three dolls in the Selma Burke Invitational Show, possibly one of Burke herself. “I love that Phillips’ Mill is doing this tribute to Selma Burke because women artists, especially Black American women artists, are often tossed aside. Most museum collections still have not made progress in this area,” notes Camp.
Through the works in this exhibition, a story will be told, one that celebrates not only the legacy of Selma Burke, but also the works of all Black women artists, who were so often passed over or disregarded. “Museums might say, ‘Oh, we represent Black women artists’ and go on to mention a painting in their collection by Frida Kahlo,” muses Camp because Frida wasn’t Black, she was Mexican. “I can remember reading that someone else tried to take credit for Burke’s work that became the inspiration for the portrait of FDR on the dime.”
For all these reasons, and more, Flamer is excited to be bringing this exhibition to Phillips’ Mill. Over the years Black artists like Selma Burke have helped to preserve the nation’s history and culture.
“Art explains things that sometimes words can’t,” says Flamer. “Through her art, Selma portrayed strong figures, many Black women, which challenged stereotypes and celebrated Black art, history and culture.”
CURATED Artists
Edward Banister
Romare Beardon
Rachel Bliss
Chakaia Booker
Adjoa Borrows
Frank Bowling
James Brown
Kimberly Camp
Willie Cole
Thornton Dial
James Dupree
Lonnie Holley
Curlee Raven Holton
Lonnie Howard
Richard Hunt
Wilfredo Lam
Kenneth Lewis
Norman Lewis
James Little
Vivian McDuffie
Lisette Morel
Faith Ringgold
Danielle Scott
Danny Simmons
Mickalene Thomas
James Whitten
Deborah Willis
Hale Woodruff
