In this Be Your Own Muse exclusive conversation, Dr. Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Dr. Kirsten Pai Buick, Naima Keith, and Valerie Cassel Oliver (who are each recipients of the Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History) discuss the artistic legacy and influence of David C. Driskell. They reflect on David’s impact as a mentor, colleague, and confidant and discuss his commitment to “growing the field,” expanding opportunities for African Americans in the arts, and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Correction at 3:24: The correct name of the foundation mentioned is the Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation.

"Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1986 –2003" opened with a roundtable conversation on the impact of her work and presence on September 11, 2019. Later that evening, we recorded a live segment inside the Museum where the community was invited to share reflections on Thompson as an artist, friend, mentor, inspiration, and/or colleague.

“Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1986 – 2003” exhibition co-curators Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D. and Melissa Messina explore Thompson’s legacy in Atlanta as an artist, educator, and creative force and discuss the themes present in her work. “Mildred Thompson: The Atlanta Years, 1986 – 2003” is on view at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art September 11 through December 7, 2019. Image: Detail of "Radiation Explorations 12," 1994, Oil on canvas, Courtesy The Estate of Mildred Thompson and Galerie Lelong & Co., New York.

Anne Collins Smith, our Curator of Collections, discusses how she approached organizing “Presence: Meditations on the Spelman College Collection" and details the College's history of collecting and prioritizing art. In addition, Collins Smith shares with us a few pivotal moments and decisions she has made in her career as a lifelong learner, curator, caretaker, instigator, conjure woman, and advocate of artistic engagement. “Presence: Meditations on the Spelman College Collection" is presented alongside "Amy Sherald," and is on view through May 18, 2019.

Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph.D., shares some thoughts on her recent publication, “Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in Museums.” Additionally, Dr. Cole talks about how she came to major in anthropology, when art began to matter to her, and how she supported the founding of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art during her tenure as Spelman College president (1987-1997). She also highlights some of the decision-making criteria she uses to evaluate leadership opportunities where several of her mentors are identified. This conversation also features an excerpt of a recording of Dr. Cole in dialogue with current Spelman College president, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., which was moderated by the Museum’s director, Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D.

Dancer and Choreographer T. Lang discusses the original work she created in conversation with our Fall 2018 exhibition, “Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness,” titled “Untitled…Dark Lioness.” Lang delves into how she interprets Muholi’s work, the influence of travel on her dance language, and the expansion of her dance company, T. Lang Dance, into a non-profit organization. "Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness" is on view at the Spelman College Museum Fine Art now through December 8, 2018.

Award-winning lyricist and activist, Nina "Lyrispect" Ball was commissioned to create an original poem in response to "Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness" that debuted during #SpelZanelePRIDE. #SpelZanelePRIDE was a panel discussion featuring esteemed guests Dr. Beverly Guy Sheftall, Latishia James-Portis, and Marla Renee Stewart on the sexuality, spirituality, and visibility of #LGBTQI women of the African Diaspora during Atlanta’s annual PRIDE celebration. The panel was preceded with a performance of Lyrispect's original poem – The Reclamation* – and sparked an afternoon of epic and poetic proportions. #SpelMuse #SpelZanele #SpelZanelePRIDE *The Reclamation was originally performed at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and recorded at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library. Image: Lyrispect by Adrianna Clark

Zanele Muholi and Renée Mussai discuss "Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness," which makes its United States premiere at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Muholi dives deep into the process of being in front of the camera, the importance of The Gaze in their work, and what it means to explore different levels of Blackness through language. Mussai shares what it feels like to return to Spelman College after previously arriving as the curator of "Black Chronicles II" in 2016 and reflections on curating "Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness." "Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness" is on view at the Spelman College Museum Fine Art now through December 8, 2018. Image: Renee Mussai and Zanele Muholi by Julie Yarbrough

Deborah Roberts discusses her latest exhibition, "Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi," on view at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art January 25 - May 19, 2018. Deborah Roberts shares the inspiration and meaning behind specific works in the exhibition, delves deeper into a discussion about what it means to Black in the United States and abroad, and what artistic success means to her. Image: Deborah Roberts by Shannon McCollum

Zoe Whitley, co-curator of "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power" joins us for a conversation about curatorial practice, Black Culture in the US versus the UK, and why it was important to visit Spelman while in the States. Learn more about Zoe Whitley at zoewhitley.com Image courtesy of Andrew Dunkley, Tate Photography

Deborah Roberts discusses her latest exhibition, "Deborah Roberts: The Evolution of Mimi," on view at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art January 25 - May 19, 2018. In part one of this two-part conversation, Deborah Roberts shares how the music of Mariah Carey and Ms. Lauryn Hill influenced her earlier work, the ways in which her Austin, TX roots informed her earliest ideas of Blackness, and why she shifted her focus from painting to collage. She is joined by exhibition curator and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art director, Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D. Image: Deborah Roberts by Shannon McCollum

This recording is a collection of audio clips where Beverly Buchanan (1940-2015) reflects on her life, career, and arts practice. She discusses meeting Norman Lewis and Romare Bearden (who later become mentors of hers), recites an original piece of writing about a work of art she created, provides a personal story about her involvement in the Civil Rights movement, and offers advice to student artists, among several other engaging topics. The audio segments in this podcast were pulled from found video footage from much longer interviews featuring Beverly Buchanan, which are below: Beverly Buchanan - An interview with Marcia G. Yerman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfBZm2QHzi4 Buchanan part 2 with Prudence Lopp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48nksZx28eI Image: Beverly Buchanan, Athens, GA, 2000 by Jerry Siegel. Archival inkjet print. 11.3 x 17 inches. (Courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia.)

Beverly Buchanan passed away in 2015 at the age of 74. In celebration of this remarkable artist, our next two recordings will feature personal and professional reflections. Featured here are author Alice Walker, curators Lowery Stokes Sims and Karen Comer Lowe, and friends Reed McAllister and Mary Porter. Image courtesy of @brooklynmuseum

In this Community Conversations episode, Spelman College Arts Journalism students take on the role of producers and ask attendees at the "Beverly Buchanan—Ruins and Rituals" opening reception to share thoughts about the artist (1940-2015) and her work. "Beverly Buchanan—Ruins and Rituals," is on display from September 14th through December 2nd, 2017. Special thanks to Dr. Calaya Stallworth and her student producers: Clarissa M. Brooks Donna L. Davidson Imani N. Dickens Rakirah A. Fischer Mo'Esha M. Hicks Lauryn A. Lawrence Maia E. McGregory Rosalind Miller Rachel A. Moore Shala L. Murray Leah M. Proctor-Ford Destiny Y. Stone

"Beverly Buchanan--Ruins and Rituals" co-curators discuss the exhibition, on view at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art September 14 - December 2, 2017.

A continuation of our Community Conversation series features Danielle Gilmore and Kwajelyn Jackson. As employees of the Feminist Women’s Health Center, Gilmore and Jackson engage in conversation about the supervisor/mentor dynamic, initial impressions of each other, the importance of their work in reproductive justice, and the notion of the Black Woman’s Body as muse. This series is inspired by our current exhibition “Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities,” which is on view until May 20, 2017.

This Community Conversation series connects local Black women cultural producers with specific themes in our current exhibition, “Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities.” Today Dr. Collette Hopkins and her mentee Tabitha James, not only discuss the nature of their relationship, but the importance of child advocacy, believing in your dreams in the face of adversity, and intergenerational bonding.

This #BeYourOwnMuse community conversation features interdisciplinary artist Danielle Deadwyler and one of her mentors Joan McCarty. McCarty discusses her role as an educator in Spelman College’s Department of Theater and Performance, while Deadwyler describes the journey to reconnect with her craft after a few departures during her formative years. Both women reflect on their early impressions of each other and highlight the role that the Spelman community continues to play in informing the work they produce.

In the second part of this two-part conversation, Mickalene Thomas talks about "creating space," what she brings to her craft that a man could not, and why “tete-a-tate” is an important aspect of how she fosters context and dialogue with other artists and their work. Finally, Thomas details her collaboration with singer Solange Knowles, and what motherhood has taught her. Image: © Lyndsy Welgos

Mickalene Thomas joins the #BeYourOwnMuse podcast to discuss her latest exhibition, "Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities", on view at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art February 9th - May 20th, 2017. In the first part of this two-part conversation, Mickalene Thomas discusses her earliest muses, her mother as an important source of creative inspiration, and why she reveres female comediennes. She also explains her approaches video versus photography and her thoughts on creating a sense of invitation for the viewer and the subjects of her work. Image: © Lyndsy Welgos