Atlanta Daily World

Spelman Museum 'Multiple Choice' Exhibition Offers New Perspectives

Stepping into the archives housing the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art permanent collection is like diving into a treasure trove of mixed media. Paintings, textiles, prints and sculptures by Faith Ringgold, iona rozeal brown, Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett, and Hale Woodruff are among the 350 pieces in the collection.

The museum has opened the doors of its collection storage to friends and champions of the institution, who have in turn, helped to create the upcoming exhibition, "Multiple Choice: Perspectives on the Spelman College Collection."

As part of this unique project, students, faculty, staff, friends of the museum, alumnae, and other stakeholders have been invited to view the college's art collection, select an object, and then document their responses. The responses from 50 participants will be shared with museum visitors via object labels, recorded video statements, social media, and other interactive means. "Multiple Choice" will be on view from Feb. 7-May 18.

Spelman College's permanent holdings are a rich resource. African, ethnographic, and three-dimensional artifacts comprise the core of the permanent holdings, which date back to the 1940s.

The collection of African art includes works from Cameroon, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. The permanent holdings also include works by celebrated artists including Beverly Buchanan, Sheila Pree Bright, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Lalla Essaydi, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Nandipha Mntambo, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, and many others.
Alumnae, faculty, staff, students, scholars, and the general public regularly inquire about works in the College's permanent collection and offer insightful feedback and reflections.

Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., director of the museum, explained, "'Multiple Choice' offers the unprecedented opportunity for an array of stakeholders to select, engage, and discuss specific works. Two factors helped guide the project: first, that it was challenging for most to choose just one work and secondly, that as in multiple choice tests, the answer is more often than not 'all of the above.'"

Members of the community taking part in the exhibition include Chris Appleton, founder and executive director of WonderRoot; Lucinda Bunnen, photographer and arts patron; Arthur J. Clement, architect and president of Clement & Wynn program managers; Tananarive Due, Spelman College Cosby Endowed Chair in the Humanities and an award-winning science fiction author; Leatrice Ellzy, managing partner of Beatrix Moss and member of the Fulton County Arts Council; Michelle S. Hite, Ph.D., Spelman College department of English lecturer; Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., president and CEO of UNCF; Susan J. Ross, photo-griot; and Daryl White, Ph.D., Spelman College professor of anthropology.

"'Multiple Choice' is an open invitation for viewers to have firsthand engagement with the college's growing collection," said Anne Collins Smith, the curator of collections. "This project challenges the widespread idea that museums are exclusive institutions that are inaccessible to the general public. 'Multiple Choice' affirms viewing art is an interactive experience and quenches the contemporary thirst for on-demand access."

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is located in the Atlanta University Center on the Spelman College campus on the first floor of the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center at 350 Spelman Lane. For visitors using GPS navigations systems, the following address will bring you directly to the entrance of Spelman College: 440 Westview Drive, S.W. Atlanta, Ga. 30310.

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays, Mondays, major holidays and during official college breaks. For more information on the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, visit spelmanmuseum.org.

City Councilman H. Lamar Willis launches 100 Mile Challenge Walk/Run

Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis is inviting Atlantans to join him for the 100 Mile Challenge Walk/Run campaign – an on-going event designed to encourage residents to get and stay healthy.

During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.

Weighing in at 330 lbs, Willis began his weight loss challenge late 2011 and met his ultimate goal of shedding 100 pounds in October 2012. He currently weighs in at 223.

For him the tipping point was when he was denied life insurance due to his weight.

"I had no hypertension, no high blood pressure, never had any health issues but I was still denied life insurance. That scared he me," he said. "When someone else believes you may not be here tomorrow it becomes a wake-up call. From then on I was determined to prove them wrong and help others lose weight and keep it off as well."

Now Willis' challenge is part of the City of Atlanta's on-going health and fitness campaign. During the kick-off announcement, Willis was joined by Mayor Kasim Reed, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Yvonne Yancy and nationally acclaimed fitness guru Dr. Ian K. Smith
As part of his daily diet, Willis said for breakfast he has fresh fruit. For lunch he has a soup and salad and dinner is fish or beef as an occasional treat.

But exercising on a regular basis is key to success. Today he exercises seven days a week which includes lifting weights and riding an elliptical.

Residents who would like to take part in the 100 Mile Challenge call the Office of City Councilman H. Lamar Willis at 404-330-6041 for a walk/run opportunity near you.

Photo Cutline: (From L to R) Interim Director of Special Events Joy Brown, Chief of Staff Candace Byrd, City Councilman H. Lamar Willis, Dr. Ian Smith, City Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor Kasim Reed, Department of Human Resources Commissioner Yvonne Yancey and City Attorney Cathy Hampton

The Black Women's Expo (TBWE) Announces 2013 Dates at McCormick Place

The Black Women's Expo (TBWE), the number one national destination event for African American women in the Midwest, will return to McCormick Place April 5 - 7.

The Expo is now in its 19th year and expected attendance is over 30,000. State Farm is serving as the title sponsor for the three-day exposition designed to empower, enlighten and educate women and girls of all ages. TBWE features informative seminars, insightful workshops, motivational speakers, bestselling authors and a variety of sponsored exhibits and pavilions. Walgreens will serve as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2013 event.

"The Expo's primary emphasis for 2013 event, as it has been for the past 18 years, is on the aspirations, opportunities and challenges of African American women", said Merry Green, president and CEO of MGPG Events and creator of the Expo. "Moreover, we are extremely excited about the power of our partnership with Real Times Media to further explore these themes".

In a unique partnership with Real Times Media (RTM) TBWE will now reach audiences across the nation. RTM is a multimedia conglomerate that oversees print, news, directories, media, digital, events and entertainment holdings in some 25 markets and will help extend the reach of TBWE to new markets across the country.

The goal of the partnership is to leverage both organizations unique expertise in engagement marketing and event production and demonstrated success with large-scale multi-market events including the hugely successful "Who's Who" franchise.

"RTM has both the reach and resources to increase the visibility of TBWE, as the MGPG team continues its relentless focus on content and quality", says Hiram Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media. "Real Times Media has always realized the significance of the African American consumer, even more so we recognize the influence women have over household buying decisions. This partnership with MGPG Events and The Black Women's Expo is a match with unrivaled potential."

The Black Women's Expo continues to offer the perfect venue for small to mid-sized businesses and large corporations to reach the all-important African American consumer. African American consumers are over 42 million strong with an annual buying power of nearly one trillion dollars. At the Exhibitor Marketplace, businesses and corporations have the opportunity to reach out and touch this valued consumer segment at the grassroots level and expose them directly to their products and services through sales, distributions, and personal interactions.

As in previous years, TBWE will feature national experts in a variety of fields to address topics that are particularly important to African American women. Health and wellness, financial literacy, careers, business ownership, female-male relationships, green living, children's health and much more will be addressed in
a variety of settings. Expo Pavilions include Kidz Korner, Health & Wellness, Literary Café, Natural Hair and Relax & Renew. Additionally, TBWE will be announcing their live entertainment line-up shortly.

TBWE has introduced a number of innovations for 2013, sure to be a hit with attendees and vendors. As in past years The Black Women's Expo will host its Phenomenal Woman Awards Gala on Thursday April 4.

Follow the conversation using #theblackwomensexpo

Atlanta City Council Mandates Carbon Monoxide Detectors in All Public Buildings

At Monday's regularly scheduled meeting of the Atlanta City Council, the body voted to approve legislation mandating the use of carbon monoxide detectors in public buildings (legislative reference no. 12-O-1825).

Public Safety Committee Chair and Post 1 At-Large Councilmember Michael Julian Bond pushed for passage of the legislation following the carbon monoxide scare at Finch Elementary School last year.

"This legislation protects our children. We have no higher duty than to ensure their safety, and this legislation does that," said Bond. "Not only will every school and public building in the city now be outfitted with the necessary carbon monoxide detectors, but we have now developed consistent procedures across the city for regularly inspecting this equipment."

Under the new legislation, every public building under the jurisdiction of the City of Atlanta must be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors and warning equipment effective July 1. This equipment will be monitored and inspected regularly to ensure proper maintenance in accordance with regulations established by Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.

Exposure to carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless, can cause serious harm including headache, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, confusion, and at high levels, loss of consciousness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, every year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, with more than 20,000 requiring a trip to the emergency room.