Samella Lewis (Finding Aid)

Samella Lewis

1924 -

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Shrimp Creole

Favorite Time of Year: Autumn

Favorite Vacation Spot: The Caribbean

Interview Length: 290 minutes

Interview Date(s): August 24, 2003, May 22, 2004

Interview Location(s): 1900 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 1900 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Ill, 1900 S. Mighigan Ave., Chicago, Ill, 1900 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill

Abstract

Artist and art historian Samella Lewis Artist and art historian Samella Lewis recalls the Louisiana of her youth. She recalls being frightened by the mayhem of Mardi Gras and perplexed why the black Mardi Gras clubs called themselves 'Zulus'. Lewis further describes her youhtful rebellion against the segregation and racism of New Orleans. She also describes the source of friction between blacks, creoles and cajuns. Artist and art historian Samella Lewis discusses her artistic apprenticeship under Elizabeth Catlett while a student at Dillard University. Lewis describes her early works and inspirations and how a one piece, painted with house paint, ended up in Hampton's museum. SHe also recalls a controversial painting of a black Christ and the upraor it caused on campus. Artist and art historian, Samella Lewis, adds more layers of detail to her artisitc and political tutelage under Elizabeth Catlett while at Dillard and later Hampton Institute. Lewis also recalls a professor and mentor, Vikto Lowenfeld, who escaped Austria just ahead of the Nazis, and taught at Hampton. Artist and art historian Samella Lewis details her political involvement during the 1950s at while working on her masters and PhD. She recalls Artist and art historian, Samella Lewis details her political activism and its effect on her artisistc endeavors. Lewis recalls the McCarthy Communist baiting era and how it filtered into the art department at FAMU. Accused of being a Communist, Lewis found herself under intense scrutiny from Florida's governor and the all-white board of trustees. She also details the difficulties Elizabeth Catlett faced due to her union and political activism while at Dillard and Hampton. Artist and art historian, Samella Lewis discusses the Native American and African Art and its place in the arts pantheon. She also traces the influence of Native American, Chinese, Japanese and African art to 20th century artists like Elizabeth Catlett or Jackson Pollack. Artist and art historian Samella Lewis opines on the low status of black art during the 1960s, the rise of the Black Arts Movement and her association with noteable artists like Jacob Lawrence, David Driskell, Elizabeth Catlett among others. Lewis also recalls a protest at LACMA in the late 1960s for its refusal to incorporate any mention of African art in a Cubist exhibition. Artist and art historian, Samella Lewis Artist and art historian, Samella Lewis,

69 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)