The Bowie State University Art Collection is a diverse collection of art and artifacts that reflect the art of African Americans as well as cultural expressions from parts of Africa and South America.

The core of the BSU Art Collection was formed by works donated by Mr. James C. Mason of the world-renowned Smith-Mason collection and works donated by Mr. Warren Henry Brown Jr., a career diplomat and professor emeritus of Bowie State University.

The Smith-Mason Gallery is generally recognized as the one of the first galleries in the Washington, DC to dedicate itself to the support and promotion of art by African American artists during the 1960's.

The collection reflects a diversity of styles ranging from realism to non-objective abstract art. There is also a wide variety of media represented, including oils, acrylics, pen and inks, printmaking, watercolors, collage, copper repousse, and sculpture. Works are by many well-known artists as well as lesser-known artists. A a partial lists includes James A. Porter, James L. Wells., Elizabeth Catlett, Peter Robinson, Leon Hicks, and Keith Morrison.

The donated collection of Mr. Warren Brown reflects from areas where he served in U.S. embassies in Southern Africa, Libya, Ghana, and Guatemala, as well as areas in the Middle East. There is an extensive collection of shona sculpture from Southern Africa including internationally known sculptors Boira Mteki and Joseph Ndandarika. There are also paintings and works of paper by African artists Kuire Msangi and Charles Mungolo, among others. Other media include copper repousse from Africa and South America, and carvings and reliefs in wood, stone and metals.

For more information please contact Professor Clayton Lang, Gallery Director. The BSU Gallery islocated in the new Fine and Performing Arts Center (FPAC) 2nd floor, Ph: 301-860-3719 or email him at clang@bowiestate.edu.

CURRENT EXHIBITION:


BEARDEN@BOWIE

October 20-31, 2012

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Starting on Thursday, Sept. 20, gallery hours are:

• Monday, 12-4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, 12-7 p.m.
• Thursday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, 2-7 p.m.

Special events scheduled during the exhibit include:

• Opening Reception
  Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, 6-8 p.m.
  Recital Hall, BSU Fine and Performing Arts Center
  Guest speaker: Diedra Harris-Kelley, Bearden's niece and co-director of the Bearden Foundation
  Light refreshments will be served after a short program.
  
  
• "Bearden and the Art of Collecting" Panel Discussion
  Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, 6-8 p.m.
  Recital Hall, BSU Fine and Performing Arts Center
  
  Opening remarks: Dorothe Rohan Dow, Bearden's sister-in-law
  Panelists include:
  
  
• Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, director of the Center for Race and Culture, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore
• Dr. Michelle Wilkinson, director of Collections and Exhibitions, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, Baltimore
• Juanita Hardy, local art collector and board member, Brandywine Workshop, Philadelphia
• Wisson West, owner, Gallery Serengeti, Capitol Heights, Md.
• Dr. Dianne Whitfield-Locke, local art collector and lender to the "Bearden at Bowie" exhibit

FunkyMonk from Tewodross Melchishua (TSC) on Vimeo.