MS01.02.01 - Box 02 - Folder 16 - Correspondence, 1966-1973

[A postcard dated 11 Jan 1972/Farmington, N.M, entitled "Navajo Sand Painter" with description, on the upper-left-hand side, addressed to Mr. & Mrs. David Driskell - Fisk University - Dept. of Art - Nashville, Tenn. 37302 on the middle-right-hand side]

DEAR DAVID & THELMA: A FABULOUS STUDY TERM OUT HERE WITH 3O STUDENTS. WE WERE A WEEK IN SANTA FE BEFORE COMING HERE (FOR 6 DAYS). I WAS SO LUCKY TO MEET MISS GEORGIA O'KEEFFE & SHE THINKS SO HIGHLY OF YOU. SHE WAS AT ABAQUIU. HAD JUST FINISHED A NEW PAINTING. HER SIGHT IS FAILING FAST, VERY SAD. BUT SHE IS SO STRONG. WE VISIT AZTEC RUINS, MESA VERDE, SHIPROCK, CHACO CANYON HERE, THEN BACK TO SANTA FE FOR THE LAST WEEK OF MUSEUMS, RESEARCH & LIVING PUEBLOS & DANCES. FANTASTIC COLORS, LAND & SKY. ALL MY BEST, PEG RIGG

Professor Orishell, [American Eagle seal embossed stationery underneath which is also embossed in French: "Avec les compliments du Centre Culturel Americain] Greetings -- Here is the bulk of the materials you left with me. There are still a couple of articles and photos which are being processed which I will forward. Best wishes to you and your family for the holidays. Mary Gawronski

Interview with Professor David Driskell Nov 2, 1972 - Tunis, Tunisia In this interview, Professor Driskell talks about the history of American painting. He says that it started in the 17th century with interpretations of American life depicted in a primitive style prevailing at that time. Then he cites the influence of various European schools on American art and later the influence of the Armory show in New York at the beginning of the 20th Century with the works of famous artists such as Cezanne and his followers. He then cites the parrell[sic] [parallel?] contributions of Black Americans to American art. After citing the impetus from the Harlem Renaissance, he says that current American trend in painting is to give more emphasis on the idea of rather than the form or style. Answering another question, Professor Driskell says that there is a black art of painting and the white in the U.S. but the black is part of the American art in general. Explaining both, he says that the white expresses timely things and is like a peom[sic] [poem?] that talks about beauty and love. But the black is giving priority to the idea and the purpose over the form and style. Black artists have been using their art for serving causes of their community and for enlightening their people. And the black art was born to express in a strong way the problems faced by the black Americans. Regarding the extent of interest in paintings from the part of Americans, Professor Driskel says that it used to attract the wealthy, the upper and middle classes because paintings were expensive. He cited the new trend to reduce prices of paintings and which is making it possible for other classes to purchase works of art. Painting must become an instrument for social betterment and must contribute in helping people improve their lot, Professor Driskell concludes. (Biography of Professor Driskell is carried.) ####

[Embossed stationery showing calligraphic "Happy Easter" sayings translated in Swahili, English, French, German and Italian] To: Mr. David Driskell: Greetings from Dar es Salaam. from William Macha College of Nat. Edn. Box 2329, DSM, Tanzania

College of National Education DSM PO Box 2329 Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 13/4/73 Dear Mr. Driskell: Greetings from hot Dar es Salaam. I hope it is not too late for me to express my sincere and personal gratitudes for the cordial art instructions you gave us during your brief visit here in Tanzania last December. I am happy to say that I am now putting the theories in practice and especially, I have come to like the egg-tempera painting. Also at the moment I am doing some Christmas card designs and I am using the college method you taught us. Perhaps when some of these are printed I will send you some samples. Our one-year art course is going to end in about two months' time and we will be going to the field to teach art. It will be a challenge to us especially since it is a new course in most teachers' colleges, and moreover there has been no proper syllabus or equipment for it. Even though, for the past few months we have spent a lot of time discussing scheme of work as well as trying to chart out a simple syllabus. We hope this will help us a great deal. Perhaps you may be kind enough to send me any secondhand art magazines or journals that you no longer use. I shall appreciate it very much. I enclose herewith a sample of one of my card designs for this Easter. It looks more or less a poster and I call it "Ressurrection[sic] of Christ". P.T.O.