Voicing Art

Jenne Glover
From the Heart Art Gallery

Increasing awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of the visual arts---people, processes, culture

In This Issue…

• Editor's Perspective: Are You Emotionally Intelligent?
• Contemporary Photographer: Llewellyn “Lew” Berry – From Hobbyist to Professor
• Dr. Selma Burke: Sculptor, Educator, Designer of Roosevelt Dime
• Upcoming Event: “Common Bond XI” at the Strathmore Hall Arts Center

Editor's Perspective: Are You Emotionally Intelligent?

We may consider ourselves intelligent, tough-minded leaders, but did you know that intelligence goes beyond I.Q., analytical and technical skills, and determination? And, as a matter of fact, some circles are suggesting that instead of keen intellects and business acumen, great leaders are equipped with a healthy dose of emotional intelligence. And, what does it mean to be emotionally intelligent? It’s the level of calm, compassionate, cool or lack thereof that we use to manage ourselves and our relationships with other people.

The 5 components to emotional intelligence:

1. Self-awareness -- Knowing your strengths and limits.
2. Self-regulation -- Controlling disruptive emotions and impulses.
3. Motivation -- Pursuing goals despite obstacles and set backs.
4. Empathy -- Understanding other perspectives, finding common ground, and building rapport
.
5. Social skills – Managing relationships and building networks.

It may be a soft skill, but studies are showing that managers with a certain critical mass of emotional intelligence outperform those managers that lack a critical mass. If you want to find out more, here are two great sources.

Emotional Intelligence Resources:

Contemporary Photographer: Llewellyn Berry – From Hobbyist to Professor

Capture the moment,
Shoot, shoot, shoot…

Washington, D.C. is a major hub in the cultural wheel of fortune. And, living in D.C., it’s easy to overlook the rich culture that swells in the tiny city, because there’s so much going on all of the time, but this is a blessing because talented people and cultural events can be found at every turn. Llewellyn “Lew” Berry and I have been connected for a long time. As a child, he was a camper and later a counselor at the12th Street Anthony Bowen YMCA (D.C.) where my dad worked during the summer. And, our fathers had been classmates at Wilberforce University in the 1920’s.

Lew’s passion for photography began in his childhood, mostly by his desire to document family events. His dad was a chemist, serologist, and supervisor of the clinical labs at Freedman’s Hospital. And, while a photographer in the Army he took lots of pictures. Lew was fascinated with black and white photos, especially from the 30’s and 40’s, and once he got his Brownie camera, his hobby in photography emerged. After graduating from McKinley Tech High School (D.C.), Lew pursued a double major in psychology and comparative literature at Parson’s College in Fairfield, Iowa. While there, he began honing his crafts as news editor and photographer for the school paper. Desiring high quality prints, he realized that he must learn to develop his film. The staff photographer taught him how to develop and from then on he began exploring the joy of having control over the highlights and shadowing of his images.

After graduating from college, the escalating Viet Nam War and having lottery draft #54 detoured Lew from working as a copywriter at an ad agency in New York City, but as fate would have it, he failed the physical and landed a job as a writer-editor for the D.C. Public Schools. After one year writing brochures, proposals, finding grants, and doing photography, in 1970, he decided to leave the school system to start a magazine called Pan Arts. His goal was to showcase budding artists, writers, and graphic designers. Having no operating capital and insufficient ads to keep the publication afloat, he was forced to move on and worked briefly with John Smith and the marketing company, Relections Unlimited, which published Reflect Magazine that unfortunately ended after four issues.

Out of work, Lew presented his portfolio to David Aaronson, Director of the the Literary Arts Program, a creative, hands-on workshop for high school juniors and seniors, and was hired to teach creative photography. With funding from the Hattie M. Strong Foundation, Lew created the Urban Journalism Workshop which eventually joined with the Literary Arts Program to become the Literary and Media Arts Program offered at the Lemuel Penn Career Development Center from 1974-1985. And, in 1986, the program moved to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Although Lew was still teaching photojournalism, the program shifted some of its focus from a print format to broadcast media. Lew began working as an intern at WKYS, WPFW, WTOP, Radio Smithsonian, and National Public Radio learning production techniques in radio production and broadcast journalism. In addition to training students in audio engineering, Lew has trained hundreds of photographers to compete in the fast paced journalism industry and many of his students have gone on to successful careers with leading news services, newspapers, and magazines.

Lew is animated as he talks about his adventures as a photographer and the dynamics in developing a print. He talks about the split second it takes to catch or lose “the decisive moment” when everything is just right; and that when developing, capturing the highlights and shadows is a symbiotic dance. Technology has definitely interfered with the peace of mind and pockets of photographers working in black and white film because developing has become an expensive process. Undaunted by the changing times, he continues to find inspiration everywhere. His biggest challenge is time, his biggest hurdle is having the money to do what he loves, and his biggest successes are his students.

Lew believes it is important to study the history of photography because there is a lot to understand about the Masters and their practices that are still applicable even in the digital age. Always willing to share insights on photography, he advises aspiring photographers and filmmakers to read magazines on photography, especially those that focus on classic black and white, like Black and White Photography and Masters of Photography: Aperture, by Henri Cartier-Bresson. Research books on Film Noir and German Expressionism in film.

Some must reads are The Autobiography of Ansel Adams, Zone System Manual by Minor White, Tete-A-Tete, and An Inner Silence: Portraits by Henri Cartier-Bresson.

And, the James Van Der Zee books are a wonderful collection of black and white and Sepia Toned period photographs.

Other tips include:

1. Learn your instrument. Whichever camera you find comfortable, learn it as thoroughly as possible.
2. Begin to earnestly look at what light does. Observe where light falls on different surfaces, the shadows, textures, and forms. Learn how intense it can be and when it is subtle.
3. Study photography in feature magazines and news venues. Look at what’s happening in artistic photography and the art schools.
4. Don't be afraid to mimic or imitate the masters. Even though you may try you will not disturb their acclaim, but you will learn a lot in the process.
5. When you shoot, shoot a lot. Exhaust the subject. Shoot verticals and horizontals. Shoot close ups and wide angles. Don't be afraid to make mistakes because that's how you learn.

Lew’s been exhibiting and selling his pieces for many years. He was founder and principal artist at Kindalew Gallery and a member of the Photographer’s Collective at the International Visions Gallery. He is represented by the Parish Gallery in Georgetown. And, his life has come full circle, after retiring he has begun a second career as Director of Admissions, Alumni and Business Affairs at his alma mater, McKinley Technology High School. See more photos at www.parishgallery.com or contact him at 202-281-3950 x5225 or 202-812-1797 or at photolewie@aol.com.

Dr. Selma Burke: Sculptor, Educator, Designer of Roosevelt Dime

Gifted hands, brilliant mind…
Thirsty for knowledge

It’s not unusual for artist to go unnoticed in their lifetime. And, our nation’s racially biased history has denied many black artists from gaining their accolades. So it comes as no surprise that few know that a black woman designed the Franklin Rooselvelt dime.

In 1943, Dr. Selma Burke, noted sculptor and teacher, won a competition sponsored by the Fine Arts Commission for the District of Columbia. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt posed for the artist who created a bronze plaque portrait of the president. Although her portrait graces the face of the dime, she never received proper credit since the coin bears the initials of the engraver. Dr. Burke’s bronze plaque can be seen at the Recorder of Deeds in Washington, D.C.

Upcoming Event: “Common Bond XI” at the Strathmore Hall Arts Center - Bethesda, Md

Art Collectors --- Mark Your Calendars, Common Bond XI returns to the Strathmore from May 31 to July 12, 2008.

The Common Bond Exhibitions began in 1996 with Howard University artists John P. Beckley, Richard Fitzhugh, Barbara Hardaway, and Wayland House. It has since blossomed into an exhibition of works of more than 30 African-American artists and they all are linked to the original four. This exciting exhibition weaves a variety of media and themes together to celebrate diverse artistic expressions.

Other artists featured are Gwen Aqui, Vinnie Bagwell, Juette Johnson Day, William Dorsey, Patsy Fleming, Liani Foster, Thomas Gomielion, Jenne Glover, Jacqueline Ann Grace, Bill Harris, Antoinette S. Hodges, Sylvia Moore Jackson, Jeanne C. Jarvis, Doris Colbert Kennedy, Clayton Lang, Viola Burley Leak, Jacqueline Lee, Margruder Murray, Clarence Page, Elbert R. Roberson, Peter L. Robinson, Jr., George H. Smith-Shomari, Betty Williams Snell, and James Taylor.

Opening Reception – Friday, June 20, 2008 - 7:00 p.m. – 9:000 p.m.

Art Talk - Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m.

The Art of Edith Strange - June 3, 2008 to July 12, 2008 - A retrospective of the work of watercolor, collage, and miniatures of the artist.

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Jenne at Attitude Exact, Washington, D.C. Photo by Leon James

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