Halima Taha

A revered Seattle-based artist calls for hope, faith, and truthBarbara Earl Thomas's new body of work carries within it the sediments of history and grapples with race and the color line. At the heart of it lies a story of life and death, hope and resilience—a child's survival. With her quietly glowing portraits of young Black boys and girls, Thomas puts before us the humble question: can we see, and be present to, the humanity, the trust, the hopes and dreams of each of these children?The Geography of Innocence offers a reexamination of Black portraiture and the preconceived dichotomies of innocence and guilt and sin and redemption, and the ways in which these notions are assigned and distorted along cultural and racial lines. Two interconnected visual arguments unfold: a portrait gallery of children from the artist's extended community and an illuminated environment that appears like a delicate paper lantern. To accompany the visual elements, the book's essays examine Thomas's work in the context of different art historical portraiture traditions and political relevance. Thomas also contributes an interview and an essay reflecting on the current climate in which the work exists.

Since he started collecting in the 1990s, Eric Key's intent has always been to help preserve America's Black experience in the arts, and to benefit the many communities of which he has been a part-opening gateways for artists, African Americans, and conversations about race, identity, and America. Featured in the volume are selected works by some of the most recognizable contemporary African American artists, including Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett, William Artis, Samella Lewis, and Renee Stout. Together, these artists work to dispel the many stereotypes and misunderstandings about African American art and people, but also remain a form of personal narrative. As Eric Key states, the works in his collection are an extension of himself, a Black man in a still mostly white art world; they are an extension of the country in which he lives and an extension of the artists who created them.

Hearne Fine Art in Little Rock, Arkansas, commemorates twenty years of exhibiting and promoting African American art with the publication of ""Collaborations"". The book, featuring internationally and nationally acclaimed artists, including eleven Arkansans, is complete with vivid color reproductions of the artwork of 57 artists. It is organized by medium and features work from artists who have exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at Hearne Fine Art. Each image is accompanied by a brief profile of the artist as well as a personal statement. It is a vibrant testimonial to the longevity and commitment to excellence that has come to be the trademark of this distinguished gallery. The selection of artists illuminates the diversity of styles and media and includes watercolor, pastel, sculpture, printmaking, photography, mixed media, fiber art, oil, and acrylic on canvas. ""Collaborations"" also includes a unique collection of titles from the ""Limited Editions Club"".