Macy’s celebrates Black History Month with special events honoring the legacy of famed artist Romare Bearden.
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Romare Bearden’s birth, select Macy’s stores nationwide will highlight some of the artist’s most important works via special exhibitions and events.
This February, a unique American master returns to the spotlight as Macy’s celebrates Black History Month with special events and exhibits dedicated to famed artist Romare Bearden. In conjunction with the Romare Bearden Foundation, Macy’s honors the rich history and legacy of the incomparable artist, writer, and musician in celebration of this year’s 100th anniversary of his birth.
Romare Howard Bearden’s life was marked by the pursuit of art in all of its forms. A prolific creator, Bearden’s work encompassed art, music, design, history, and literature. During his lifetime (1911-1988), Bearden experimented with many different mediums and artistic styles, but is best known for his richly textured collages. However, his diverse interests included costume and set design for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Nanette Bearden’s Contemporary Dance Theatre, music composition and literary work such as his famed children’s book Li’l Dan, The Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story.
“Macy’s is thrilled to partner with the Romare Bearden Foundation in celebration of the life and work of one of America’s preeminent artists,” said Dineen Garcia, Macy’s vice-president of Diversity Strategies. “Every year, as we honor the contributions of African-Americans with our Black History Month events, we hope to empower a new generation, through a look back at some of our nation’s most important leaders. Throughout his life, Romare Bearden brought his exceptional talents to a wide range of interests, cementing his unique place in history and blazing a trail for those who followed.”
“The Romare Bearden Foundation is pleased to partner with Macy’s on the occasion of the centennial celebration. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote to a wider audience the accomplishments of Bearden and his gifts to society,” said Co-Directors Johanne Bryant Reid and Diedra Harris Kelley. “Through our traveling shows, archives, and publications we aim to make Bearden’s artistic legacy accessible to all.”
The Romare Bearden Foundation was established in 1990 as a non-profit organization by the estate of Romare Bearden (1911-1988) to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of this preeminent American artist.
The fgoundation is one of the oldest foundations established by an African American visual artist. For more information www.beardenfoundation.org
To celebrate the artist’s centennial, Macy’s will spotlight Mr. Bearden’s work through special exhibitions featuring watercolors, prints, oil on paper and dramatic black and white photostats that date from 1964 to 1984, when Romare Bearden was at the peak of his artistic power. These satellite exhibits will showcase some rarely displayed works loaned by private collectors, in addition to works on loan from local galleries.
Taking place at eleven Macy’s locations nationwide including stores in New Orleans, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Washington, DC and Miami, the exhibits will be supplemented by works from artists influenced and inspired by Bearden.
Opening receptions will further highlight Bearden’s artistic endeavors including music, highlighted by performances from a new generation of jazz musicians playing his compositions, which have been previously recorded by masters including Branford Marsalis, Tito Puente and Billy Eckstine.
Additional in-store celebrations will include children’s collage making events, special readings of Bearden’s children’s book, Li’l Dan, The Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story, as well as cooking demonstrations from local chefs featuring Bearden’s favorite recipes and Caribbean dishes from the out of print cookbook, Ma Chance’s French Caribbean Creole Cooking, which he illustrated.
At the opening receptions, customers will have the opportunity to receive a 15 percent off community shopping pass, and a $10 Macy’s gift card. Additionally, with a purchase of $50 or more, while supplies last, customers can receive a printed scarf featuring Romare Bearden’s most revered work, The Lamp.
From February 2-23, Macy’s will also offer the opportunity to enter for the chance to win a trip for two to Paris, Romare Bearden’s beloved city and the inspiration for his work on the project Paris Blues Revisited. Courtesy of American Airlines, the prize includes round-trip coach air travel, hotel and a $500 Macy’s shopping spree. American Airlines is a proud partner of Macy’s Black History Month celebration. (Please visit www.macys.com/celebrate for complete entry rules or visit the event store for more information)
New York’s centennial celebratioins kicked off Thursday, Feb. 9 at Macy’s Herald Square at 6:00 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until Feb.12.
The Romare Bearden Foundation was established in 1990 as a non-profit organization by the estate of Romare Bearden (1911-1988) to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of this preeminent American artist.
