While I was in Knoxville for the opening of Through the Unusual Door, the exquisite monographic exhibition of Beauford's work at the Knoxville Museum of Art, I had the pleasure of returning to the Beck Cultural Center, which is Knoxville's storehouse of African-American history and culture and a primary repository of black history and culture in East Tennessee. Beck is restoring the Delaney family home on Dandridge Avenue with the intent to create The Delaney Museum at Beck.
Delaney home on Dandridge Avenue
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president, Rev. Reneé Kesler, gave a private, guided tour of the center and proudly presented several items recovered from the home. She also spoke passionately about the original performing arts tribute to Beauford and the Delaney family that she is writing and producing. It is called The Art of Delaney: Redeeming, Reconciling & Healing. Through this Black History Month show, she will interconnect the story of the Delaney family with the story of African-American history through the arts.
Photo of the Delaney Family, 1909
Top, left to right: Samuel Emery, John Samuel, Delia
Bottom, left to right: Joseph, Ogust Mae, Beauford, Naomi
Image © Discover Paris!
Rev. Kesler says that “Beauford Delaney is by far the most important artist Knoxville produced in the twentieth century, at least in terms of national and international reputation. This special tribute will showcase the influence of Beauford’s art and its ability to redeem, reconcile and heal, at a time when we need it the most."
Hosted by Dr. Maxine Thompson Davis, former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life at the University of Tennessee Knoxville,The Art of Delaney will feature several acts:
The Art of Delaney will be performed at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay St in downtown Knoxville on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 PM.
Bijou Theatre
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students K-12 and are available online at Ticketmaster (fees apply). Bijou tickets can be purchased at the Tennessee Theatre box office located at 224 Clinch Avenue on the side of the theatre ($1.00 fee).
The performance is sponsored by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and the Bijou Theatre with support from UBS Financial Services.
Beauford Delaney banner on Gay Street
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
© Wells International Foundation
Beck's president, Rev. Reneé Kesler, gave a private, guided tour of the center and proudly presented several items recovered from the home. She also spoke passionately about the original performing arts tribute to Beauford and the Delaney family that she is writing and producing. It is called The Art of Delaney: Redeeming, Reconciling & Healing. Through this Black History Month show, she will interconnect the story of the Delaney family with the story of African-American history through the arts.
Top, left to right: Samuel Emery, John Samuel, Delia
Bottom, left to right: Joseph, Ogust Mae, Beauford, Naomi
Image © Discover Paris!
Rev. Kesler says that “Beauford Delaney is by far the most important artist Knoxville produced in the twentieth century, at least in terms of national and international reputation. This special tribute will showcase the influence of Beauford’s art and its ability to redeem, reconcile and heal, at a time when we need it the most."
Hosted by Dr. Maxine Thompson Davis, former Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life at the University of Tennessee Knoxville,The Art of Delaney will feature several acts:
- - Music by the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir, which is celebrating over ten years of concert performances under the direction of Jeanie Turner Melton.
- - Singing performance of the final scene from Okoye’s Harriet Tubman by Adia Evans, accompanied by Brian Salesky, Executive and Artistic Director of the Knoxville Opera.
- - West African drum and dance performances by the Austin East Magnet High School performing arts department under the direction of Malaika Guthrie.
- - Fashions that bring art to life by Yvette Rice of YR Productions.
- - Music by saxophonist Casey McClintock.
- - Presentation of the award-winning theatrical performance, “The Cure” by Dalton Miksa of Morristown West High School and Chris Cox of the University of Alabama.
- - Portrayals of Beauford's mother, Delia Delaney, by Artece Slay and Beauford by Malik Baines.
The Art of Delaney will be performed at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay St in downtown Knoxville on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 PM.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students K-12 and are available online at Ticketmaster (fees apply). Bijou tickets can be purchased at the Tennessee Theatre box office located at 224 Clinch Avenue on the side of the theatre ($1.00 fee).
The performance is sponsored by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and the Bijou Theatre with support from UBS Financial Services.
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
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