I am pleased to present Part 2 of this multi-part article about Beauford's works at Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries in Atlanta, GA. Many thanks to Tina Dunkley and her assistant Cynthia Ham for providing the interview and images upon which this article is based.
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Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries
Image from CAUAG Web site
When the shipment arrived in Atlanta, Dunkley began the inventory process anew and was disappointed to find that only twenty-six (26) of the thirty-three (33) works had been sent. Only seven of the eleven Delaney paintings arrived, and some of these were different than the ones indicated on the inventory list.
The shipment contained the following paintings by Beauford:
- Yellow Cypress, 1972, oil on canvas
- Unknown Portrait (inscription: Saint Paul), 1971, oil on canvas
- Portrait of James Baldwin*, 1971, oil on canvas
- Man in Blue, 1972, oil on canvas
- Abstraction: Yellow and Orange, 1972, watercolor
- Village (Saint Paul de Vence), 1972, oil on canvas
- Abstract: Yellow and Red, 1967, oil on canvas
None are on display at present.
During our interview, Dunkley emphatically stated that Beauford's works, as well as those of his brother, Joseph, are very important. Both Delaneys exhibited their paintings at the historic Atlanta University Art Annual Exhibition, which was founded by Hale Woodruff in 1942. Joseph Delaney won a cash award of $250 during the fifth annual exhibition in 1946 for a painting called East River. He participated in five shows in all (1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, and 1960).
Excerpt from the "School and College News" column
of The Crisis Magazine
June 1946
Beauford Delaney participated once in the Atlanta University Art Annuals in 1951, submitting an oil painting entitled
Blue Harlem. Unfortunately, no measurements or images are available for this work.
Dunkley said it is important that CAUAG have works by both Delaneys in their collection for this reason. She does not recall if the galleries have ever hung their works in the same exhibit, but says that she plans to do so in the future. She likes the fact that the color "yellow" became a predominant theme in Beauford's work, and notes that yellow is the primary color used in most of his paintings in CAUAG's collection.
To learn more about CAUAG's historic art collections, click
here.
In Part 3 of this article, learn more about the paintings.
*Some question whether the person depicted in this portrait is indeed Baldwin.
