The Magnificent Seven: Hayward Oubre's Students Works from The Paul Jone's Collection" is the title of an art exhibition that will be on display noon-4 p.m., weekdays through Saturday, May 31, in the gallery of the Perkins Student Center.
The exhibition of approximately 40 works includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, photographs, prints and mixed media by Oubre, then an art professor at Alabama State College (now University) and his students William Anderson, Herman Bailey, Arthur Britt, Floyd Coleman, John Feagin, Paul Gary and Harper T. Phillips.
Hayward Louis Oubre Jr. (1916- ) is a sculptor, painter, printmaker, educator, author and civil servant known for his contributions to the art world and the color wheel (a clarified approach to color mixing and color relationships). Among his renowned works are his wire sculptures: Prophet, Young Horse and Convolutions.
Oubre, was born in New Orleans, grew up in the city and attended local schools. In 1939, he was the first art major to earn a bachelor's degree from Dillard University. He continued his art studies at the prestigious, predominantly black Atlanta University, where he studied with two great artists, Harlem Renaissance sculptor Nancy Elizabeth Prophet and painter/muralist Hale Woodruff.
In 1940, he ventured to Tuskegee Institute to assist in putting some artistic work in the new student union being built on the campus. His stay was cut short when he was drafted into the Army in 1941 and sent to Alaska to help build the Alcan Highway, a 1,523-mile military supply route that extends from British Columbia to Fairbanks.
After his military tour of duty, Oubre returned home to complete his education under the G.I. bill and became the third African-American to receive a master of fine arts degree from the University of Iowa.
He went on to teach at Florida A&M University (1948), Alabama State College (now University) (1949-1965) and Winston-Salem State University (1965-1981). After retiring from the Winston-Salem State faculty in 1981, Oubre returned to the school to serve as curator of the Selma Burke Art Gallery, once located on the campus.
The imagination and creativity displayed in Oubre's work has earned him more than 50 exhibits, including permanent collection status at Atlanta University, and numerous awards including: Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in Black America and North Carolina's highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Special events being offered in conjunction with the exhibit include a talk by Gloria Wade Gayles, Eminent Scholar's Chair at Spelman College, who will speak on mentoring at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, in the Trabant University Center Theatre. An opening reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, in the Perkins Student Center Gallery. The talk and reception are free and open to the public. On Friday, March 21, artist Edward Loper will be in the Perkins Student Center East Lounge from 7-9 p.m for a fireside chat.
Other events being planned by a student committee include pizza with collector Paul R. Jones in Perkins and an informal discussion of the Jones' collection and the exhibition with entertainment and refreshments. Check UDaily for details.
For more information on the exhibition and the Jones Collection, contact curator Amalia Amaki, assistant professor of Black American Studies at UD, at 831-4075 or via e-mail at [amaki@udel.edu].
BETH THOMAS
'Magnificent Seven' SPECIAL EVENTS
|
DATE |
PROGRAM |
LOCATION |
TIME |
|
March 18 |
Lecture by Dr. Gloria Gayles Eminent Scholar's Chair Signed copies of books by Dr. Gayles, including Go Girl, My Soul is a Witness, No Crystal Stair, Rooted Against the Wind and Anointed to Fly, will be available for sale near the Campus Shop on the main level of the Trabant Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and continuing after the presentation. |
Trabant University Center Theatre |
7:30 p.m. |
|
March 19 |
Campus Reception |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. |
|
March 20 |
Community Reception |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
6 p.m. 8 p.m. |
|
March 21 |
Fireside Chat with Edward Loper |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
7 p.m. 9 p.m. |
|
April 11 |
Minority Overnight Program |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
|
|
April 12 |
Parents Board Delaware Diamonds and Legacy Society |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
1 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. |
|
May 3 |
Alumni Spring Reunion |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
2 p.m. 4 p.m. |
|
May 9 |
Honors Day Alumni Wall of Fame induction |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
noon 5 p.m.
|
|
May 30 |
Pre-Commencement |
Perkins Student Center Gallery |
5 p.m. 8 p.m.
|
|
May 31 |
Post-Commencement and Convocations |
11 a.m. 4 p.m. |
|
