Charles Sebree Archives - Galerie Myrtis

A Passion for Collecting-The Vision of Louis Allan Ford

A Passion for Collecting: The Vision of Louis Allan Ford (1942-2020)

October 30 – January 29, 2022
by appt. only

Featured Artists: Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Allan Rohan Crite, David Driskell, Victor Ekpuk, Sam Gilliam, Ronald Jackson, Lois Mailou Jones, Joseph Holston, Charles Sebree, Alma Thomas, James Wells, and many more…

view artwork | view exhibition catalog

A Passion for Collecting: The Vision of Louis Allan Ford is a testament to Ford’s cultural pride and the legacy he built through collecting. As a patron of the arts, Louis Ford was a familiar and beloved figure on the Washington metropolitan art scene. His passion for African and African American art is reflected in the collection he amazed of nearly two hundred items. Ford acquired utilitarian and ceremonial objects of West Africa and historically significant works of art created by prominent and emerging contemporary artists. He was also a treasure hunter and was known for discovering rare works at estate sales and auction houses.

Ford was a graduate of Dunbar High School and Howard University. He was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Ford served in the U.S. Air Force and after a brief stint in the federal government found his niche in real estate, creating opportunities for homeownership for many African American families.

Audio excerpts: In 2010 Louis Ford took part in the Art of the Collectors II discussion at Galerie Myrtis.

Louis comments about his art collection.

Why do you collect art?

Louis visits Sam Gilliam's studio.

Gallery Talk

Exploring the Life of Adolphus Ealey and the Barnett…

Exploring the Life of Adolphus Ealey and the Barnett Aden Gallery

This Gallery Talk explores the life of Dr. Adolphus Ealey (1941-1992) who served as the curator and director of The Barnett Aden Gallery, which was founded in 1943, by Professor James Herring of Howard University and his student, Alonzo Aden, the first curator. The gallery helped to launch the careers of artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, David Driskell, John Farrar, Lois Mailou Jones, Herman Maril, Delilah Pierce, James Porter, Céline Marie Tabary, Charles Sebree, Henry O. Tanner, Alma Thomas, Laura Wheeler Waring, James Wells, Charles White, Ellis Wilson and Hale Woodruff. The gallery operated for 26 years in Washington, D.C. and was the nation’s first successful black-owned art gallery.

Myrtis Bedolla, Curator, will share insights about the pioneering Barnett Aden Gallery and Ealey’s role as its second curator and director, and examine his career as artist and scholar. In 1969, Ealey inherited the famed Barnett-Aden collection which consisted of over 250 works of art by 19th and 20th century artists. The most revered pieces were those created by African Americans. Today, the majority of the collection is owned by Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Bedolla will also address why the Barnett Aden Gallery was established; how the collection was built, why Ealey sold the collection for $6 million in 1989; and how Robert L. Johnson came to acquire it ten years later.

Michael Evanson was one of Adolphus Ealey’s close and dear friends. They met in Philadelphia around 1976 when Adolphus became the museum director for the African American Museum of Philadelphia. During the course of their friendship Adolphus helped open a new dimension of appreciation in Michael for fine arts and the art world.

Michael was fortunate to ride around as co-pilot on many of Adolphus’ artistic journeys in Washington, DC as Adolphus was museum curator, art appraiser, art collector, and creative consultant to many clients, artists, and business associates in the Washington area. Michael appreciates that Adolphus was an extraordinary artist himself and always worked to ensure a lasting legacy for the Barnett-Aden Collection.

Exhibitions

Art of the Collectors 3

Art of the Collectors 3

May 6 – July 15, 2012

Accompanying the exhibit are two art salons hosted by Tea with Myrtis:
Preserving your Visual Legacy – watch video
Finding your Passion and Enriching your Life – watch video

Art of the Collectors 3 explores the role of the collector in preserving our visual heritage through works which connect us to our past and serve as a bridge to our future. The exhibition features important works of art by prominent African American artists as well as african art objects. The exhibit offers collectors the opportunity to sell works and acquire new ones, and to view rare pieces held in private hands for generations.

Featured artists: Charles Alston, Romare Bearden, Anne Bouie, Elizabeth Catlett, Dr. Albert Carter, William Carter, Richard Dempsey, Joeseph Holton, Sam Gilliam, Sargent Johnson, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Al Loving, E.J. Montgomery, Godfrey Ndaba, Charles Sebree, Ellen Powell Tiberino and James Wells. Also featured will be African masks and statues.