The 14th Annual Community Gala is going virtual! In celebration of the exhibition, Posing Beauty, Curator Dr. Deborah Willis will kick-off the opening with an exclusive sponsor-only lecture, plus a special Q&A hosted by the Gala Co-Chairs, Kathy Boles, and Dr. Brenda Rogers-Grays. Proceeds directly support exhibitions and expand the African American art collection.
Reframing Beauty within the African Diaspora: 1890-2020
January 30 @ 6p | Virtual Event | Sponsors-Only Lecture
Guest Lecturer: Dr. Deborah Willis
This presentation explores how photographic memory is central to the exploration of imaging the Black body by examining contemporary perspectives and historical representations in art and photography from the 19th century until now. Interweaving narratives on self-representation and desire, this lecture will deconstruct the gaze and contextualize the myriad portrayals of the Black body from cross-cultural encounters and artistic productions shaped by identity, racial politics, migration, beauty, and power.
Deborah Willis, Ph.D., is University Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and has an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Social & Cultural Analysis, Africana Studies, where she teaches courses on Photography & Imaging, iconicity, and cultural histories visualizing the Black body, women, and gender.
2021 Sponsors
| Copper | ||
| Communities First, Inc. | Mott Community College | Rama D. Rao MD Pain Management |
| Hurley Medical Center | Mr. Milton & Dr. Brenda Rogers-Grays | Miller Road Applebee's |
| Singh and Arora Oncology/Hematology P.C. | HAP | C&S Motors, Tri-County Trucks |
| Bronze | ||
| Henry & Mary Allen | Mrs. Edmund Brownell | Consumers Energy |
| Eric S. Peterson | Flint Public Library | Friends of Berston |
| Dr. Ramotsumi & Velynda Makhene | Drs. Bobby & Nita Mukkamala | Plante Moran |
| Alvern & Theresa (Stephens) Lock | United Healthcare Community Plan | Valley Area Agency on Aging |
| Woodrow Stanley Foundation | Mr. & Mrs. Joe Hamo | Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church |
| Elga Credit Union | PNC Bank | |
| Friends | ||
| Honorable Floyd Clack & Honorable Brenda Clack | Eric Gasper - Edward Jones | Gary & Carol Hurand |
| Lynne Hurand | In My Mother's Garden - Interior Design by Edith Withey | Mrs. Nina Jones-Lewis |
| Olmsted Associates, Inc. | Chuck & Kathryn Sharbaugh | Dr. Sharon A. Simeon & Mr. Marshall H. Sanders, Jr. |
| Glenn & Essence Wilson | Todd & Lisa Wiseley | Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Zeta Beta Zeta Chapter |
| James & Kathryn C. Boles | Ann & Khalil Saab | Mr. & Mrs. Edward Walterhouse & Family |
| Mr. Craig & Mrs. Lennetta Coney | The Greater Flint Chapter of the Pierians, Inc. | Dr. Gary K. Johnson |
| Sunil K. Kaushal M.D. P.C. | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Flint Alumnae Chapter | Sean & Eureka McCormick |
| Jermarx & Tabitha Marsh | The Flint Area (MI) Chapter of The Links Incorporated | Mr. & Mrs. Dwight & Lisa Rogers |
| Shelley Spivack & Linda Pylypiw | The Cho$en Few Corporation | East Michigan Eye Center |
| Donor | ||
| Joseph Green & Jeanette Mansour | Ms. Maria Gonzalez & Mr. Glen Adams | H. Michael Parker |
| Kathryn Moeller | Jim & Jane Richardson | Dr. Jay & Jan Werschky |
| Dr. & Mrs. Tom & Linda Belford | Mrs. Celestia Bell | National Multicultural Diversity Day & Institute |
| Devinder K. Bhrany, M.D. | Zelton Johnson | Hoffs Healthy Book LLC |
| Kathryn Linehan | Mr. & Mrs. Willie & Kimberly Robbins III | Alpha Phi Alpha Epsilon Upsilon Lambda Chapter (Flint alumni) |
| Individual | ||
| Carolyn Turner | Terry Turner | India S. Brown |
| Hallanna C. Brown | Debrah & Jeffrey Chimovitz | Shirley W. Johnson |
| Tom & Kay Lillie |
