Harlem Ne News Group — By Howard Giske he Bronx Museum opened its new | exhibition, Stargazers, on the sculpture and prints of Elizabeth Catt in dialogue with the art of sever- al other artists related to her work. CCatlet is a 95-year-old Afto-American artist who is still active. In her long carer, Catlt is known for her assertive lithographs, taking up themes like “Black is Beautiful” or in Spanish, “Negro Es Bello.” The Museum also held a printmaking session for children, where children as young as 4-years-old ‘went tothe exhibit and ether sketched @ copy of a work, or made their own sketch inspired by Catlet or other artists atthe exhibition. Children and their par- ents copied their sketches onto thick foam boards that kept an etching of Arawing. Paint was rolled on the etched copy and then pressed onto another piece of paper to make prints. Ina thematic print, Catlett has two mask-like faces surrounded by “Black is Beautiful” buttons with the Black Panther symbol. Next to this is @ print of a woman with a contemplative expression wearing a “Negro Es Bello” shir, by Robert Pru, witha Black Pan- ther symbol on the woman’s white shir. In a 1970 linocut entitled “Homage to the Panthers,” there are black male mili tants pictured in the main square arca, tnd around them are pictures of clench fists and a rifle on a red background. Catlet’s themes go far beyond polities with her prints of dancers and sculptures of nudes. Other prints, seulp- tures and busts have mask-Like faces drawn with the evident influence of Nigerian and other African bandicrafts. Though Catlett's sculptures are abstact, they are still recognizable forms and easy to understand, In a recent work, the sculpture Stargazer (2007), a reclining woman peers into the heavens to find out about the universe. In the statue, Glory (1981) the bust is clearly that of an Aican woman, her elose-cropped hair With omaments done carefully. Her eyes are open, with a direct and proud gaze from the African past. Ina brief video STARGAZERS EXHIBIT AT THE BRONX MUSEUM shown atthe museum, the artist Catlett explains that he intention was to slightly distort the face, but also to make the bust interesting from all angles. The work Reclining Woman (2008) is a woman whose body shows her self-confidence. Her hair isnot sculpted out, with more of an emphasis on her body. A slight enlarging and thickening of the hand on the leg of the figure shows the woman's power. ‘This opening of the Stargazers exhibit was erowned by a party on the Second floor ofthe museum, with music and food. Thanks to Holly Block, the Executive Director of the Museum, and Isolde Brielmaier, the curator of the exhibit, for a great event. Be sure to catch the next event atthe Bronx Muse: um by calling 718-681-6000 or going to hiep:oromsmuseum.org for more infor Pictures: 1. Negto Es Bello (Gack is Beautiful), Reclining WomanIn a thematic print, Catlett has African woman, her close-croppea mur two mask-like faces surrounded by with omaments done carefilly. Her eyes Pictures: 1. Negro Es Belo as “Black is Beautiful” buttons with the are open, with a direct and proud gaze (Black is Beautiful, 2.Reclining Woman Black Panther symbol. Next to ths isa from the African past. In a brief video * dactmen + conaunisre «Sea. acamens 5 eee iio 2) ily delicious ee aoe @ TTOZ‘EuolEW dnolp SHEN WoLeH