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Louis Rimrodt 2 July 1980
Dear Dr. D.,
A Late Happy Birthday! France was tres bon! It was a nice experience to travel out of Paris and to meet some of the people. I think I was well received by the "family" - hope so anyway. I have been busy since I returned, house guest up the __. Last weekend was spent in moving J.C. from the old apt. to the new Condo., now he has guest. Please put aside a little time for me when you return to the city. I feel that in the last year or so we have loss touch. I dont want that to continue. Louis
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BLACK ENTERPRISE EARL G. GRAVES PUBLISHING CO., INC. 295 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 (212) 889-8220
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Hon. Julian Bond Georgia State Senator
Dr. Andrew F. Brimmer Pres., Brimmer & Co., Inc.
Hon. Edward Brooke Former Senator Massachusetts
Hon. Shirley Chisholm Rep. New York
Hon. Charles Evers Mayor, Fayette, Miss.
Earl G. Graves, Publ. Pres., Earl G. Graves Ltd.
William Hudgins Former President, Freedom National Bank New York City
Thomas A. Johnson Award-winning staff writer, N. Y. Times
John Lewis Former Chairman of SNCC
Henry Parks Chairman of the Board, H. G. Parks Inc. (Parks Sausage)
July 11, 1980
David Driskell Yaddo [redacted]
Dear Professor Driskell:
I'm at work on an article on business investment in and support of the visual arts, for the December issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE. I am gathering material on the collec tions of Golden State Life Insurance, Johnson Publications, Johnson Products and Atlanta Life Insurance, as well as interviewing various individual collectors, consultants, dealers and curators -- Richard Clarke, Adolphus Ealey, Samella Lewis, Lowery Simms, etc.
I'd like to interview you by phone to discuss the following points: 1. To what extent does the financial potential of Afro-American art remain unrealized? 2. What can we do to break the cycle of devaluation of Afro-American art? 3. What are the benefits to Black business and pro fessional organizations of investment in and other forms of support of the visual arts? 4. How much progress have Black businesses and professionals made in terms of support for our art?
(CONTINUED)
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STEVEN L. JONES [Redacted]
July 15, 1980
David C. Driskell [redacted]
Hey David,
Please excuse the typewriter but it's late and I am afraid my handwriting may not be legible. Received the NEW ART EXAMINER issue -- thanks. I enjoyed going through it. Is it my imagination or was your article edited quite a bit? At some point I'd like to get a copy of the original manuscript you sent in. Keith's writing is quite decent, and I loved the way he dished April Kingsley for her asinine implication that Richard Hunt's work is African derived. What about Kingsley -- who is she? Did she really put together a decent show at P.S. 1 in two weeks? My skeptical nature is coming out. I was unconvinced that she has any real sense of African culture and art. I guess I felt her analysis was forced and more polemical than accurate. What do you say?
Any luck with the Museum of African Art interviews? I heard that not one acceptable candidate has been found, and that Sylvia Boone doesn't want the job, even though she should realize she'll be forever eclipsed in her field in her present Dept. by Thompson. Speaking of devils, that one (RFT) is over checking out the African art in Swedish museums before making his annual pilgrimage to Zaire this summer. The feeling seems to be that he's even stranger than he seems (if that's possible). But he has been invited to Havana to give a paper on the mambo this coming December.
Did the Menphis Black Bitch send you the galley proofs yet? Some folks really don't have sympathies to be appealed to.
Well, work continues for me, and I assume for you too.
Easy, S.
I hear the Met. reception is Sept 10.
P.S. Don't forget ice house photo or drawing & Jansen House research info:
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[Postcard] Wm. Gardner [redacted] Mr. David Driskell [redacted]
Dear David, I enjoyed your letter immensely and will write you one as soon as time and my fading strength permit. I have made a reservation for you at the Sturbridge Inn at Sturbridge for the 25th - a posh establishment, I believe. I shall write a letter soon. Darius is fine! Bill
P.S. He just came in to call Thelma ....
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The Corporation of Yaddo Box 395, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Date August 4, 1980
Gratefully acknowledges receipt of $ [redacted]
David Driskell [redacted]
Curtis Harnack Executive Director
THE CORPORATION OF YADDO 1900 NEW YORK
Yaddo is a nonprofit, public supported charity and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.