MS01.05.00 - Box 07 - Folder 11 - Clark, Claude - Correspondence, 1967-1969

September 11, 1967

Mr. David C. Driskell Fisk University Nashville, Tennesee

Dear Mr. Driskell:

I wrote you a letter earlier this year but I presumed that you have been so occupied with your plans for the Art Department at Fisk that there has been little time for getting acquainted with other artist educators.

Caron Douglas is a friend of mine and I recall fond moments in visiting him there in the Art Department at Fisk and viewing the paintings given by Georgia O'Keefe. I was also happy to have a small show of my painting shown these when they were on circuit in 1954-57.

I have written to James Porter in hopes of obtaining a token of his book on "Modern Negro Art" and the book "Horace Pippin" by Seldon Rodman.

If you know where I may obtain either book please let me know.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes.

Sincerely, Claude Clark

November 24, 1967

Mr. David Driskell Fisk University Nashville, Tenn. 37203

Dear Mr. Driskell:

I was very happy to hear from you in September. It is good to know that your book on Artists of the 20th Century is progressing. Our mutual friend Miss Mary Beattie Brady in her final letter told me that she would see you N.Y. when you came in town to see your publishers. By this time I suppose the grand woman of the Harmon Foundation has put the padlock on the organization forever, but she will never be forgotten. I am well aware that at the moment too few know how important she was to the progress of the Afro American Artist in America. Her story must be written. Ruth Waddy of L.A. wants to do a biography but I don't know what progress has been made. Miss Brady said that she and her sister expected to be out here on the West Coast in November, so I am still looking for her.

Inclosed are some materials that I felt that you might consider as you progress with your book. If possible you might view the Father and Son show that my ((over))

son and I are having at present worth mentioning. Especially in light of youthful rebellions around the world. Not that my son isn't stubborn - but he does indicate a dedication to the fine arts. This is hardly an accident. We left ['Dega?] for the benefit of our children so that they could have the broadest possible horizons. They have been free to explore for themselves That is why daughter Alice is back at Talladega this year in her Freshman year of college. My horizons have also broadened. I've gone through a non-objective phase while earning a graduate degree in painting at the University of California at Berkeley. In the past three years I've attempted to apply such spirit to the paintings that I've completed of the Indians of the Southwest especially, the Navajo. I've enclosed the small snapshots so that you might indicate any that you'd like to see in an 8 X 10 glossy print. If you prefer more examples of my non-objective work I could send that when I hear from you. Please let me know the titles of the two Claude Clark paintings that you have in your collection at Fisk. I believe that they were among some that I left with Miss Brady over 20 years ago. Please include dates - when painted. Best wishes. Sincerely, Claude Clark

March 30, 1968

Mr. David Driskill, Chairman Art Department Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Mr. Driskell: Some time ago I sent you an envelope Containing some snapshots of my latest work and some examples of my son's sculpture. Perhase this material did not Come to your attention, so I am sending this note to let you know that we still want to keep in touch. You probably know that Miss Brady Came by the Bay Area in January, but she was too ill to stop. I did not insist on seeing her since in her phone Conversation she said that she had lost 50 lbs. She said that she would see her N.Y. doctor and perhaps go to a Manhatten hospital for a Check up. I wrote a letter to her N.Y.C. address, and also suggested to Palmer Hayden that he keep in touch with her. I haven't heard from Miss Brady, but Palmer Hayden said that she did not stop long in N.Y. before she was on her way to a meeting in Miami. I would like to know if you have heard from her at all this Spring. I am teaching a Course here in Oakland at Merritt College in their Black Curriculum

2 Called, Afro-American Art Survey. In such a Course I introduce the student to African Art and we do a survey of Afro-American Art in this Country. The student is asked to think black, Create black and research black. I am very happy with this initial Course and we have had some good Creative work in films, painting, sculpture, photography and research papers. There are Many recent publications on the Art of Africa but it seems that on the Afro-American - Daner is the only work in print, and it is so Much in demand that the publishers have raised the price 25%. The world is waiting for your up to date Volume. In my last note to you I mentioned to you a few facts about our Bay Area Artists (black). Sargent Johnson died here last October, and we did a Memorial show in his honor in February. The work of the Artist represented (many under age 30 yrs) was so excellent that we wished that we had sought sponsorship to have it tour America. I hope that your book has gone to press, but if time permits I hope that you will stop in our area. I am in Contact with most of the Artists and you must see some of their work. I am on the Steering Committee of the Art Guild of the Oakland Museum. On Completion next year this new 8 million dollar structure will be one of the wonders of the art world. Hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Claude Clark