Sisters of Creativity

 

On October 3, 2013 Blk-Art, History & Culture partnered with Community Arts & Funk Festival and Mount Mary University to celebrate and pay tribute to the "Sisters of Creativity."  

In 2012 Blk-Art, History & Culture was invited to a reception at Mount Mary University for it's unveiling of a traveling exhibition titled "Sisters of Freedom."  At the time I was preparing for the screening of the film Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness For Change for my Black Cinema Series with the Washington Park Public Library.  I thought it would be wonderful if I could have the "Sisters of Freedom" traveling exhibition on display for guest to view when doors opened early for the film.  I made some inquires and was granted permission.  I then showed the film and the exhibit a second time for Black History Month at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library.  It seemed Black History Month was the perfect back drop seeing the the "Sisters of Freedom" exhibition chronicles 100 years of pioneering black women who fought for civil rights and social justice.

Blk-Art, history & Culture starting talking with Community Arts & Funk Festival about expanding the "Sisters of Freedom" exhibition with African American pioneering women in the arts, right here in our own backyard.  These conversations lead to a committee meeting that didn't go very far, but Blk-Art, History & Culture and Community Arts & Funk Festival pursued the idea and with the backing of Mount Mary University the "Sisters of Creativity" began to take shape.

We started with Dorothy Nelle Sanders as our model for a Sister of creativity.  Dorothy Nelle Sanders was a pioneering black woman who founded the African American Art Alliance (a support group of the Milwaukee Art Museum) in 1990.  She also donated a number of Haute Couture fashion pieces to the Mount Mary University Fashion Department in 2002, among many other great accomplishments and community activism.  Mrs. Dorothy Nelle Sanders was the common thread that tied the partnering organizations together.  As the former Vice President of the African American Art Alliance I was privileged to be inspired by, learn from, and share Dorothy Nelle's passion for black art and education.  I was also honored to be her friend.  Mrs. Dorothy Nelle Sanders passed away in January of 2013.  It was with deep admiration, love and passion that the "Sisters of Creativity" came to be.

On October 3, 2013, 25 women were celebrated and honored with the title "Sister of Creativity."  These women are visual artist, dancers, singers, stage performers, play writes, journalist, educators, collectors, quilters, authors, film makers and more.  One honoree in particular, Mrs. Gloria Wright (whom I love dearly) is the co-founder of the African American Art Alliance.  It was a long and loving planning process and I was so pleased to have Dorothy Nelle's grand-daughter Naomi Sanders be a part of the celebration.  The evening was a beautiful tribute of all the hard work these women have put in over the years.  I am sure that Mrs. Dorothy Nelle Sanders is resting comfortably leaving her legacy in the hands of the "Sisters of Creativity."

It is the mission of Blk-Art, History & Culture to educate our youth about black history and to celebrate and honor the achievements of those who have paved the way.