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HUGEAUX is the Father of ARTE MECCO and members of the National Conference of Artists(NCA), Kuumba Artists Collective of South Florida, Black Artists of Washington DC (BADC) and Art Deco Society of Washington DC.

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HUGEAUX - An Artist's Diary:
The Hampton – New York City Weekend: February 8-10, 2008

FEBRUARY 8, 2008 (Day 1)
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM. Hampton, Virginia.
As my plane touched down in NewPort News / Williamsburgs, Virginia I was prepared for the cold weather. I made my way to the hotel and then onward to Hampton University for the “New Power Generation 2008” exhibition in which I am an artist. I arrived an hour early just to do some photographing. I was captivated by the beauty of the Hampton Campus, however most captivating was the Hampton University Church clock tower and cathedral. I was lured to the church by the drumming of a drummer who was inside the cathedral and using the acoustics for practicing. The sunlight bouncing of the red clay bricks made me lay down in this cold and continue photographing. Time for the exhibition is drawing near. I made my way up the street to the Hampton Museum of Art.

The Artists included in this “New Power Generation 2008” exhibition is as follow: HUGEAUX (Florida), Greg Adams (Virginia), Hamal Al Mansour (California), Carol Beane & Michael Platt (Washington DC), Raymond Broady (Illinois), Diane Bronx (New York), Terry deBardelaben aka York (Washington DC), Franck Deceus (New York), Debra Edgeton (Arizona), Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter (Washington DC), April Harrison (South Carolina), Sonji Hunt (Wisconsin), Crystal Johnson (Virginia), Anissa Lewis (Kentucky), Harlee Little (Washington DC), Juliette Madison (Washington DC), Carol Martin (New York), Bernadette Marques (Virginia), Eleanor Neal (Georgia), Simone Renee Spruce (Rhode Island), Ronald Washington (Pennsylvania), Charlotte Riley-Webb (Georgia), Carlton Wilkinson (North Carolina), Susan Williams (Arkansas), David Wilson (North Carolina).

I actually had a chance to break away from the festivities and explore the museums upper level treasures. What I discovered was a vault of treasures. African American pioneers: Tanners, Banisters, Johnsons, etc in the main salon. The Harlem Renaissance and Beyond 1920-1960’s artists: Smith, Motley, Johnsons, Wilsons, Woodruffs, Lee, etc in another salon. It is amazing I am within inches of the great/legendary African American masterpiece “ The Banjo Lesson “ by Henry Ossawa Tanner. The last time I can remember in such great company was when I saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in the mid-1980’s. The salons grew as the importance in African American Art grew: Pippins, AfriCobra artists just to name a few. My special thanks to curator - Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, director – Vernon Courtney and juror – Napoleon Jones-Henderson.

FEBRUARY 9, 2008 (2nd Day)

National Conference of Artists New York Chapter Mini-Conference
Metropolitan Museum of Art / Columbia University. And the Wilmer Jennings / Kenkeleba Art Gallery Opening. New York City, New York.
Part 2: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY & WILMER JENNING GALLERY OPENING

I arrived in NYC on a cloudy, cold and rainy Saturday morning from the NewPort News – Hampton University museum exhibition. This was a very informative and enlightening mini-conference. Kwame Brathwaite (NCA-New York-Director) with the assistance of Gloria Aziza Lawyer really gave the NCA a first class conference. Dr. Margaret Burroughs was the first speaker and she serenaded the audience with a few of her poems. This set the tone for the conference as speakers Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter (BADC) Dr. Ademola Olugebefola (Weusi Nyumba ya Sanaa Artists), and Mr. Brathwaite (eldest of the Brathwaite brothers) spoke concerning documentation and legacy.

Dr. Melvin J. Carver, Chair of Art Department of NCCU (North Carolina Central University) gave the audience a recap of the art programs at his university NCCU. One of the apex of this day’s conference was the panel called “ The Southern Arts Movement” which included: myself – HUGEAUX (Creator of ARTE MECCO, Jacksonville, FLA), Ed Spriggs (Director Emeritus of Hammond House Gallery, Atlanta GA.), Dinizulu Gene Tinnie (Kuumba Artists Collective, Miami, FLA) and Gloria Aziza Lawyer (Karibu Gallery, Gullah-South Carolina) which was moderated by Ed Sherman. This panel spoke about the Southern African American artists’ contribution to the Humanities. Dr. Leonard and Dr. Rosalind Jefferies spoke concerning the east African contribution and dilemmas. One of the other highlights of this conference was speaking to NCA-intellect Surya al peterson, who kept spoke to me concerning this artist who was doing some remarkable things in Jacksonville, Florida named “Hugeaux”. I then gather NCA photographer O ‘ Neal Alexander over and told Surya to repeat this to him. Afterwards O’Neal looked at me and we started to chuckle. I told Surya that I was HUGEAUX, and the look on his faced was reflected. We hugged and shook hands. Another story of the power of the Internet.

This conference was running long, however the information was very plentiful. Chairman of the NCA-NY board Danny Simmons called for a member’s meeting to speak upon the NCA-New York future. As we concluded and prepared for the evening gala and opening festivities at the Wilmer Jennings / Kenkeleba art gallery, I could tell that this finale would be rememberable. As myself, Barry Mason, Kwame Brathwaite and Ademola Olugebefola piled in Adelmola car to head into lower Manhattan the comradely of these NCA generations began to mold. The older 2 generation (Brathwaite & Olugebefola) and the 2 newer generation (Mason & myself) shared opinions, ideas and dinner. Many artists/intellects showed up for the opening: Otto Neals, Israel, Serenity Knight, Oneal Alexander, Camille Mosley-Pasley, Amun, Gina Marie Lewis, Betty Blayton-Taylor, Adger Cowans, Larry & Larry (can’t remember their last name) just a few. My small photography works titled: "Smoke rose through his nostrils" and " Throwing Sand' are included in this exhibition. I apologize for those members and friends I didn’t mention.

However the lighting of this evening was meeting the artists/collectors Joe and Corrine Overstreet (owners of the Wilmer Jenning & Kenekelba Gallery). Joe Overstreet, a very speak your mind, down and warm hearted person, gave myself, Barry, Ademola and Kwame a tour of their private collection. It was amazing to see that a museum is planted, however, going unknown amongst its neighbors. Joe gave us an in-depth lecture on the art pieces they own. As the evening gave way to the late night, Barry Mason offered me a ride to the LaGuardia airport. It is at midnight at LaGuardia airport that I am writing this entry. My plane departs in 6 more hours, so I have 5 hours to rest. As I pull up the seat in front of me to make a hammock-like bed. I wish to take everyone at the Hampton University museum, NCA and NCA-New York, The RUSH Arts Foundation, The Harlem Arts Alliance & Community Works, The Wilmer Jenning/Kenkeleba Gallery, Columbia University and foremost God alMighty for making this trip a remarkable work of art. Good Night from LaGaurdia Airport New York, New York…..Hugeaux

PS. (3rd Day)I couldn’t make the last art opening held on February 10 at the AC-BAW Gallery in Mount Vernon, New York, due to having to return to Florida.

An African American Indian contribution to the Fine Arts through the Humanities.

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