“Melba’s charm, quick wit, and laugh-out-loud humor brought her experiences to life. She generously shared her personal journey, weaving in both heartfelt anecdotes and practical advice for those following in her footsteps.”
“I think Black people and people of color have to become more aware [that] collecting Black art is intellectual property. It is marking our history, our culture. It marks times in history. Look at the current administration of our country. It doesn’t respect any people of color. So, it’s crucial for us to have images of us and to support that.”
Black gallerists have pushed African American art, making it accessible and consumable for Black communities long before the social media phenomenon.
“Art preserves our culture. It is also legacy building because these are works that you are going to leave to family members when you are not here anymore.”
“We make it a point to only represent artists whose work we love. We’re not in it just for a sale; if we’re talking about someone, more than likely, that person’s work is a part of our own private collection.”
“The conscience becomes the ‘soul’ in the matter of creating and collecting,” said Sharon Mackey, who, together with her identical twin sister, Karen, founded the Mackey Twins Art Gallery in 2004. “The responsibility rests on both parties. Understanding the artist’s style process is critical.”
“The book offers the lesser known personal and vulnerable side of the American literary giant and Harlem Renaissance figure as he corresponded over four decades with four of his closest black friends, couples Louise Thompson Patterson and William L. Patterson and Matt N. Crawford and Evelyn Graves Crawford.”