The Links to host 46th Annual Black History Month Art Exhibit
The white rose, the official flower of The Links, Incorporated. WIKIPEDIA PHOTO
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton College located at 2200 Fairmount Avenue in Atlantic City, is honored once again to host an Opening Reception for the Links 46th Annual Black History Month Art Exhibit on Friday, February 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. This year’s featured artist will be the renowned Ted Ellis. Along with Ellis’ work, there will be a Juried Art Show by Atlantic City School District students and teachers. At 7:00 pm Ellis will give a talk about his work. Guests will enjoy live music by recording artist Dynasty Marie, light refreshments, and wine provided by the Iron Room.
Glynnis Reed, an Atlantic City teacher at the Texas Avenue School and a celebrated artist in her own right, will also have work on display in an exhibit in The Atlantic City Art Gallery, at the Arts Garage. At 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 14, artist Ted Ellis will present the Awards to the Outstanding Student Artists who have submissions in the “Eat Smart; Be Active; Get Healthy” Poster Contest, in which Reed’s student’s participated.
Ellis asserts that his sole purpose in life is to educate through his art. He specializes in capturing African American history, lifestyle and culture. Currently he is working on pictorially documenting the story of “Black Jockeys” and African-Americans who served during the American Civil War. Ellis grew up and was educated in New Orleans where the history of the city inspired him to capture the essence of its rich culture. He is a self-taught artist who paints in a unique style he has labeled as “Tedism,” a blend of Impressionism and American Folk Art styles.
Ellis, who currently resides in Houston, Texas, is recognized as an artist of historical importance. With this recognition from The Links, Incorporated, he joins the ranks of such talents as Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden. His unique style of art is enjoyed and collected by major corporations such as Coca Cola, Avon and Phillip Morris; along with private collectors Brad Pitt, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Spike Lee and Bryant Gumble, to name a few. Ellis’ paintings are in the permanent collections of such prestigious locations as the DuSable Museum, the first and oldest African-American Museum located in Chicago, McKenna Museum in New Orleans and the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University. One of Ellis’ proudest moments in his professional career was unveiling his Obama painting at the French Embassy on the day before President Obama’s inauguration as the first African American President. You can learn more about Ted Ellis on his website at www.tellisfineart.com.
The Links, Incorporated was founded in 1946 and is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organization of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The Atlantic City (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was chartered on February 28, 1948. Atlantic City is the second chapter to be chartered. Links, Inc. has a membership of over 12,000 professional women of color serving in 272 chapters in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Through its philanthropic arm, the organization has contributed more than 24 million dollars to charitable causes since its founding. Links members have contributed more than 1.2 million documented service hours assisting communities throughout the United States, Africa and other developing countries.
The Links 46th Annual Black History Month Art Exhibit featuring artist Ted Ellis will be on view in the Noyes Stockton Gallery at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton College from February 2 – March 29, 2015. This year’s exhibit has been sponsored by Atlantic Associates Insurance Agency, Bank of America, Borgata Heart & Soul Foundation, Cape Bank, In Memory of Links Arnieta Hamm, Sheraton Atlantic City and Schultz-Hill Foundation; and is free and open to the public. For more information call (609) 626-3805, or visit www.artsgarageac.com.