Code,901016
Subject,Virgie Patton-Ezelle
Date,10/28/2008
Interviewer,sharon dean
Keywords,"art, art education, race, religion and spirituality, cleveland institute of art, american greetings corp, karamu house, WPA, great depression, john hay high school, john hunting polytechnic,"
Abstract,"Artist Virgie Patton-Ezelle, a native Clevelander, discusses her life and career as an artist.  Ms. Patton-Ezelle describes the earliest recognition of her artistic ability and its impact on her identity.  She notes individuals who  encouraged her to pursue art as a professional, especially her teacher at John Hay High School, Mrs. Shidoba; artist John Ferguson of Karamu House; her instructors at the Cleveland Institute of Art, including artists Paul Travis and John Tyrell; and arts patron Richard Sherra.  Patton-Ezelle also describes her work for the Finished Art Department at American Greetings Corporation, select exhibits of her work, and the attraction of New York City to artists in smaller markets such as Cleveland.  The artist describes her creative process, as well as the themes, composition, color, and materials used in her painting.  Patton-Ezelle also describes the meaning of spirituality and race in her life and art.  Also notewiorthy is Patton-Ezelle's recollection of her family experience during the Great Depression, and her appraisal of the arts projects sponsored by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). At the close of this interview, gallery owner William Busta enters the room to discuss an upcoming exhibition of African-American artists, entitled ""In Their Own Voice,"" which is to include Patton-Ezelle's work."
Clip 1,
Clip 2,
Clip 3,
minutes:,
0,intro and background
1,early artistic work and identity
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,"Scholastic Art Awards (contestant, judge)"
7,"Joh Hay High School (Mrs. Shidoba, mentor)"
8,"Karamu House (John Ferguson, mentor and sculptor)"
9,art education: Cleveland School of Art / Cleveland Institute of Art (scholarship)
10,
11,John Hunting Polytechnic Institute
12,"American Greetings / American Greeting Card Company (Mr. Hawthorn, Finished Art Department, race and employment)"
13,
14,
15,self-criticism
16,Composition (art theory)
17,materials (art theory)
18,watercolor painting
19,
20,oil painting
21,WPA (Works Progress/Projects Administration)
22,Great Depression
23,family involvement and interest in art
24,"art education: Cleveland School of Art / Cleveland Institute of Art (John Tyrell, mentor)"
25,
26,
27,"life as an artist (self-promotion, explaining art, motivation, personal standards)"
28,
29,
30,Euclid Avenue art studio
31,"life as an artist (competitions, being a dreamer)"
32,
33,thematic and stylistic  choices (art theory)
34,
35,
36,
37,
38,
39,
40,"Center for Comtemporary Art, exhibit"
41,watercolor painting
42,"Color (art theory): Paul Travis, artist and teacher, mentor"
43,
44,art education: Cleveland School of Art / Cleveland Institute of Art (competition between students)
45,
46,
47,"creative process, technical aspects of art"
48,art education: critique and advice from instructors and students (CIA)
49,
50,looking back on career
51,
52,
53,"staying in cleveland (""a dumb choice"")"
54,New York City and art
55,
56,
57,
58,"Richard Sherra (art dealer?, critic?, patron?)"
59,
60,
61,race and art
62,"race and art (protest art, Black Nationalist art, political art, African-American Art Exhibits)"
63,
64,
65,inspiration
66,current themes
67,reincarnation and spirituality
68,
69,end
track B,
0,heritage race and ethnicity
1,
2,theft of artwork
3,works for exhibit
4,
5,[William Busta enters the room to discuss upcoming African-American Artists Exhibition at Cleveland State University]
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,end
,