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In this episode, Eric speaks with celebrated artist Richard Wyatt Jr. about how he first discovered art at a young age and becoming a prodigy. He describes his educational journey and experience whilst studying at the Watts Towers Art Center and being mentored by great artists... his connection with music and how it relates to art, his passion for exploring various mediums and collaboration, his work in the space of public art and his unique process when creating his beautiful murals among the region of Los Angeles. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: Richard Wyatt Jr. was born in Lynwood and raised in Compton and the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, California. He is one of the region's most noted muralists and is known for his realistic figurative works which honor both common people and historic figures. His series of works on the history of the Central Avenue jazz scene were exhibited at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. His public works can be seen at the Capitol Records Building, the Watts Towers Art Center, and Spike's Joint on Melrose in Los Angeles. Featured art on display: Robert Colescott, Death of a Mulatto Woman1991, Acrylic on canvas, 213.3 x 182.8 cm (84 x 72 in.)About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks. Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART  SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn  LISTEN ON:  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3U Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmW Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrY iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv  Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXP Instagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxG Twitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33   www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric speaks with historian, scholar and advocate Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson who talks about her family tree, history and the journey of her anscestors who migrated to and settled in Los Angeles, the African American experience in Southern California during the twentieth century during the Jim Crow era and how this changed California. Eric and Dr. Jefferson discus her recent book entitled Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era and how African Americans pioneered leisure in American’s “frontier of leisure” through their attempts to create communities and business projects, in conjunction with the growing African American population of Southern California during the nation’s Jim Crow era.. and how African Americans helped define the practice and meaning of leisure for the region and the nation, confronted the emergent power politics of leisure space, and set the stage for the sites as places for remembrance of invention and public contest.For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: Alison Rose Jefferson is a third generation Californian. Presently her research and professional interests revolve around the intersection of historical memory, American history, the history of the African American experience in Southern California during the twentieth century great migration and Jim Crow era, heritage conservation, spatial justice and cultural tourism. She is also interested in her work’s intersections with the experiences of people of African descent in other global settings.Along with other work activities utilizing her knowledge and skills expertise, she has written a book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era. This study examines how African Americans pioneered leisure in American’s “frontier of leisure” through their attempts to create communities and business projects, in conjunction with the growing African American population of Southern California during the nation’s Jim Crow era. The places Jefferson examines illustrate a range of recreation and relaxation production purposes and societal encounters at beach and inland locations. Through struggle over these places described in her book, African Americans helped define the practice and meaning of leisure for the region and the nation, confronted the emergent power politics of leisure space, and set the stage for the sites as places for remembrance of invention and public contest. Her research and applied history projects illuminating these stories extend the narrative of the African American experience in American historical writings and memory of California, and the U.S. in general by expanding the examination of the struggle for leisure and public space for all Americans in long freedom rights struggle. Her applied history project work and book, Living the California Dream…, were honored with the 2020 Miriam Matthews Ethnic History Award by the Los Angeles City Historical Society for its exceptional contributions to the greater understanding and awareness of Los Angeles history. Jefferson has participated in numerous public programs, including ongoing history public engagement events, lectures, museum exhibitions, oral history interview research, the creation of commemorative monuments, landmark site designations and documentary films.About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks.  Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art. For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com

In this episode, Eric speaks with the delightful scholar, writer and curator Dr. Bridget R. Cooks; who shares about how she became fascinated with art and exposed to museums at a young age and how it inspired her to become involved in the art world. They discuss how she explored many paths from becoming an artist.. to having found her direction; a dedication and passion for her mission of spotlighting and educating the world on African American culture through art, exhibiting 'blackness' and wanting to make the history of exhibitions of art by African American artists known. The mentors that took her under their wings, her influential body of work, teaching and exciting upcoming projects. Dr. Cooks and Eric discuss the challenges experienced by African American artists wanting to exhibit their works and the expectations they faced.. to collecting and curating African American art and Dr. Cooks' hope to deepen the research on African American artists and the field as a whole.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com  Guest Bio: Dr. Bridget R. Cooks. is a scholar, writer, curator, and academic. She is a professor who holds a joint appointment in the Department of African American Studies and the Department of Art History at the University of California, Irvine. Cooks holds a PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies from the Department of Art History at University of Rochester. Douglas Crimp advised her dissertation, for which she received a Henry Luce Dissertation Fellowship in American Art. Prior to UCI, she taught in the Department of Art and Art History and the Program of Ethnic Studies at Santa Clara University.    About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks.  Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.  For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART  SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn  LISTEN ON:  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3U Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmW Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrY iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv  Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXP Instagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxG Twitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33   www.mhanksgallery.com  About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric speaks with Robert C. Davidson, Jr; successful entrepreneur, art collector and philanthropist. He and Eric discuss his experience as a young boy; growing up in the Jim Crow era of the 1950s in Memphis, Tennessee and how his parents were both entrepreneurs and great inspirations to him: His mother opened a restaurant for black patrons in 1944 after seeing that African American soldiers had nowhere to eat in public. His father opened the first and only black-owned bank, Tri State Bank. They discuss his education and entrepreneurial journey and how, after investing thirty years in business, he turned his attention to art and philanthropy. Mr. Davidson talks about his and his wife’s mission in building their art collection; one which Eric deems as one of the greatest African American art collections in the country! Eric and Mr. Davidson delve into the collection; and take us on a journey where they discuss works by Palmer Hayden, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, Betye Saar, Joshua Johnson, Elizabeth Catlett and Meta Warrick Fuller while offering valuable insight and expertise on purchasing art and building a collection.   For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Robert C. Davidson, Jr. formed Surface Protection Industries, Inc. (SPI) in 1978. Under his leadership, SPI became one of the largest African American-owned manufacturing companies in California, ranking in the top 100 on the Black Enterprise list of America’s top black-owned industrial/service companies.Davidson has a strong entrepreneurial résumé. In the early 1970s, he headed his own management consulting firm and, prior to that, served as chief executive officer of Avant Garde Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based entertainment holding company.In Boston, Davidson co-founded and served as vice president of the Urban National Corporation, a private venture capital company that was established to increase mainstream industry’s investment in minority-controlled businesses. The organization raised $10 million in capital from many Fortune 500 companies.The entrepreneurial spirit of Davidson’s career path is also reflected in his commitment to community involvement. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ray Charles Foundation and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (NYSE); Broadway Federal Bank (NASDAQ); Cedars-Sinai Hospital Los Angeles; University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Advisory Council; The Huntington; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He is also Chairman Emeritus at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1998, Morehouse College honored Davidson, one of its most distinguished alumni, by naming the President’s home and its executive center Davidson House. Davidson was the 1997 recipient of the Ronald H. Brown Award and the 1990 recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Save the Children Award from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem. He was also named Black Businessman of the Year by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black MBA Association and Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Association of Investment Companies. Davidson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Morehouse College. In 2007, Davidson received the distinguished Benjamin E. Mays Award, which is named in honor of Morehouse College’s famous former President. Davidson and his wife, Faye, are parents of three sons, one of whom is an ArtCenter alumnus. The Davidsons are art collectors and Faye is a member of the Pasadena Art Alliance. Davidson joined the ArtCenter Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as Chair of the Board for five-terms (2010-2020). He is the first African American to serve in this role at ArtCenter, and among the first African Americans to assum

In this episode, Eric speaks with Kristin Sakoda; director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, where they discuss her journey in the arts; beginning as a child performer in Chicago, to professional dancer in New York with the Urban Bush Women dance company to performing in musicals on Broadway including the famed show Rent.. to original cast member of Mamma Mia! and later completing her studies in Law where she specialized in entertainment law. They discuss how she eventually transitioned into the public sector, where she was able to blend her passion for the arts and performance with public arts programs and making art more available to all. She sheds light on the mission and vision of LA County Department of Art and Culture and making access to art more equitable, with a focus on diversity and representation... using the power of art a as a vehicle to uplift and inspire communities, to learn about different cultures, to channel and overcome adversity and heal together. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Kristin Sakoda is Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, a local arts agency which fulfills a mission to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout the largest county in the U.S. The Department of Arts and Culture provides grants and technical assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations; runs the largest arts internship program in the nation; coordinates countywide public-private arts education initiatives; increases access to creative career pathways; commissions civic artwork; supports free community programs; leads the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative; and advances cross-sector cultural strategies to address civic issues. Appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Ms. Sakoda previously served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Under her leadership, she led the organization during its historic transition into the County’s first Department of Arts and Culture. Ms. Sakoda is an arts executive, attorney, and performing artist with more than 25 years in the field. She has appeared on national and international stages including with dance and social justice company Urban Bush Women and in musicals Rent and Mamma Mia! on Broadway. Prior to her work at the Department of Arts and Culture, she served in key leadership roles at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs overseeing a portfolio of strategic, programmatic, policy, legislative, and funding programs with a $200 million annual budget, and was instrumental in advancing diversity and inclusion; public art; creative aging; cultural facilities; and affordable workspace for artists. She holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law with honors in Entertainment Law, and B.A. from Stanford University with a specialization in Race and Ethnicity and a secondary major in Feminist Studies. As of 2021, she is a Board member of Grantmakers in the Arts, the national association of public and private arts funders in the U.S.  About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks. Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art. For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDnConnect with us ONLINE: Website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33

In this episode, Eric speaks with artist Mark Steven Greenfield; about his journey and education in the arts and the great artists who mentored him. They discuss his experience of growing up and living in the Philippines and Germany and how that shaped his outlook on life and ideas of racism and oppression. They discuss his body of work that deals with themes such as  African American stereotypes, spiritual practices, social justice, meditative practices and  abstraction. The life of an artist, the importance of craft, the need to find a way to support their passion and the delicate balance of making a living and staying true to one's artistic integrity. Greenfield's thought-provoking and controversial series "Blackatcha" and his intention of 'reappropriating the appropriated' in order to neutralize the effects of racist stereotypes, his most recent work focuses on the mystery surrounding “The Black Madonna”. They discuss the role of the artist in society and the power of art to make an impact for generations to come.   For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: A native Angeleno, Mark Steven Greenfield studied under Charles White and John Riddle at Otis Art Institute in a program sponsored by the Golden State Life Insurance Company. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 1973 from California State University, Long Beach.  To support his ability to make his art, he held various positions as a visual display artist, a park director, a graphic design instructor and a police artist before returning to school, graduating with Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and drawing from California State University, Los Angeles in 1987. From 1993 through 2010 he was an arts administrator for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; first as the director of the Watts Towers Arts Center and the Towers of Simon Rodia and later as the director of the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. In 1998 he served as the Head of the U. S. delegation to the World Cup Cultural Festival in Paris, France and in 2002 he was part of the Getty Visiting Scholars program. He has served on the boards of the Downtown Arts Development Association, the Korean American Museum, and The Armory Center for the Arts , and was past president of the Los Angeles Art Association/Gallery 825. He currently serves on the boards of Side Street Projects, The Harpo Foundation and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions.  Greenfield’s work has been exhibited extensively throughout the United States most notably at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art and the California African American Museum.  Internationally he has exhibited in Thailand at the Chiang Mai Art Museum, in Naples, Italy at Art 1307, Villa Donato , the Gang Dong Art Center in Seoul, South Korea and the Blue Roof Museum in Chengdu, PRC.  He is represented by the Ricco Maresca Gallery in New York and the William Turner Gallery in Santa Monica, California. His work deals primarily with the African American experience and in recent years has focused on the effects of stereotypes on American culture stimulating much-needed and long overdue dialog on issues of race. He is a recipient of the L.A. Artcore Crystal Award (2006), Los Angeles Artist Laboratory Fellowship Grant (2011), the City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship (COLA 2012), The California Community Foundation Artist Fellowship (2012),  the Instituto Sacatar Artist Residency in Salvador, Brazil (2013), the McColl Center for Art + Innovation Residency in 2016 and the Loghaven Artist Residency (2021). He was a visiting professor at the California Institute of the Arts in 2013 ,  and was artist-in-residence at California State University, Los Angeles in 2016. He currently teaches at Los Angeles City College.

In this episode, Eric speaks with art and culture nonprofit consultant Charmaine Jefferson who talks about how her passion for the arts came about; from training in ballet and tap dancas a child and always having been surrounded by art — her uncle renowned artist John Riddle, her brother who is an artist and her aunt who had an artistic inclination. She talks about her days as a professional dancer, her experience as an African American and the challenges she faced during the “Black is Beautiful Era”, her education in Dance, followed by law school — which paved the way for her prolific career in Arts Administration and engaging with various institutions; museums, dance companies, performing houses, botanical gardens, science centers, including capital renovation, construction projects and board service, arranging charitable and public art programs… to eventually becoming the Executive Director of the California African American Museum. They  discuss her late uncle John Riddle and his iconic works, being related to Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week and coming from a family of war protestors; that would engage in political debates and the importance of researching and documenting one’s family tree. And her most recent venture her consulting firm Kélan Resources that enables her to consult with a variety of organizations; International Associations of Blacks and Dance, museums and historic houses around the country. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: Native Angelino; Charmaine is an arts and culture advocate and administrator. She serves nonprofits through Kélan Resources, her cause driven consulting firm dedicated to integrating art, history, culture, business and diversity into the DNA of education, community, philanthropy, and public and private collaborations. As an active volunteer, she recently completed 8 years as a gubernatorial appointee on the California Arts Council, and as a Director on the Board of Arts for LA. She continues to serve as a college trustee and academic committee chair for the California Institute of the Arts, as a mayoral appointee and vice chair of the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Affairs Commission, on the African American Advisory Council for PBS SoCal, on the Advisory Board of Children Mending Hearts and on the Advisory Committee for the Los Angeles County Cultural Affairs Commission’s “Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative.” Charmaine received her B.A. in Dance from the University of California, Los Angeles; M.A. in Dance Education from New York University and J.D. from Georgetown University Law School. About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks. Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more, visit www.ericsperspective.comSUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDnLISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAmConnect with us: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33www.mhanksgallery.com

In this episode, Eric speaks with celebrated artist Gustave Blache III who talks about his journey as an artist; his education, working with gallerists and establishing his unique style of painting -- combining traditional painting methods of portraiture with journalism in a brand of art which he affectionately terms, Visual Journalism: series of paintings that documents the lives of  and  highlights the process and unique labors of everyday society from mop makers to prison entertainment... the process of discovering and the challenges of gaining access these unique stories and occupations... and how he develops a relationship of trust with his subjects. He discusses some of his most notable work; including the Leah Chase series  that documented national culinary star chef in the kitchen and the dining room in one of New Orleans’ most famous restaurants, Dooky Chase Restaurant and his most recent project "Rodeo Lifers". Gustave  discusses the establishment of the Gustave Blache Art Scholarship with The School of Visual Arts and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities; and Blache’s commitment to community and education.For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio:  Gustave Blache III  is an American figurative artist from  New Orleans, Louisiana, currently residing in  Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his works in series that highlight the process and unique labors of everyday society. Blache is largely credited for combining traditional painting methods of portraiture with journalism in a brand of art which he affectionately terms, Visual Journalism. His documentary style format uses a series of paintings, dedicated to one subject, to tell the story of an overlooked individual or process. Labor is usually at the center of Blache’s series’ and depiction of laborers including The Curtain Cleaners, The Mop Makers, Leah Chase: Paintings by Gustave Blache III, and Simon Parkes Art Conservation (SPAC). From April 24, 2012 to September 16, 2012, the New Orleans Museum of Art exhibited Blache's most notable series up to date, Leah Chase: Paintings by Gustave Blache III. The exhibition documented national culinary star chef Leah Chase in the kitchen and the dining room in one of New Orleans’ most famous restaurants, Dooky Chase Restaurant. In 2018 Gustave established the Gustave Blache Art Scholarship with The School of Visual Arts and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The scholarship covers half the tuition for two students from Louisiana chosen to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The scholarship is an extension of a Blache’s commitment to community and education.Eric's Perspective : A podcast series on African American art with Eric HanksSUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn

In this episode, Eric speaks with renowned actress, collector, activist and art patron CCH Pounder; who talks about her passion of the arts and opens up about the dilemma she once faced about as a young girl -- on whether to pursue acting or become a visual artist. Although she decided to pursue acting, she speaks about her long time commitment to art and artists.. collecting artwork of artists from Africa and the African diaspora and the wonderful journey of establishing the first contemporary art museum in Dakar, Senegal with her late husband a native of Senegal, with the intention of showing Mother Africa what her children had been up to.. which the couple ended up donated the museum and its collections to the country. She  discusses what she calls the "collectors story", the importance of having a direction and focus when collecting and the role she plays as an art detective; taking the time to research each artist and piece before acquiring an artwork. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Guyanese–American actress Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder was born on December 25, 1952, in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). She was educated in England, and in 1970, at age 18, she moved to the United States, where she attended Ithaca College. She has appeared in numerous plays, films, television shows, and miniseries including the medical drama series ER, the FX police drama series The Shield, Sons of Anarchy and NCIS: New Orleans.  All That Jazz (1979), Face/Off (1997), Orphan (2009), Avatar (2009) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019).When the cameras aren't rolling, Pounder plays active roles in the art world, as a patron, collector, former gallery owner. Pounder (whose collection in total includes about 500 pieces of art) and her late husband of 26 years, anthropologist Boubacar Kone had an art gallery in Los Angeles called the Pounder-Kone Art Space.  Over the years, as they were buying pieces with the museum in mind, Pounder said their focus was on collecting work by African artists and artists from the African diaspora. "The idea was that we were looking to bring back the seeds from where they had spread," she said. "That way Africans could see what other people were doing in the world and see their influences.”  In 1993, Pounder and her husband, a native of Senegal, founded and built the Musee Boribana, the first contemporary art museum in Dakar. In 2014, after a chance of meeting with the president of Xavier, Pounder easily convinced Dr. C. Reynold Verret to share his university walls with her and the couple donated the museum and its collections to the country. As one of the founders of Artists for a New South Africa, Pounder has energized awareness of post-apartheid and HIV/AIDS issues. In an interview, she said about the pandemic: "...We use actors and artists with the biggest voices so they can use every opportunity to talk about AIDS."

In this episode, Eric speaks with esteemed scholar and writer Dr. Halima Taha. She shares her experience of how she first came into contact with the arts, her experience as co-owner of the Onyx Art Gallery, the first gallery in Gramercy Park to sell abstract art by African American artists New York City, combating the historic limitations and stereotypes that have been projected on artists of African descent… to her journey of getting her book published, paving the way for creating a market for African American art and her perspective on the recent boom and interest in African American art.   For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Halima Taha is recognized throughout the United States as a leading authority on collecting African American art and arts management. For more than twenty years, she continues to contribute to the field as an appraiser, art advisor, educator and speaker. Author of best selling book, “Collecting African American Art: Works on Paper and Canvas” (1998, 2005) the first book to validate collecting African American fine art and photography as an asset and commodity in the marketplace and “Three Decades of American Printmaking: the Brandywine Collection”. The success of this publication also inspired the National Gallery of Art to create a Collecting African American Art Symposium and was a catalyst for major museums worldwide to pursue collections of African American art to exhibit, catalogue and travel. In addition it provided solid market criteria for publishers to print more monographs about African American artists and collections independents of museum shows, which had not previously been the norm. Currently — Taha has a professional arts and education service company in art advisory, appraisal, collection management and curatorial services for more than 25 years. Corporate, academic and civic lectures include; Collecting, Protecting and Appraising Fine Art,  Building Bridges between Art School and the Art World, Corporate Collection Strategies & Ethics, Intellectual Property & Diversity in Art.  About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks. Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art. For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric sits down with the talented and celebrated June Edmonds who describes her journey of becoming an artist... from deciding to pursue art, majoring in art at college,  to furthering her studies under the mentorship of esteemed artists, to eventually developing her own unique style and exhibiting her work at renowned galleries and art fairs around the world.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: June Edmonds uses abstract painting to explore how color, repetition, movement, and balance can serve as conduits to spiritual contemplation and interpersonal connection to her African-American roots. Exploring the psychological construct of skin color or tone through pattern and abstract painting has proven to be a revealing gesture and these ideas are explored in her two ongoing series: the Energy Wheel Paintings inspired by her meditation practice and her Flag Paintings, which explore the alignment of multiple identities such as race, nationality, gender, or political leanings. June Edmonds was born 1959 in Los Angeles, where she lives and works. Edmonds received her MFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. She also attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and is the recipient of the inaugural 2020 AWARE Prize, presented by the French non-profit Archive of Women Artists Research and Exhibitions; a 2018 City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Grant (COLA) and Exhibition at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; a California Arts Council Individual Artist Grant. Edmonds has exhibited at the California African American Museum, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Luckman Fine Art Gallery at CalState Los Angeles, Watts Tower Art Center in Los Angeles, CA; Angels Gate Art Center in San Pedro, CA; and the Manhattan Beach Art Center in Manhattan Beach, CA. Edmonds has completed several works of public art with the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Cultural Affairs, including an installation at the MTA Pacific Station in Long Beach, CA. Her paintings are held in collections throughout the United States including the California African American Museum, Los Angeles; Mead Art Museum, Amhurst College, Amhurst, MA; as well as Rodney M. Miller Collection, New York, NY; Michael Rubel Collection, Los Angeles, CA and Andrew Forsyth Collection, Palm Beach, FL among others.    About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hank

In this episode, Eric sits down with the lovely Evelia Jones, direct descendant of Sally Hemings; intimate companion of Thomas Jefferson for nearly four decades with whom he had six children. They discuss her experience as a child growing up in the South, her exposure to art and performance as a young girl, her Father -- the late, talented but somewhat unsung hero; artist Lawrence A. Jones, the road he paved in the world of African American art and role he played in the community... They discuss her life as an Arts Educator and her mission to promote her Father's creative legacy.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Evelia Jones is a direct descendant of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Before retiring she was a teacher in the Los Angeles public schools for 34 years; following in her parents' footsteps, teaching art in underserved communities. Jones wrote an Op-Ed piece with historian Harvey Wasserman for the Los Angeles Times in 2019 entitled  “It’s time to recognize Sally Hemings as a first lady of the United States”.  About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art. For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com    #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART    SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn    LISTEN ON:   APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/3hlR0RQ  SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3fTsB5Y  GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrY    Connect with us ONLINE:   Visit ERIC'S PERSPECTIVE WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1  Like ERIC'S PERSPECTIVE on FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXP  Follow ERIC'S PERSPECTIVE on INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/39jFZxG  Follow ERIC'S PERSPECTIVE on TWITTER: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33    www.mhanksgallery.com   About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric sits down with his lovely wife Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks at their residence where they discuss her great love of African American art... how being of African descent lead her to study African American art to help her connect with her history and heritage and how art enriches her life and work environment. They discuss the power of art as a weapon to tell a story beyond the history text books and make the world a better place.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is the President and CEO of Earth Friendly Products®, maker of ECOS® Laundry Detergent and over 200 other environmentally friendly products that are safer for people, pets and the planet. Made with plant-powered ingredients, ECOS® cleaners are thoughtfully sourced, pH balanced, readily biodegradable, easily recyclable, and never tested on animals. Kelly has been recognized for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility. She is outspoken in her commitment to sustainability in her products, her facilities, and her employment practices. Under Kelly’s leadership, Earth Friendly Products achieved carbon neutrality at all four of its manufacturing facilities in 2013 through a series of major sustainability initiatives, including the switch to 100% renewable electricity. She has been instrumental in making Earth Friendly Products a model for green business practices and a leader in the green cleaning products market. About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art. For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com    #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART    SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn   LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33    www.mhanksgallery.com   About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Berlinda Fontenont-Jamerson (now former) President of the Museum of African American Art describes how she transitioned from a successful career in corporate America, to becoming a leading figure in sharing African American stories and uplifting communities through the power of art and economic development. For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Born in raised in Los Angeles, Berlinda Fontenont-Jamerson is the President of the Museum of African American Art at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Prior to leading the museum, Fontenot-Jamerson had a long and distinguished corporate career in Human Resources Management and Community Affairs. She championed diversity in the workplace and marketplace of key corporations in Southern California. She is highly regarded as a trailblazer in the field of diversity management. Through her leadership and direction, she and the companies for whom she has worked have received several prestigious awards in the fields of diversity and community relations, including: Sempra Energy, Health Net Corporation, and Disney ABC Television Group. Fontenont-Jamerson has been involved in numerous professional and community-based organizations and has a demonstrated track-record of championing causes that bolster, mentor, and coach minorities, women, and the youth. Berlinda received a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric HanksEric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.  #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART  SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33   www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, LA native George Evans describes his lifelong relationship with art; having being raised in an artistic home, to receiving mentorship from renowned African American artists and how his art has continued to evolve throughout the years.For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: George was born in Watts and grew up on 89th Street in an artistic family thatnurtured a love of art, books, music and nature. His brother is a jazz musician and one of his sisters, Wanda Coleman, was a renowned LA poet. According to Evans, there were two important opportunities that informed his career: art classes in Watts after the rebellion in 1965 and a gift of LACMA membership from his mother. Evans has served nearly 2 decades as a professor of Graphic Design at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. His artworks are reflective of his academic training from Chouinard Art Institute (CalArts) and apprenticeship with the late renowned watercolorist William Pajaud. The trajectory of his practice spans fifty years with artworks proficiently executed in the media of watercolors, acrylics, pencil, photography, and digital. Through the application of these various media, Evans explores the absence of boundaries to develop and reconstruct his concepts about figure and form.www.georgeevans.site About Eric's Perspective:  A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.  For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com  #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART  SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33   www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode bestselling author Terry McMillan opens up about her early days as an up-and coming author to ultimately achieving great success.. what art means to her and how her relationship with art has evolved over the years.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.com Guest Bio: Terry McMillan is an American novelist. Born and raised in Port Huron, Michigan., she discovered her love of literature while shelving books at the local library. She burst on to the literary scene in 1987 with her wildly acclaimed New York Times bestseller Mama, which won the Doubleday New Voices in Fiction award in 1986 and an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation in 1987. Terry’s signature humor, wisdom, and warmth made Waiting to Exhale, A Day Late and A Dollar Short, The Interruption of Everything, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Getting to Happy, Disappearing Acts and Who Asked You? all New York Times Best Sellers. Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back were made into award winning major motion pictures that proved huge at the box office, and Disappearing Acts and A Day Late and A Dollar Short were adapted into successful made-for-TV movies. Terry was awarded an Essence Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Beloved by her fans, Terry’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide. She is known to have contributed to a shift in Black popular cultural consciousness and the visibility of a female Black middle-class identity in popular culture. www.terrymcmillan.com About Eric's Perspective:  A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.  For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com  #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART  SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33   www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

Eric sits down with professor and longtime civil rights activist Paul Von Blum, who describes his experiences during the civil rights movement and his involvement in helping to pave the way for the recognition of African American art and the establishment of African American studies.  For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: Paul Von Blum is Senior Lecturer in African American Studies and Communication Studies at UCLA. He has taught at the University of California since 1968, serving 11 years at UC Berkeley before arriving at UCLA in 1980. He is the author of six books and numerous articles on art, culture, education, and politics. His most recent book is “A Life at the Margins: Keeping the Political Vision,” his 2011 memoir that chronicles almost 50 years of political activism, starting with his civil rights work in the South and elsewhere in the early 1960s. He is the author of three books on art and society as well as numerous articles on art, politics, culture, education and law including "Resistance Art in Los Angeles," Unmasking L.A.: Third Worlds and the City. "Decades of Dignity: The Art of William Pajaud," The Sights and Sounds of My New Orleans, in conjunction with an art exhibition of the same name at the California African American Museum, Los Angeles, curated by Samella Lewis, "Not as Strange as it Seems: Bioethics and Art," Bioethics: Thresholds of Corporeal Completeness, in conjunction with an art exhibit of the same name at Side Street Projects, Santa Monica, California, Side Street Press. His book "Resistance, Dignity and Pride: African American art in Los Angeles" was published by the UCLA Center for African American Studies.About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric HanksEric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com#ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ARTSUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDnLISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.comAbout Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric sits down with art collector and patron of African American art; Dr. Joy Simmons who describes her journey of discovering art at a young age while in Medical school. They explore her passion for collecting and supporting African-American artists.Guest Bio: A radiologist at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center for 37 years, Joy masterfully juggles her passion for patients with her love of art. She has been an avid collector of contemporary African-American art for three decades. A committed supporter of AfricanAmerican artists, she is a passionate advocate of arts patronage and civic engagement. In addition to serving on boards for Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA), Stanford University, and The Mistake Room, her extensive and growing collection has been featured in exhibitions around the world from the Tate Modern in London to California African American Museum in Los Angeles. Furthermore, her eye for spotting talent has earned her recognition in NY Magazine's The Cut, W Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Whether traveling to Cuba, Berlin or Harlem to visit artists’ studios and art biennials, Joy is deeply committed to supporting the work of both established and emerging African-American artists. Joy is currently working as the Senior Art and Exhibition Advisor for Destination Crenshaw.About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric HanksEric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.comEric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric sits down with renowned artist and longtime friend Phoebe Beasley, for an intimate conversation about her art and what drives her to create. They discuss her journey… from an aspiring young artist to gaining recognition as a celebrated American artist.    For more visit: www.ericsperspective.comGuest Bio: Phoebe Beasley (born June 3, 1943) in Cleveland, Ohio. Beasley is the only artist whose art has been awarded the Presidential Seal under two different U.S. Presidents - George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Beasley was the first African-American woman to become president of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. She was the official artist of the 1987 and 2000 Los Angeles Marathons. Specializing in oils-on-canvas, as well as prints and collages. Beasley's collage artwork was part of two major touring museum exhibitions, including a 2003 group show mounted by the Smithsonian Institution entitled In the Spirit of Martin , honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a museum show entitled Portraying Lincoln: Man of Many Faces in 2008. Beasley’s works are also featured in the homes of Oprah Winfrey, Anita Baker, Dr. William Burke and Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Dr. Maya Angelou, LaTanya Richardson and Samuel L. Jackson, Tavis Smiley, Byron Allen, Grant Hill, Marla Gibbs, Roger Penske and Tyler Perry.www.phoebebeasley.comAbout Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric HanksEric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com#ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ARTSUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDnLISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

In this episode, Eric sits down with artist and longtime friend Michael Massenburg, for an intimate conversation about what inspired him to become an artist. They discuss his experiences growing up in Los Angeles during the 1965 Watts Rebellion and significant moments that ended up informing his art. They reflect on the untimely death of Sam Cook who's song "A Change Is Gonna Come" became a symbol of the civil rights movement... the Killing of Latasha Harlins, the Rodney King verdict and LA Riots of 1992. Massenburg describes his journey of discovering art and what drives him as an artist. Guest Bio: Michael Massenburg was born in San Diego and raised in Los Angeles California. Michael pursued his studies at California State University, Long Beach and Otis School of Art and Design. Massenburg has exhibited in galleries and museums, completed private commissions and worked on public art projects throughout the country and abroad. His list of public artwork clients includes Verizon, MTA Metro, ESPN, American Jazz Museum and the Fabulous Forum. He is also the recipient of various grants, including from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the California Arts Council. Along with his art-making practices, Michael is a teaching artist, community organizer and activist for various organizations and causes. About Eric's Perspective: A podcast series on African American art with Eric Hanks Eric Hanks — African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; offers his perspective on African American art through in-depth conversations with fellow art enthusiasts where they discuss the past, present & future of African American art.For more on Eric's Perspective, visit www.ericsperspective.com #ERICSPERSPECTIVE #AFRICANAMERICAN #ART SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2vVJkDn LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2B6wB3USpotify: https://spoti.fi/3j6QRmWGoogle Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fNNgrYiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/2KtYGXv Pandora: https://pdora.co/38pFWAm Connect with us ONLINE: Visit Eric's Perspective website: https://bit.ly/2ZQ41x1Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jq5fXPInstagram: https://bit.ly/39jFZxGTwitter: https://bit.ly/2OMRx33 www.mhanksgallery.com About Eric Hanks: African American art specialist, owner of the renowned M. Hanks Gallery and commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission… was one of the leading representatives of Black artists through his Santa Monica gallery, M. Hanks Gallery, founded in 1988. By selling their works nationally, contributing to museum collections, and publishing catalogs, Hanks has helped create an audience and market for these artists. Hanks is currently a commissioner on the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.