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VITA
SHERRY TURNER DECARAVA
Sherry Turner DeCarava is an art historian and a published author. In her multi-faceted career, she has been an independent art curator and consultant, a college and museum lecturer, an exhibition coordinator and an archivist. Mrs. DeCarava holds a Master of Arts degree in Art History from Columbia University (1972), where she also was the recipient of a University Fellowship and a Travel Research Grant Award. She has completed the oral examination and all of the course requirements of the Department of Art History and Archaeology that are necessary to receive the Ph.D. at Columbia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Barnard College (1968) and has completed a program in language and art at the Universite de Dijon, France.
With a principal interest in African and Afroamerican art, she has lectured on African art at Harvard University, Rockefeller University and New York University. At The Brooklyn Museum, she worked as a permanent collections Lecturer and Exhibition Consultant, responsible for conceiving, funding and teaching the first Afro-american Art Seminar conducted by the Museum. She conceived interpretive lectures for the Museum's collections in African, Oceanic, American Indian and Egyptian art. She also lectured in Ancient art (Greek, Roman) as well as in American painting and sculpture. As Exhibition Coordinator, she planned public lectures, seminars and demonstrations interpreting Lester Wunderman's private collection of Dogon art exhibited at The Brooklyn Museum. She officiated at the Third Triennial Symposium on African Art co-sponsored by Columbia University and Atlanta University. She has also been interviewed concerning art in Museum collections on Channel 31 and Channel 5.
During the past decade, Mrs. DeCarava has devoted her professional time to fulfilling one objective: the establishment of the archives of Roy DeCarava. As a result of her efforts, these works have now been presented in a major monograph, Roy DeCarava / Photographs, published by the Friends of Photography, Carmel, in 1981. As the curator for the archives, she has accomplished the following:
Organized and documented photographic archives. This includes reviewing over 2,400 photographs and historical items, organizing them chronologically and cross-referencing by type and documentation.
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Organized touring exhibits. Planned and/ or conceived five exhibits in the United States, Canada, England and Sweden. Her responsibilities included negotiating contracts, acting as curator for the exhibit, co-ordinating the selection and creating documentation of the work.
Wrote an award-winning essay. Culminating 10 years of research, she authored an interpretive visual art essay that accompanied publication of the monograph and that received an award from the International Photography Festival at Arles, France in 1982.
Served as consultant/ writer. For the Public Broadcast System (PBS) documentary film "Conversations with Roy DeCarava," she was visual and concept advisor to the production which aired nationally in 25 cities and at several world film festivals over a three-year period. The film won the Blue Ribbon Award at the American Film Festival, 1984.
Presently, Sherry Turner DeCarava is a Lecturer at Hunter College where she teaches courses in African, Oceanic and Afro-american art. She is currently researching the archives of Afro-american painter Norman Lewis (1909-1979), having negotiated with his estate to write a major monograph on his life and work. She has published an essay on Fang architecture, "Nature and Culture", in D. Fraser, African Art as Philosophy, "The New Afro-american Art" in Freedomways Magazine and art reviews and criticisms in The Amsterdam News.
During her career, Sherry DeCarava has completed research at the Musee Royale d'Afrique Centrale in Belgium and studied West African art and culture in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. She has toured major museums of France, Switzerland, England and Italy.
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Milk Street Aniques [heading][
Dear Mr. Driskell, Just a note to see if you're still interested in the tobacco-spit glaze-ing (?). We haven 'O heard from you and are unsure. We will continue to hold the piece until we hear from you. Thank you.
Cordially, Debbie (?)
8 Milk Street Portland, Maine 04101 207-773-8288
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UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND 20742
DEPARTMENT OF ART DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
November 9, 1987
Dr. Gerald Ray Miller, Chair Distinguished Scholar Teacher Selection Committee
Dear Dr. Miller:
I am in receipt of your kind letter of October 28 on the subject of the 1988-89 Distinguished Scholar-Teacher award. I think it would be difficult for me to take on a reduced teaching load in my department, if I were offered an award, since we have recently split into two separate departments and my services as a teacher are in both the Department of Art and the Department of Art History.
I am honored that you would offer to reactivate my nomination but feel that I should pass on your kind request at this time. With all good wishes, I remain
Sincerely,
DCD/c David C. Driskell Professor
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David C. Driskell [Redacted info]
November 9, 1987
Miss Harolyn Edleeca Thompson [Redacted info]
Dear Miss Thompson:
It was a real pleasure to hear from you and know that you still plan to pursue work toward the Ph.D. in Art History. I would be pleased to have you as a student under my tutelage in African-American art. I now have two candidates and am delighted that you do plan to come to College Park.
I am enclosing a brochure which may be of service in your plans to enroll here. Please follow the instructions and ask for an application blank as soon as possible as the deadline for Fall 1988 entries is quickly approaching.
At the present time, I do plan to be on campus during the 198889 school year. I shall be happy to critique the essay about which you have inquired. If I can be of further service, I hope that you will feel free to call on me. My best to your family.
Sincerely,
DCD/c David C. Driskell Encls:
