The August Wilson Center for African American Culture

August Wilson was an incredible playwright, who chronicled African American lives in his native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some of his plays, Fences, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Jitney and the last one, Radio Golf produced in 2005. The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and the first African American to have two shows running simultaneously on Broadway.

The Pittsburgh community opens the The August Wilson Center for African American Culture tonight. This facility boasts 65,000 square footage where an educational center, seven galleries and a 500 seat theater will keep the public coming for years.

New York Fashion Week-Spotlight on Stephen Burrows,Tracy Reese, Edward Wilkerson of Lafayette 148 and Patrick Robinson of the Gap

Spring 2010 is ready to be unveiled at the New York Fashion Shows beginning later this week. You can count on the multitude of American designers to interpret active sportswear with varying degrees. But, my focus is on Mr. Stephen Burrows who designs his private label collection,  Ms. Tracy Reese who designs the Tracy Reese collection and Plenty, Mr. Edward Wilkerson who designs Lafayette 148 and Mr. Patrick Robinson who is the executive vice president of Gap North America and designs the men's and women's collection along with Gapbody.

Tracy Reese designs the namesake collection that features very feminine clothes that have unusual prints and intricate patterns. The Plenty line of clothes are trend driven for the young lady that likes to be above the fray. Recently, The First Lady Michelle Obama grace the cover of People magazine wearing a pink shift dress that Ms. Reese designed. Ms. Reese is a discipline of color and fabric and sees the world of women's clothes filled with a myriad of color and style that fits the life of a full size woman.

Mr. Stephen Burrows is the iconic African American designer that ruled the 1970's disco loving era. His jersey and crepe creations kept the women dancing into the wee hours of the morning. Mr. Burrows continues to intrigue us with color blocking and fluidity in his designs. If you're out flea marketing, pick up his designer's duds, because you will not be disappointed. But, in the meantime, look at his new and well edited collection for spring.

I remember when Patrick Robinson was designing the Giorgio Armani Collectione in Milan many years ago and thinking how incredibly proud it was to see an African American designer doing great work overseas. Numerous design jobs later, Patrick is at the helm of the greatest American Sportswear company in the world, the Gap. The last four years at the Gap has proven  to be a huge task for Mr. Robinson. He continues to prevail in this arena and has taken the Gap sportswear program to Europe to show on the runways. For all purposes the Gap is a barometer of the trickle down theory that goes hand in hand in the fashion world. Meaning, what you see from many designers on the runway is watered down for the public. Patrick has put the trendiness back into the Gap's sportswear program and continues to help the company evolve.

Edward Wilkerson of Lafayette 148 epitomizes the softness and luxuriousness of fabrications for this women's collection. The fluidity of the lines for woman who wants a stylish ensemble for work is a constant at Lafayette 148 who's vision is informed by Mr. Wilkerson. Edward's work came into focus for me during his tenure at Donna Karan. Transforming the workday womens wardrobe is a mainstay for Ms. Karan, and Edward did a great job for the label. At Lafayette 148 his work stands alone for all to see, and what a immense collection of wares.

I feel a flutter in my heart during Fashion Week in anticipation of seeing what's new or not new.  I can't wait for the shows and as always will keep you up to date on these four amazing designers.

Bayard Rustin-Activist,Community Organizer and Proud Black Gay Man

Bayard Rustin has been running through my mind as of late. Mr. Rustin,who was openly gay at a time when it wasn't acceptable in the American public eye, should be celebrated for his body of work for the cause of Civil Rights in this country not his sexuality. Bayard introduced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Gandhian nonviolence made him a pioneer in the movement. Bayard travelled to India to attend a conference on Gandhi's nonviolent techniques in 1948 brought about a come in his life. Bayard committed to this cause and proceeded to clean up his community and share his vision.  Rustin's visionary advocacy and commitment to pacifism captured King's attention in the 1950's. I find that many homosexuals are vilified for their sexuality, which continues to overshadow their jobs and their healthy contributions to society. It's time you people got with the program, it's time you people recognize your own judgemental attitudes and continue to check yourself before casting judgement and it's time you people own up to our strengths in what we as Gays bring to the table.

Rustin's life has been put on celluloid, "Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin", which weaves the story of  Mr. Rustin's complex life during a time of revolutionary change in America. The film description is as follows, "Long before Martin Luther King, Jr. became a national figure, Bayard Rustin routinely put his body-and his life-on the line as a crusader for racial justice". Although, Mr. Rustin's private life was much more complex then you would imagine, he never compromise his spirit and determination for civil rights.

Mr. Rustin influenced my life in many ways and shall continue to do so. We should celebrate Bayard Rustin's life everyday for what he started and we should finish in our lifetime.

Lorna Simpson-Artist

Lorna Simpson is an extraordinary artist. Whether you think it has a feminist bent or racial overtones towards Black Women. Ms. Simpson continues to explore sexual idenity that relate to the body and communication through relationships. You as the viewer will have to decide.  Her works often pair isolated details of the human figure often accomplanied with text. I saw her work at the 2002 Whitney Biennial and the piece that the curators picked was incredible. The art piece titled, "Easy to Remember" captured the moving lips of Black Men and Women stacked on top of one another. This image forshadowed the muted voices of Black Men and Women in this country. First of all, it was great to see an African-American artist at the Biennial and secondly, Ms. Simpson video piece stood out in the show.

Ms. Simpson has appeared in a number of projects involving differents artist mediums such as; The Black List DVD-which showcases numerous African Americans discussing their occupations and giving advice, groups shows at the Brooklyn Museum and Guerilla Girls.

Steve McQueen--Artist/Film Director

Steve McQueen is a British Artist who grew up in London and studied art and design at Chelsea College of Art and Design.  Mr. McQueen did a limited stint at the Tisch School in New York. McQueen's  films are done in black and white and are fairly minimalistic. His first film titled, "Bear" has two men (including Mr. McQueen) exchanging a series of glances which might infer a flirtation.  He won the Turner Prize in 1999 submitting three films. Amongst the entries, The Prey which focuses on a tape recorder drifting into the air while the sound of tap dancing playing in the background), The Deadpan (Mr. McQueen is presented in the film as a Buster Keaton character where a house collapses around him leaving a window frame of Mr. McQueen) .In 2008, Mr. McQueen presented his film, "Hunger" about the last six weeks of the Irish Republican hunger striker Bobby Sands. This story presents mankind in a situation where the mind and the body is taken to the extreme limit.At  presitigous Venice Biennial, McQueen represented the British government in their provided pavillion with his film, "Giradini" which was a tribute to the surrounding pavillion provide by the Italian government in Venice for artist from around the world.