RARE Vintage African American Modern Black Woman Portrait Painting, Eddie ORR

  
This is a culturally Important and RARE Vintage African American Modern Black Woman Portrait Painting, Watercolor on Paper, by esteemed African American Los Angeles Muralist, and founding member of the Shaw Park Muralists, Eddie Orr a. Orr is most famously known for his artistic contribution to the 1991 Black Seeds mural, completed at Leslie N. Shaw Park in Los Angeles, California.

This artwork depicts the Modernist portrait of a somber, unclothed African American woman who is in a squatting position. The full-figured subject is rendered in expressive shades of blue, purple and goldenrod, and stares with a soulful melancholy in the viewer's direction. The colorful outline on her form tastefully contrasts with the stark whiteness of the paper canvas itself, producing a striking visual image. Signed and dated: "Orr'96" in the lower right corner.

Additionally, this piece bears an original certificate of authenticity by the artist, affixed to the verso of the frame. This document reads: Eddie Orr... Watercolor, Pen & Ink, White Board, Wash... Approximately 30 1/8 x 40 1/8 inches including frame.

Actual visible artwork is approximately 19 x 28 7/8 inches. Very good condition for age, with some mild scuffing and discoloration to the vintage and high-quality gilded wood frame, and some light speckles of debris underneath the glass please see photos. Acquired in Los Angeles County, California. Original artworks by Eddie Orr, or any of the original Shaw Park Muralists are exceedingly scarce, and this is a very fine and early example.

If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks! Born in Los Angeles, California. Orr established the first Black Greeting Card company and was sponsored by the second largest greeting card company in the country. He was the first to produce ethnic greeting cards which were distributed to major department stores throughout the country.

His art has been endorsed by the N. McDonald's Restaurants, Inglewood Police Department, A.

Churches, Motown Records, The Board of Education, etc. And hangs in the White House, LA County Museum of Art and homes of numerous celebrities. Harold & Belle's Today's post is a tribute to. Ddie Orr aka Crazy Horse. He was a customer, former professional football player and artist. He painted this iconic painting of our restaurant and several more of his paintings and sketches are hanging throughout the restaurant. Norman Maxwell, Michael McKenzie, David Mosley. Walls of Slavery, Walls of Freedom This is first major collection of murals focused on resistance, empowerment and slavery. It currently brings together murals from the United States from the 1920s to present day, with a large focus on murals depicting historical slavery and antislavery. In this collection, we see the abolitionists and heroic figures of black history emerge from community walls as ancestors for 20th-century social justice leaders. Creator: Hannah Jeffery Project Director: Zoe Trodd. In 1991, a group of artists. Stubbs, Norman Maxwell and Michael McKenzie - collaborated to paint. On an empty wall in Leslie N. Shaw Park on Jefferson and 3rd Avenue in Los Angeles. The idea for the mural, which appears as an African American tree of life, came from Vietnam veteran and local activist Gus Harris Jr. He recalled how little he learned about African American history in school. He wanted to create a public mural about black individuals who made an important contribution to society. The mural was created under the. Social and Public Art Resource Center's.

1990-91 "Neighborhood Pride: Great Walls Unlimited" mural program and features the antislavery leaders Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, as well as Booker T. Washington, Thurgood Marshall, Mary McLeod Bethune, Malcolm X, George Washington Carver, Paul Robeson, Stevie Wonder, Shirley Chisholm, Martin Luther King Jr. The mural was restored by Moses X.

Ball to include Barack Obama after 2008. The original canvas upon which the mural was based hangs in Oaks Jr.

Market Corner Store at 5th and Jefferson. Jefferson Boulevard and 3rd Avenue, Crenshaw, Los Angeles, CA. 1991, exterior of MCI Printing, 2301 West Jefferson Boulevard (at 3rd Avenue). The mural's central focus is a tree of life. A close examination reveals that painted into the flesh of both the trunk and branches are writing and struggling human bodies.

From each limb sprout the proud faces of important African Americans. In acrylic by David Mosley, Eddie Orr, Norman Maxwell, Michael McKenzie and Marvin Hunt with assistance from students from Holy name of Jesus School, 36th Street Elementary School and Dorsey High School. Sponsored by Social and Public Art Resource Center -- Dunitz, Street gallery, rev. (1991) by David Mosley, Eddie Orr, and William T. 2301 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018. Mosley, Orr and Stubbs are the founders of the Shaw Park Muralists. Mosley is best known fo the millions of poster reprints of his work that have been distributed world-wide since the 1960s. An early involvement with gangs landed him in San Quentin Prison, where he got to know revolutionary George Jackson-who helped him redirect his life in a more community-minded and creative direction.

Upon his release, he immediately enrolled in school, studying the technical aspects of art. He went on to teach and direct several art programs.

The concept was the idea of, Vietnam Vet and neighborhood activist, Gus Harris. Remembering how little he learned in school about African-American History, he decided that a creating a public mural showcasing some of the many heroic black individuals who have made important contributions to society would be an excellent way to inspire today's youth. A close examination reveals that painted into the flesh of both the trunk and branches are writhing and struggling human bodies. From each limb sprouts the proud face of an important African American.

Next to "Black Seeds" a second mural of children on a see-saw. Many nationalities are present in this optimistic portray of multicultural cooperation.

The mural was restored in 2009, and a few figures were added-including Barack Obama. Since the, the mural has suffered slight graffiti damage and the right panel has been painted over. The Scene "Black Seeds, " the first mural to be completed under SPARC's 1990-91 "Neighborhood Pride: Great Walls Unlimited" mural program, was dedicated Saturday at Leslie N. Shaw Park, on Jefferson Boulevard near Arlington Avenue.

Eddie Orr, David Mosley, William T. Stubbs, Norman Maxwell and Michael McKenzie, and conceived 10 years ago by neighborhood activist Gus Harris, "Black Seeds" pays tribute to African-American achievers in science, politics, sports and the arts. The mural was backed by the Jefferson Park Improvement Project lead by local ministers and civic leaders, and it takes the shape of a tree made up of the struggling forms of black ancestors.

Meanwhile, SPARC has selected New York-based artist Christina Schlesinger, who recently finished a show of paintings at La Brea Avenue's Jan Baum Gallery, to paint a mural on the north wall of the Israel Levin Senior Adult Center, at 201 Ocean Front Walk in Venice. Called "Chagall Comes to Venice Beach, " the work will incorporate several images from Russian-Jewish painter Marc Chagall.

Happening: Several local museums will observe the 14th annual International Museum Day on Saturday, May 18 by offering free admission. Participants include the Long Beach Museum of Art, Newport Harbor Art Museum and the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art. The day was established by the Paris-based International Council of Museums to honor the contributions of museums all over the world to the global community.

On May 19 from 4-8 p. The event is a benefit for the Museum of African American Art, and featured artists will include Elizabeth Catlett, Varnette Honeywood, Artis Lane and Charles White.

The work is currently being previewed at the museum daily through May 16, from noon-5 p. In 1991, the Shaw Park Muralists formed to create the "Black Seeds" mural. Originally an idea that was on his mind for years, local resident and community activist Gus Harris Jr. Ball to create a painting based on his vision of an African American tree of life.

Recalled how African American achievements were excluded from history books in school. The Shaw Park Muralists saw the blank wall adjacent to the Leslie Shaw Park as an opportunity to change that. Ball's painting would later become the maquette for a SPARC Neighborhood Pride commission. The collaborative group that formed around Ball included local artists. Stubbs, Norman Maxwell, and Michael McKenzie.

Together, the group created an interwoven tree with branches containing notable historic Black activists and leaders. Each branch collectively forms a monument to the important contributions made by black individuals who rose to prominence for their stance against slavery, their participation in the civil rights movement, and social contributions. The mural features antislavery leaders Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, Malcolm X, Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King Jr. The inspiration behind the mural can still be found on display at the local Oaks Jr.

Market corner store at 5th and Jefferson Blvd.