Spring Break
Columbia professor explores Greek works
By: Amanda Tilley
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: News
Robert O'Meally, Zora Neale Hurston professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, joined the classic story of Odysseus with the art of African American artist Romare Bearden, Thursday at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries.
Bearden, a 20th-century artist, tied Homer's classic story The Odyssey with artwork that other African-Americans could relate to even if they had no prior knowledge of Greek culture. "You don't have to be the inventor of a cultural item to enjoy it," O'Meally said. "Bearden takes ancient Greeks and makes everyone black."
O'Meally said that Bearden worked to make Homer's story relevant to Afircan-American life. "His work is not merely illustrations of Homer, but instead he went toe-to-toe with him, working on a mutual collaboration."
He explained that several portions of The Odyssey could be used to tell a story that the African American community would relate to. His painting of "Circe" showed African American women the way he saw them-full of danger and allure. O'Meally said that Bearden drew inspiration from people he remembered from his life.
O'Meally said that Bearden thought all cultures can find something to relate to in most texts. "Bearden believed we're all African-American. We're all also pioneers, Indians and frontiersmen."
Though Bearden's watercolors are famous, he is well known for his collages. "He (Bearden) loved the idea of collages because we're all a little bit of this and a little bit of that," O'Meally said. Bearden drew his inspiration from other artists. He said that Bearden often referenced Picasso in the way he drew human figures and his use of blocks in his work.
He said that changing the way people looked at The Odyssey didn't just relate to the African American community. "He showed the The Odyssey was a universal story, something everyone could grab on to."
Members of the audience came not only to hear O'Meally speak, but to learn more about Bearden. "He [Bearden] was an African- American art icon. He was a forerunner in the art world, one of the only highly recognized African- American artists at the time. He was a symbol of progression," said Myiesha Gordon, program coordinator for the MSC Visual Arts Committee.
O'Meally's lecture was sponsored by Callaloo, an African-American and African literary journal, founded by A&M English professor Charles H. Rowell, as part of its Callaloo lecture-reading series.
Bearden, a 20th-century artist, tied Homer's classic story The Odyssey with artwork that other African-Americans could relate to even if they had no prior knowledge of Greek culture. "You don't have to be the inventor of a cultural item to enjoy it," O'Meally said. "Bearden takes ancient Greeks and makes everyone black."
O'Meally said that Bearden worked to make Homer's story relevant to Afircan-American life. "His work is not merely illustrations of Homer, but instead he went toe-to-toe with him, working on a mutual collaboration."
He explained that several portions of The Odyssey could be used to tell a story that the African American community would relate to. His painting of "Circe" showed African American women the way he saw them-full of danger and allure. O'Meally said that Bearden drew inspiration from people he remembered from his life.
O'Meally said that Bearden thought all cultures can find something to relate to in most texts. "Bearden believed we're all African-American. We're all also pioneers, Indians and frontiersmen."
Though Bearden's watercolors are famous, he is well known for his collages. "He (Bearden) loved the idea of collages because we're all a little bit of this and a little bit of that," O'Meally said. Bearden drew his inspiration from other artists. He said that Bearden often referenced Picasso in the way he drew human figures and his use of blocks in his work.
He said that changing the way people looked at The Odyssey didn't just relate to the African American community. "He showed the The Odyssey was a universal story, something everyone could grab on to."
Members of the audience came not only to hear O'Meally speak, but to learn more about Bearden. "He [Bearden] was an African- American art icon. He was a forerunner in the art world, one of the only highly recognized African- American artists at the time. He was a symbol of progression," said Myiesha Gordon, program coordinator for the MSC Visual Arts Committee.
O'Meally's lecture was sponsored by Callaloo, an African-American and African literary journal, founded by A&M English professor Charles H. Rowell, as part of its Callaloo lecture-reading series.
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