With Obamas, art changes on White House walls

The US First Couple has taken 47 works of art on loan to decorate the White House, displaying a taste for modern and contemporary art and works by minority artists.

Art selected by President Barack Obama — the first African-American US president — and Michelle Obama from five galleries include works from the National Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn, a sculpture gallery.

They include pieces by seven black artists, including one by Glenn Ligon, a conceptual artist who explores issues of politics and race in works made of text, photos and neon.

A vertical piece selected by the Obamas was “Black like me N°2,” a riff on a 1961 book by white journalist John Howard Griffin who darkened his skin and then wrote about his experience as a “black” man in the racially segregated US south.

“Harlem Renaissance” painter William Johnson is favored with four pieces, while Alma Thomas, a top African-American woman artist, is represented on the abstract painting front.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: US President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive at the ‘We Are One’ concert, one of the events of Obama’s inauguration celebrations, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on January 18, 2009. A galaxy of stars including Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Stevie Wonder will usher Obama into the White House, with a half-million people expected to brave the cold to celebrate the first African-American president. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Commitment To Raise Resilient Young Women

Hundreds of fathers brought their daughters to the Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral Men’s Day Out on Saturday, December 6, in JamaicaQueens, New York.

Reverend Dr. Floyd Flake kicked-off the evening with an inspirational greeting, followed by an address to the congregation by Ed Gordon, award-winning journalist and founder of Daddy’s Promise, a national initiative highlighting the importance of the father and daughter bond in the African-American community.

Gordon asked the fathers in the audience to stand and pledge their love to their daughters for a lifetime. Bounty(R) participated as the proud sponsor of Daddy’s Promise and is committed to supporting programs that are important to the African-American community.

SOURCE Bounty

PICTURED: Chef Lindsey Williams, Ed Gordon, Chef Cleveland Chunn cook at the cathedral with Chef Lindsey Williams daughter, Missy, right.

(PRNewsFoto/Bounty)

Ashanti Visits Planet Hollywood In Times Square

Singer and actress Ashanti and children from the Edwin Gould Services visit Planet Hollywood in Times Square on December 8, 2008 in New York City.

Mission of the Edwin Gould Services:

As defined by our founder, Edwin Gould in 1927, “…to reach directly the needy children of the present generation and contribute to their health, physical and educational development until they can be returned to a proper home environment or can be self-supporting…”

and as it might be said today, “…to protect and nurture those children whose families are unwilling or unable to care for them and to strengthen families so that every member has the opportunity to help themselves toward a better future…”

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

16th Annual Diversity Awards

Ruby Dee Davis arrives at the 16th Annual Diversity Awards at The Globe Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood on November 23, 2008 in Universal City, California.

Lifetime Achievement Award Honors will be presented to legendary talent, Academy Award nominee, Ruby Dee Davis, along with a cadre of diverse industry talent at the 2008 Diversity Awards at Universal Studios Hollywood on Sunday, November 23rd.

In addition, fresh off the heels of the critical success of “The Secret Life of Bees,” acclaimed helmer Gina Prince-Bythewood will take home 2008 Visionary Award honors at the 16th annual Diversity Awards along with Diane English taking home Best Adapted screenplay honors for her remake of the 1940’s classic “The Women” which starred Meg Ryan, Anette Benning, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith.

(Photo by Timothy Norris/Getty Images)

Second Annual “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute”

Actor Terrence Howard arrives at the Second Annual ‘CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute’ at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood and Highland on November 22, 2008 in Hollywood, California.

“CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” launched last year to spotlight ordinary citizens accomplishing extraordinary deeds, will air on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

Hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the program will air globally on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Espanol.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Women’s Coalition For Empowerment And Opportunities Fundraiser

Model Selita Ebanks (L) and Shine On Sierra Leone founder Tiffany Persons attend the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment and Opportunities fundraiser to benefit Shine on Sierra Leone at Twelve West 21st Street on November 20, 2008 in New York City.

Ebanks is currently working as a model for Victoria’s Secret. She had previously done work for their Ipex Bra line, before being signed. She and fellow up-and-coming model Izabel Goulart made their major début in the 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. She is now officially one of the Victoria’s Secret Angels. She views Tyra Banks as a mentor. In 2005, Tyra Banks said she was proud of Ebanks to be representing for black women at Victoria’s Secret.

(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

19th Annual GLAMOUR Women Of The Year Awards

Condoleezza Rice attends the 2008 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 10, 2008 in New York City.

Here’s how we’re used to seeing Condoleezza Rice: clicking down a cool marble hallway in her Ferragamo heels and tailored suit, the only female in a phalanx of men, ready to wrangle arms agreements and negotiate border disputes.

Who would have expected to find her in khakis and a casual shirt, sitting in a stifling, dirt-floor tent in a Sudanese camp for displaced persons, surrounded by women talking about rape? Yet that’s where she was in July 2005, hearing from women who’d fled genocide in Darfur only to fall victim to attacks by rebel troops, camp guards, even government officers.

“I was really emotionally drained by that,” Rice recalls of her visit. “The experience led me to want to do something about sexual violence against women.”

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ARRIVALS: 2008 Emery Awards

Singer Eve attends the 2008 Emery Awards at Cipriani on November 11, 2008 in New York City.

The Emery Awards are developed through The Hetrick-Martin Institute.

About The Hetrick-Martin Institute:

In 1979, a 15 year-old boy living in a New York City group home was beaten and sexually assaulted by fellow residents.  Group home staff members responded to the incident by blaming the victim—he was discharged and told that he would not have been attacked had he not been gay.  When local community activists Emery S. Hetrick, a psychiatrist, and A. Damien Martin, a New York University professor, read about this tragedy, they realized there was a critical vacancy in the network of available social services.  There existed a gap between this group of young people who desperately needed support and the services that should have been available to them.  Hetrick and Martin marshaled support from concerned community members and youth servicing professionals, founding the Institute for Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth, renamed The Hetrick-Martin Institute in their honor after their deaths.

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John Legend Celebrates Issue Of Philadelphia Style Magazine

Musician John Legend signs an oversized copy of Philadelphia Style Magazine’s November issue during a party celebrating Legend on the cover November 7, 2008 at Comcast Center’s Winter Garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Legend credits Philadelphia with laying the foundation for his unique sound while attending the University of Pennsylvania.

IN A CITY RICH WITH HISTORY and vibrant with the hottest trends in fashion, beauty, travel, entertainment and real estate, PHILADELPHIA STYLE magazine is synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. Celebrating the people, places and events that define the unique character of Philadelphia, STYLE embraces the energy of metropolitan living and reaches out with a positive focus on our neighbors and neighborhoods.

Published in an oversized, glossy format, PHILADELPHIA STYLE is the only luxury Fashion and Lifestyle magazine in the region. We examine the latest trends and cultivate standing traditions as seen through the eyes of our affluent readers. Insightful articles offer insider coverage of the city’s most prominent personalities and the most stylish events, and spectacular photography and bold, enticing layouts, put STYLE in a class of its own.

(Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Birthday Party

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ and Quincy Combs attend Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ private birthday party at Mansion on November 5, 2008 in New York City, New York.

“I don’t know why God blessed me by having my birthday [on Nov. 4], but we’re here to celebrate 80 percent of Obama being elected and 20 percent my birthday,” Diddy told reporters Wednesday night at a celebration sponsored by Ciroc Vodka at Mansion nightclub in New York.  -People.com

Some of the celebrity guests in attendance were Mary J. Blige, Cassie, Cedric the Entertainer, and Pete Wentz.

(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

3rd Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards

(L-R) Vanessa Williams, Iman, and Malinda Williams attends the 3rd Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 2, 2008 in New York City.

Also in attendance were Estelle, Erykah Badu, Ryan Leslie, Faith Evans, and June Ambrose.  The event was hosted by Vh1 Soul at the Lincoln Center on Sunday night.

Established by DJ and former Wilhelmia model Beverly Bond, the Black Girls Rock organization was created to promote the arts and establish dialogue about the image of women in hip-hop culture and mainstream media. For the past three years, the organization has been giving props to positive black female roll models across all professions and industries with the annual Black Girls Rock Awards. “Nobody was telling us, so we told ourselves,” Beverly said. “We’ve learned to accept that we are unacceptable, and that’s not acceptable.”

(Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Beyonce, Tina Knowles Celebrate New House Of Dereon Collection

Tina Knowles (L) and singer Beyonce Knowles promote the new House of Dereon collection inspired by the movie ‘Cadillac Records’ at Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street on October 28, 2008 in New York City.

Beyonce Knowles will play the role of Etta James in the drama/musical ‘Cadillac Records’, which is scheduled to be in theaters December 5, 2008.

In this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, “Cadillac Records” follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.

(Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images)

Antonio “L.A.” Reid Launches Luxury Cosmetic Line

Recording artist Eve and Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid attend the launch of Le Metier De Beaute cosmetics at Bergdorf Goodman on October 23, 2008 in New York City.

Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, both members of the 1980s R&B band The Deele, founded LaFace in 1989, and issued their product through Arista Records. In 2000, LaFace was merged into Arista Records with Reid being promoted to president and CEO of Arista Records.

He took a six week executive course at Harvard Business School in order to become CEO of Arista in 2000 when Clive Davis was passed over. Reid signed his first unknown artist to Arista, pop/rocker Avril Lavigne. Following his stint at Arista, he was appointed as Chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004. He is also currently Chairman/CEO of Hitco Music Publishing.

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)

Stevie Wonder Performs At The O2 Arena

Musician Stevie Wonder performs live on stage with his daughter Aisha Morris at the O2 Arena on September 11, 2008 in London, England.

The Library of Congress has recently chosen Motown legend Stevie Wonder as the second recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He will be presented with the award on February 23, 2009 at the Library’s Great Hall in Washington, D.C.

(Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

34th Deauville Film Festival : ‘Maisha Africa’ Charity Gala

Actress and former Miss France Sonia Rolland (L) and singer Kelly Rowland attend the Sonia Rolland association ‘Maisha Africa’ Charity Gala to benefit the Rwandan children, during the 34th U.S. Film Festival, on September 7, 2008 in Deauville, France.

Former Destiny’s Child singer, Kelly Rowland also recently performed at the Nike + Human race at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris, France.

(Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)

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