Sandra Baccus Collection

Being guarded by emotions, the forever lasting paintings of the Lloyd and Sandra Baccus Collection will forever remain imprinted in my mind. Never have I seen such a diverse range of medium in one collection. I saw firsthand well-known paintings of artist that I have only heard or read about in books. The collection house many African American artist and African Diasporic. Lloyd and Sandra Baccus Collections are on exhibit at the David C. Driskell Center at Maryland University.

The late Lloyd Baccus wanted to contribute his collection so that students and art historians can marvel in the history of African artist. He wanted to ensure that all art lovers knew that African artist is a big inspiration of young artist today. It will continue to be an inspiration as long as upcoming generations are taught what African art is and why it is necessary that we all educate ourselves on the nature of its existence. With his art underway on viewing at the David C. Driskell Center, all students and historians come out to reverence in his memory and passion of art. Lloyd Baccus late wife Sandra Baccus was too a great art collector, intrigued in with Lloyd love and collection of art they continued their passion together and in the end was able

to contribute 150 well renowned piece to the gallery.
During my visit at the Driskell Center, I took notice to all the different types of art, median and sculptures. As I ventured through the gallery a few artist work stood out to me, such as the Bearden, Romare (1914-1988). Constructed with collage photographs and magazine clippings, paint, ink and graphite on wood; I marvel at the different textures that complemented each other. There were quite a few of this unique constructed art work within the collection all with the same technique. It seems as if Bearden choice of technique was because of scare art materials, therefore, he used what was at his disposal at that time. Not fully know the history of the created art, I socked up every aspect of the marvelous painting and moved on to the next art work.
Another piece in the collection that caught my attention was Charles White, Sammy Davis Jr., 1959: constructed with graphite on acrylic paint board. Coming from a background of artist and graphite being my first choice of medium, I was taken back. The face structure in detailed with the bones, the construction of the garments of clothing gives it free movement; an artist can tell that Charles White gave a lot of thought and work in creating this piece. The Sammy Davis Jr., is one of my favorite pieces throughout the collection. With more pieces’ to view, I wasted no time making my way through the gallery. Giving each piece my more than ten seconds of my time, I quietly analyzed each art work in the gallery.
Moving towards the next renounce piece that drew my attention is Waterlilies, by Lois Mailou Jones 1989.

What drew my attention to this piece was the thought that I had painted a copy when I was learning how to paint in my younger days. It caught my attention because at the time I did not know who the painting was by and now that I know; I see a lot of similarities between both his and mine. Looking upon the painting, I wonder what Lois was thinking while painting this calming and peaceful piece. What was he going through at the time of creating this amazing sight of nature? Through the effort of trying to visualize and capture the emotions of Lois while painting this creation, I continued on to the next visual ascetic of the

gallery.
The last one I will introduce brought my roots flooding back. This is one of the various photographs in Lloyd and Sandra Baccus collection. Titled, Communion with the Great Spirit- Barbershop, Los Angeles by Diana McClure; this photo caught remembrance of my home town, city and neighborhood. This barbershop and owners have been in this location for centuries. The very reason I know this fact is not research but because I lived a block away from this barbershop from birth. I’ve seen these very people on a daily bases. It felt good to know that my city and its people are look upon as art, as culture, as history to be displayed in a gallery, as well as, a collection of this calibrator. I thank Diana McClure for this photographs and Lloyd and Sandra for including it within their collection. Home is truly where the heart is in the photo.
In conclusion with my visit to the David C. Driskell Center, in all I could not have seen so many various African American art. Truly glad and excited that I was able to endure such a sight. No illustration, painting nor sculpture was alike. Each and everyone one foretold a story and history behind the creation by its maker. In all honesty I believe all their efforts of obtaining a vast collection will never go unnoticed.