W. E. B. Du Bois Bust Commissioned for CAU Campus
We are pleased to announce the dedication of the commemorative bust of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois. In consultation with a critical team of our CAU community, conference co-chairs President Carlton Brown and Dr. Stephanie Evans commissioned a sculpture by renowned artist Ayokunle Odeleye. We offer a likeness of Dr. Du Bois in remembrance of his esteemed 23 years of service to the institution and to honor his contributions worldwide.
The bust was dedicated to the Clark Atlanta University campus on Saturday, February 23, 2013--
Dr. Du Bois's birthday--during the W. E. B. Du Bois and the Wings of Atlanta 50th Anniversary Commemorative Conference. Mr. Arthur McFarlane, the great-grandson of Dr. Du Bois was present for the dedication, as was Atlanta City Councilmember, Michael Julian Bond. The dedication included African drumming by faculty member Mr. Heron Black, local youth step teams from the Georgia Steppers League, and Dr. Daniel Black pouring libation.
President Brown consulted with several key figures of CAU staff, faculty and alumni to make the crucial decision of choosing the perfect site for the bust. Included in this group of experts was
Dr. Isabella Jenkins, for whom the CAU Honors Program is named, Ms. Tina Dunkley, Director of the CAU Art Galleries, CAU First Lady T. Lavern Ricks-Brown, alumna Ms. Gay-linn E. Gatewood Jasho and Associate Vice President of Business and Finance, Ms. Bonita Dukes.
In January 2013, a group of 15 CAU students, faculty and alumni met at Odeleye Studios in Stone Mountain to move the model to Kennesaw State University, where it will be completed.
Professor Odeleye offered cultural and historical context, Dr. Candy Tate provided comments from her art history background, Dr. Evans read passages from The Souls of Black Folk, and Black Arts Movement photographer Mr. Jim Alexander was on hand to document the moment.
Pictured: CAU President Dr. Carlton E. Brown, AWH Department Chair Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans,
Artist and Kennesaw State University Professor Ayokunle Odeleye, Art Historian and CAU History alumna Dr. Candy Tate, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and University Relations
Mr. Henry Taylor, and Director of Annual and Special Giving Ms. Nicole Blount. Not pictured,
Ms. Donna Brock, Director of Strategic Communications and University relations
(and creator of CAU Du Bois Project media image).
Click here to learn more about the artist:
http://odeleyesculpturestudios.com/
