David C. Driskell Center at UMD

The David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora at the University of Maryland, College Park, honors the legacy of David C. Driskell (1931-2020) —distinguished university professor emeritus of art, artist, art historian, collector, curator and philanthropist— by preserving the heritage of African American visual art and culture. The Driskell Center is committed to collecting, documenting and presenting African American art.

driskellcenter.umd.edu

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Resources from David C. Driskell Center at UMD

Resource Kit

Looking at Art

How do people look at art and understand its meaning? What is abstract art, and how does anyone know what it means? This resource kit guides students through a step-by-step process for understanding (representational) artwork. Students will practice observing and analyzing artwork through various models and exercises, including poetry analysis. All of the artwork featured in this Resource Kit is by David C. Driskell, a prominent African American artist of the 20th and 21st century.

Untitled (abstract)

Multicolor abstract collage; black, blue, red, green, purple, yellow, orange.

Untitled (abstract)

Multicolor abstract collage; blue, black, red, purple, yellow/orange.

The Sunflower

Multi-colored; person in green/black/white holding a yellow sunflower against a red/black cityscape. The sunflower is in the center of the print.

The Bassist

Multi-color image of a man playing an upright bass. Edition #1/80.

Sunshine, Frozen

Abstract painting with white shades on the bottom half and pink shades on the top half. It has a circle at the top to represent the sun.

Study for African Mask Quilt

Multicolored drawing of a quilt with nine African masks in rectangles (three rows of three).

Silence (Doorway Portfolio)

An outline of a figure in the bottom right corner next to a tall green plant. There is another green plant above the figure. There are also large areas of red and white painted against a dark blue background. Edition #18/75

Self Portrait

Depicts a face; primarily red, pink, and purple in the center, surrounded by canvas.

Railroad Bridge, Talladega

Landscape drawing of a bridge over railroad tracks.

Pine Trees #5

Abstract; recognized image of a tree; predominant colors are blue and green.

Maine Landscape

Acrylic painting on canvas; predominant colors are blue, red, orange, with a vertical green line in the center.

Landscape at Falmouth

Trees landscape; the foreground features a wooden fence with what may be a stream behind it.

Harbor, Maine

Landscape; outline drawing of buildings and sailboats.

Looking at Art, Step 5: Analyzing

Learning about and looking at art at the David C. Driskell Center (2020)

Looking at Art, Step 4: Mood

A crowd studying the artwork at the David C. Driskell Center Romare Bearden exhibition (2020)

Looking at Art, Step 3: Symbols

A crowd examining art at the David C. Driskell Center (2019)

Looking at Art, Step 2: Describing

David C. Driskell admiring artwork at the David C. Driskell Center (2020)

Looking at Art, Step 1: The Basics

Looking at art at the David C. Driskell Center (2020)

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