Sketches of Spain: The Global Art and Activism of Paul Robeson

The Robeson Gallery in conjunction with Westchester Community College (WCC) Center for Digital Arts are sponsoring both an art competition and photograph exhibition, “Sketches of Spain: The Art and Global Activism of Paul Robeson” August 26 – September 27, 2021, at the Center for Digital Arts Gallery, Westchester Community College Peekskill Extension, 27 North Division Street, Peekskill, NY 10566.

Exhibit

The exhibit features photographs of Robeson throughout his life from a collection Paul Robeson Jr. gave to Burt “Buddy” Glassberg to be used as teaching and illustrative aides for his students. Glassberg’s childhood home in Peekskill served as a triage center for those injured in the notable and historic Peekskill Riots in 1949. Throughout his teaching career, Glassberg used these photographs as illustrative guides for students to learn about racism, social justice, and activism.

Slide show of photographs to choose from for art competition:

Leaving for Europe with Accompanist Larry Brown on the first integrated U.S.O. overseas tour for U.S. troops, 1945
Concert at A.M.E. Zion Church, where his brother Ben was pastor
With Prime Misister Jawaharlal Nehru of India, NY 1957
The workers concert on the docks, Oakland, 1942
With activist W.E.B. DuBois an Congressman Vito Marcantonio, 1951
Madison Square Garden, New York, 1949 Photograph by Julius Lazarus
Eugene Bullard, First Black aviator in World War I, under attack during Paul Robeson's concert of Peekskill, NY, 1949
Playing football for Rutgers University, 1918
Paul and Eslanda Robeson relaxing with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at a resort in Soviet Union, 1958
In Othello with Peggy Ashcroft as Desdemona, Savoy Theater, London, 1930
At the "Stars for China" war relief benefit, Philadelphia, 1941
World premier of the movie Song of Freedom, London, 1936
Greeting film director Sergei Eisenstein during his first visit to the Soviet Union, 1934
With Students at Bennett College, Greensboro, N.C. 1942
Testifying against the Mundt-Nixon Bill during U.S. Senate hearings, Washington, D.C.
Harlem, 1955
Visiting a school during the Spanish Civil War with International Brigade soldiers, 1938
After regaining his passport, New York, 1958
Nude Study, New York, 1926 Photograph by Nicholas Murray
Presentation of honorary membership to Paul and Eslanda Robeson, West African Students Union, London, 1936
In concert with accompianist Larry Brown, Moscow, 1936
On the Rutgers University basketball team, 1916
With Elizabeth Welch in the movie Big Fella, London, 1938
During the filming of Jericho, with his co-star Princess Kouka, Eqypt, 1937
With Ethel Waters and others during the filming of Tales of Manhattan, Hollywood, 1942
On the Rutgers University football team 1916
Eslanda and Paul Robeson, Marseilles, France, 1937
With Author Richard Wright, bandleader Cab Calloway and others at the opening of Native Son, 1941
The Robeson Family at grandson David's christening, early 1950's
A scene from the film Proud Valley, Wales, 1939
In Othello with Uta Hagen as Desdemona, Broadway, 1943-44
With Kenyan Leader Jomo Kenyatta during the filming of Sanders of the River, London, 1943
Wearing his Phi Beta Kappa key, 1929
At home, 1965 Phoograph by Bob Lucas
With Eslanda at home, 1965 Photograph by Bob Lucas
As the Emperor Jones, 1933 Photograph by Edward Steichen
Eslanda and Paul Robeson, 1931
As a student at Rutgers University, 1918
Maria Louisa Bustill Robeson, Mother
On Stage during his 1949 European tour
Speaking at Madison Square Garden, New York, 1947
Paul Robeson during a British concert tour, 1930s