COBA HISTORY

The Consortium of Black Organizations for the Arts – COBA – came into being in 1983: the Heard Museum was interested in producing a major exhibit of African Art and Mike Fox, the then Director, asked Dr. Eugene Grigsby if he would curate such an exhibit. Dr. Grigsby had produced an exhibit of African Art for the museum, on a smaller scale, several years earlier. Before agreeing to the request, Dr. Grigsby made one condition to accepting the challenge: to involve the African-American community in the planning and producing of the Exhibit to the extent it would be possible. Letters were sent to organizations and individuals inviting participation. Over half responded positively.

Organizations and individuals from the Black community became involved in a variety of ways. Banners were made, patterned after the Dahomean banners, depicting their history, organization or family, with most being hung at the Exhibit. Some members became docents. The drum and dance ensemble “Kwambe”, originally formed to perform at the opening of the Exhibit, continues to perform around the Valley.

This Exhibit of African Art included works from the Heard and other museums, as well as private collections of Don Flax and Mort Lipkin of Phoenix, Dr. Jack Kimbrough of San Diego and others. Room was designed to display the works and a catalog, which received national recognition, was written.

In conjunction with the exhibit of African Art at the Heard Museum, Arizona State University- with the help of COBA members – produced a major symposium on African Art. Fred Willet of Scotland, a recognized scholar of African Art and author of African Art, (a text used by many universities), was the keynote speaker. Other scholars and artists included Bruce Onobrak-paya and Francis Msange, from Nigeria and Kenya; Jeff Donaldson, Howard University; Barry Gaither, Boston and Dr. Rosalyn Walker, now Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Salt River Project printed a poster which became a collectors item.

The African Art Exhibit and Symposium, held in 1985, set the stage for future COBA activities. To put its mission into practice, COBA began to support a group of artists: ABC/Az (Artists of the Black Community/Arizona). COBA joined with Phoenix (now Arizona) Opportunities In-dustrialization Center (AzOIC) and the Arizona Bank, now the Bank of America, to produce a major ABC/Az exhibit. Don Tostenrud of the Arizona Bank offered space in the Bank Galleria and funded a catalog…..this became a major event. A few years later, COBA partnered again with OIC and The Arizona Bank to produce an exhibit of important African-American artists of the U.S., ABC/USA, in the Galleria. Again, the Bank underwrote an excellent catalog. A Sym-posium of Black Aesthetics, which brought scholars from across the country, was held in con-junction with this Exhibit.

COBA, with partners, has produced many Youth Art Exhibits. Since 1987, COBA has joined with the Arizona Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee each January to produce an exhibit of works from selected Arizona elementary schools, held originally at the State Capitol. An Exhibit of inner-City Junior and Senior High Schools has been held for over 22 years at Arizona OIC in Phoenix. This is an invitational exhibit, rather than a competition. COBA partners in support of this Exhibit include Arizona OIC, where the Exhibit is held; the Phoenix Links, who sponsor the opening reception; and Arizona State University Department of Public Events, with the Award Luncheon being held on campus. Works are selected by students and teachers and all the art is hung. Judges identify what they consider the most outstanding and cash awards are given. Membership fees, grants and donations fund the cost of these events. Additionally, in partnership with the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and through the Maricopa County Community Colleges Foundation, COBA awards three $500 scholarships.

COBA has supported ABC/Az, (Artists of the Black Community/Arizona), with exhibits in Arizona schools and colleges. The Arizona Commission for the Arts toured an ABC/Az Exhibit to schools and museums through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas for two years. The Com-mission has also given COBA support for Staff.

Every two years, COBA introduces a major African-American artist to the Greater Phoenix community. The first was Katherine Dunham, world-renown dance impresario but hardly known in Phoenix. At age 80, she came from Haiti and, after her talk, conducted a dance workshop with students from ASU and South Mountain Magnet School. The next was Elizabeth Catlett, internationally known African-American sculptor and print maker who came from Mexico. An exhibit of her work, and of her husband”s Francisco Morra, a major Mexican artist, was held at Arizona State University. They produced a series of linoprints in the ASU printmaking workshop and gave COBA ten each for fundraising. Tony Gleaton, pho-tographer, came to show and tell about photographing Blacks in Mexico. Two years later, Maya Angelou thrilled the audience with stories and song about her life. A writing competi-tion was held involving young and old, writing, poetry, prose and plays. A symposium on literature brought novelists, journalists and publishers together. Two years later, Harry Belafonte was the keynote speaker and Kenny Burrell, world-famous guitarist from UCLA, was featured at the symposium. The latest speaker, Danny Glover, world-famous actor, ”starred” in a symposium on film and theatre. Featured was Etta Moten in her early films and as a concert singer.

COBA has partnered with the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Southminister Presbyterian Chuch, the First Institutional Baptist Church, the Phoenix Unitarian Universalist Church and the Heard Museum to produce exhibits, present lectures and other activities to promote its mission, which is: “To promote an understanding of and support for African and African-American Arts and Artists.” Around 1988, the name was changed from the Consortium of Black Organizations for the Arts to the Consortium of Black Organizations and Others for the Arts, to include individuals as well as those supporters who are not Black.

MISSION STATEMENT

COBA is a consortium of organizations and others whose purpose is to promote an understanding of and support for African and African-American Arts and Artists, including but not limited to, the visual, performing and literary arts. Our Mission is accomplished through the following:

• Enhancing public awareness of diversity in the arts with specific emphasis on the arts of Africans and African-Americans.

   

• Educating a culturally diverse public, with emphasis on African- Americans, about the rich and unique culture and heritage sur- rounding African and African-American arts through lectures, symposia, classes, interviews, exhibits and performances.

   

• Providing support for and encouraging the improvement, growth and development of African and African-American arts and artists through scholarships, grants, exhibits, performances and venues for working and performing.

   

• Forming diverse partnerships and collaborating with “others” (exist- ing organizations, businesses, schools and individuals in the commu- nity) to further COBA”s Mission and values.