Photography by Team Member Incitephoto.

Lovely.  I just love the fall season.  I could see this print hanging in my living room or bathroom.
 

I love the dramatic sky. Very inspirational.  I think this print would look amazing in a home office or bedroom.

Check out IncitePhoto Etsy shop to see more of her travel and nature photography. 

-Shevon

Team Captain  

EAOC 2009 Gift Guide/Showcase...

Yes!
Finally this year we will put a group of wonderful and talented

artist and crafters together in one place,
"the EAOC Gift Guide/Showcase"

EAOC will Showcase a variety of artist
whose products make for great keepsakes and gifts for friends and family alike.

Every week we will showcase a different artist,
a new creation with brief description of the work and

new themes every month.

So stick around because I am sure there will be something
showcased here that will excite your palate.

FREE GIVEAWAY!

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a box of handmade goodies valued at over $200!

Our Sponsoring Member Shops are:



Here's a sneak peak of some of the items or a similar item: Bracelet, ACEO, Facial Cream, Gift Tag Set, Cards, Scarf, Body Mist

No purchase is necessary to win. Open to US residents only. You simply have to go to one of our sponsors above and take a look around. Then come back here and leave a comment. Your comment is your entry. Only one comment per person, duplicate entries will be discarded.

Your comment should include:
Your “name” and “contact info” (Email addresses are preferred, anonymous comments will be deleted!)
The name of an item you like in the sponsor’s shop AND the URL to it. (blank entries will also be deleted.)

The contest ends on Monday November 24th at 8pm EST/NY.
The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org.

Fine print: Please submit original comments only. Obscene or duplicate entries will be deleted. Entries without contact info (email address)will be deleted. Winner will be contacted Tuesday, November 25th. If the winner does not reply within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Black History Month Salute - James Van Der Zee – Photographer

Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat photographed in 1982 by James Van Der Zee

In Harlem in the 1920s, photographer James Van Der Zee captured a side of America rarely seen in those days: black middle-class life. Well-heeled citizens with fancy cars and furs -- and the means to pay for fine art -- flocked to "Guarantee Photo," Van Der Zee's prestigious studio.

Once there, Van Der Zee worked photography magic, posing his proud clientele of the Harlem Renaissance to tell life stories. Many he'd give costumes to wear and surrounded them with props such as backdrops and architectural objects. All told, Van Der Zee's work took on a 'tableaux vivants' quality, styled with a Victorian or Edwardian sensibility. It's these images that most distinguish Van Der Zee's work.

But he also stepped outside this circle, pointing his camera at a broad spectrum of African American life. Many luminaries of the day also sought Van Der Zee's unique eye for portraiture. The Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Sr., boxing champion Jack Johnson, black nationalist movement leader Marcus Garvey, and entertainers such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson were among Van Der Zee's celebrity subjects.

Equally intriguing are Van Der Zee's captures of everyday life. His frozen moments in churches, clubs, barber shops and at family gatherings will live on forever, showing future generations how self-love and community can look.

Once flourishing, Van Der Zee's photography business suffered during the Depression. His business also was impacted by the advent of personal cameras, as fewer people were seeking professional photography services. Ultimately, he was forced to shoot passport pictures and took on other small assignments for a living. For decades, he lived in relative obscurity.

But a wonderful thing happened in 1968. At the age of 82, the work of Van Der Zee was "discovered" when a photo researcher stumbled upon his 75,000-photo collection. Here was a matchless time capsule of African American history the world was intended to see. The discovery led to the Metropolitan Museum of Art mounting "Harlem On My Mind," an exhibit in 1969 which included Van Der Zee's work. Suddenly, Van Der Zee gained national recognition.

Now a new generation of influencers flocked to James Van Der Zee for portraits. In his later years, he photographed greats including Muhammed Ali, Bill Cosby, and Lou Rawls. In the art world, a favorite Van Der Zee is his portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat, impeccably capturing the renowned artists' enigma.

James Van Der Zee died in 1983, leaving the world a collection of powerful, black images. Inspiring and alluring images. For he specialized not in the downtrodden, but of the tall blades among us who exemplify our pride and beauty.

Etsy Artists of Color salutes James Van Der Zee with respect and admiration, always.

By Viqi French
Urban Islands – Fine Art Photography
Black History Month ACEO Art Card: Wade In the Water

Image Credits: photoreview. org
Sources: aaregistry.com, michaelrosenfeldart .com, artsedge.kennedy-center.org, and wikipedia.org