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Artists usuallylet their workspeak forthem, prefer-ring more

expression than explana-tion. So a new ArtLeague of Long Islandexhibit titled “BlackVoices” offers a rareopportunity to not onlyexamine the work of 21artists from Long Island,Queens and Brooklyn,but to hear them discusstheir pieces and thecreation of them invideo interviews.

The artists includepainter Ann Tanksley of Great Neck;sculptor David Byer-Tyre of Farming-dale; Robert Carter and his wife,Panchita Carter, of Dix Hills, an oilpainter and jewelry designer, respec-tively; and Ernani Silva, a collage andmixed-media artist who splits histime between Florida and Massape-qua.

“To be an artist is always a chal-lenge, overcoming things in life,” saidSilva, 68, who has a studio in Brook-lyn and also is exhibiting his work atthe African American Museum inHempstead. “My studio is my sanctu-ary. That’s my church.”

The exhibit is ondisplay in Dix Hills atthe Jeanie TengelsenGallery. It coincides withthe recently observedMartin Luther King Jr.federal holiday andBlack History Month inFebruary. On its website,the Art League said theexhibit is meant to “initi-ate a dialogue betweenthe individual LongIsland communities —all of whom, together,make up the larger LongIsland community.”

Some of the featuredartists spoke to Newsday

recently about what motivates them,inspires their work and how they payit forward.

— TRACY M. BROWN, LI LIFE EDITOR

A kaleidoscope of creationsand the inspirations behind them

COVERSTORY

BLACK VOICESWHEN Through Feb. 21WHERE 107 E. Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills;Jeanie Tengelsen GalleryHOURS 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday to Thurs-day; 9 a.m-4 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. -4 p.m.Saturday and SundayADMISSION FreeARTISTS RECEPTION 3-5 p.m. todayINFO 631-462-5400, artleagueli.net

David Byer-Tyre, above, athis Copiague welding shop.Right, his “Imported FromAfrica — Made in America.”

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ON THE COVER ArtistRobert Carter, who worksin oils, at his home in DixHills. He and his wife,Panchita Carter, a jewelrydesigner, have pieces inthe Art League show.

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Sculptor DavidByer-Tyre, 45,FarmingdaleA bit of background:Byer-Tyre teaches sociologypart-time at FarmingdaleState College. For nine years,he was the director of theAfrican American Museumof Nassau County in Hemp-stead. He also works withthe Long Island EducationalOpportunity Center at Farm-ingdale State, which pro-vides academic and voca-tional training programs todisadvantaged students.“Education is very muchwhat my artwork is about,”

Byer-Tyre said. “Being ableto provide art to fill in thatgap. This center is helping todo that.”Who or what inspires you?

“My work is inspired bothby the history of African-Americans in this countryand our struggle for inclusionin American society, andjustice. All of my recent workinvolves Black Lives Matter,the intensity of violenceagainst people of Africandescent and what does itmean in modern society forblacks to be isolated ortreated as ‘the other.’ ”What do you want your art-work to reflect?

“To raise a level of con-

sciousness about whatAfrican-Americans are expe-riencing daily and to makehistorical connections towhat African-Americans areexperiencing in the modernworld.”What advice do you have forartists in any stage of theircareer?

“You have to be true toyourself and understand thatart is an extension of some-thing you have to say. Youhave to be committed to it.You have to know aboutyour history or your artwon’t have purpose.”Parting words: “My art isabout a truth that often goesuntold.”

Also in the show...

PHILIPPE ANDRE PREVIL “Maman Gran,” above, is an oil onpanel by Previl, below, who splits his time between ValleyStream and Los Angeles.

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Textile artistMadona Cole-Lacy,60-something,North BellmoreA bit of background:Cole-Lacygrew up in Sierra Leone. As ayoung girl, she said her par-ents served others throughadult literacy, education andvarious community serviceinitiatives, a commitment thatalso inspired her. “My artisticjourney began back in thedays when, as a young child, Iwould go home from schooland do sketches of familymembers, paintings of mygarden, sew dolls and makeclothes for them. I was soobsessed with art that my highschool art teacher, Mrs. Celes-tine Blake, advocated for meto be the school’s first sciencestudent to be granted permis-sion to study art. The absenceof distinction between cultureand art in the African settingwas quite fascinating to me.. . . One did not have to maketrips to the museum to appre-ciate art.”How is it you came to be anartist?

“I do not recall any con-scious effort to be an artist. Itis rather that I came to recog-nize and appreciate the artistwithin me earlier on in my lifeand consequently chose anacademic path that wouldafford me the opportunity tomaximize the potential for meto operate in that capacity.”What do you want your artworkto reflect?

“Iwantmy artwork to re-flect the common thread thatbinds allmankind, through theprojection ofmy appreciationfor, and the celebration ofmulti-ethnic art and culture asdynamic, and amajor contribu-tor to functional and aestheticart around theworld. . . .Throughmy brand of visualexpressions, I am able to cre-ate African-inspiredwearableart, dignity headwear for hairloss andwardrobe enhance-ment forwomen. I feel a senseof accomplishmentwhen Iprovide awearable art solu-tion for someonewhomay notbe able to readily findwhattheywant in the commercial

marketplace.When I conductand facilitatemulti-ethnicart-related cultural enrich-mentworkshops, I break downbarriers between people andmake theworld a smallerplace.”

What advice do you have forartists in any stage of theircareer?

1. Be true to yourself andalways stand up for what youbelieve in. 2. Surround your-self with other artists and art

professionals who embracethe concept of giving back andpaying it forward— peoplewho are willing to point youin the right direction and helpyou succeed. 3. Do not sellyourself short over the prom-

ise of being an overnightsensation. 4. Do not allowanyone to downplay yourimportance as an artist.Artists are just as capable ofbeing as analytical as they areof being creative.”What attracted you to the ArtLeague exhibit, or did theyapproach you?

“I have been a member ofthe Art League of Long Islandfor many years now, and washonored to have been asked toparticipate in the planningcommittee for this exhibition.. . . This is refreshing to me,as one who has been on thereceiving end of the restric-tions and rejections levied bycalls for art submissions thatwere expected to be presented‘framed,’ with much disregardfor the artist who might wantto drape his or her art or evenpresent it in the form of awearable piece.”Partingwords: “It is thewaythat you position yourself asan artist thatwill determineyourworth to those youserve.”

Above, Madona Cole-Lacyhand screens at her NorthBellmore home. Left, a piece ofher wearable art, and below, asilk work called “Fitting In.”

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PANCHITA CARTER. “My Musketeer” comprises sterling silver,dichroic glass, found objects, bronze and semi-precious stones.Carter is a jewelry designer from Dix Hills.

COVERSTORY

INITIATING A DIALOGUE. The “Black Voices” exhibit at the Art League of Long Island in Dix Hills is meant to spark discussion in the community.

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Also in the show...

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LAURENCE F. LEE. The artist with some of his work on display at the “Black Voices” show. Theexhibit includes paintings, sculpture, jewelry and fabric.

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Collage andmixed-media artistErnani Silva, 68,splits time betweenFlorida and LongIslandA bit of background: Silvacame to the United States in1969 from Rio de Janiero.He was 19 and came alone,arriving in Miami with thehelp of friends. Two yearsearlier, in 1967, he was in ashop in Brazil when HarlanBlake, a retired professor atColumbia, was trying tomake a purchase. Silvatranslated for him and thetwo stayed in touch. Blakehas been a longtime sup-porter and has bought manyof Silva’s works, thoughSilva said his patron andfriend doesn’t considerhimself an art collector.Who or what inspires you?

“A few things inspire me.My mother was from theAmazon. When I was 4 or 5,I was trying to paint. I grewup in poverty and didn’thave resources for art sup-plies. Around me was abeautiful forest. I used thefruits in it — wild berriesand grapes — for paintcolors. When it rained, Iwould use the mud to painta mural and paint my namewith a stick over and overagain. I play drums as ahobby with friends when Iam in town. I bring therhythm with me fromBrazil. So my inspirationsare 1. The Rainforest. 2. TheHill of the Singing Rooster.3. The Samba and the musicof Brazil. 4. The people ofBrazil.”Was there ever a time youwere not comfortable havingyour work on display?

“No, but I didn’t show upat my first show in the WestVillage because I couldn’ttie the knot in my tie. I wasso embarrassed.”What do you want your art-work to reflect?

“To bring a message tothe human race of the

tragedy, pain, joy. Life is notalways beautiful. One dayit’s warm and sunny, thenext day it’s rainy. Racism,discrimination, terrorism,abuse, madness; I take howI feel about that and put iton canvas. I want it to helppeople reflect in the mindon what’s going on.”What is the life of an artistlike?

“A challenge for all thesteps we face in daily life.It’s not easy. My familywasn’t supportive of mychoice. My father told me toget a real job. It was a strug-gle finding supporters and astudio to paint in. But beingan artist is a lot of fun. I wasborn to be an artist. I wasabused as a young personand can relate to childrenwho are abused. I feel myart can help heal them. Artheals me of the pain fromthe past. Some people usethe blues; I use paint.”What work/exhibit are youmost proud of?

“ ‘Strange Fruit.’ It’s apainting about slavery inthe 16th century, aboutslaves being separated fromtheir families and sentelsewhere, or they run awayfrom the plantations they’reon.”Are you going to be in Brazilthis summer for theOlympics?: (Laughter) “No,it’ll be too crazy. Thecrowds.”Parting words: “If you havefear, you cannot be a trueartist.”

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“Family,” by Ernani Silva, whosays he takes inspirationfrom his native Brazil. ER

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FRANK WIMBERLEY. “Sagg from Shore” by Wimberley, who lives inSag Harbor and Corona, Queens.

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ANN TANKSLEY. Tanksley, 81, at herGreat Neck home with her 1982 oil titled“The Takers.” Right, Tanksley’s 2013“Bringing Home the Flowers.”

Also inthe show...

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