Lifeless wood and a gifting of Robert A. Powell to create a work of art from nothing was the genesis of Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center.
The carving continues as the art center Powell birthed takes new shape to benefit a new generation of visual artists.
After 22 years of providing a place where African-American art is accepted, nurtured and shared, Portfolio’s founder and CEO, Robert Powell, is fashioning a new piece in his vision of showcasing black art. He is selling his art gallery to establish a not-for-profit funding agency for the expansion of the visual art he loves so much.
“The plan is to raise money for the African-American visual arts and cultural institutions,” he said. “We want to become a funding agency to help local, African-American artists grow and become successful.”
Since 1989, Portfolio has been home to African-American visual art heritage
Decades ago as a sculptor taking dead tree stumps and other pieces of discarded wood and transforming them into expressive masterpieces, Powell has sculptured Portfolio Gallery & Educational Center, 3514 Delmar Blvd., in the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District, into a work of art of its own.
Portfolio has featured exhibitions of African-American artists from Missouri and around the world, among them:
• The Hewitt Collection of African-American Art
• Let Us March On! Selected Civil Rights photographs of Ernest C. Withers
• The Gordon Parks Collection of Kansas State University
• Shades of Greatness: Art inspired by the Negro Leagues – Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
• Charles Bibbs
• Dean Mitchell
• Lonnie Powell
In addition to showcasing local and internationally renowned African-American artists, Portfolio has been an art educational hub for children, adults and developmentally disabled persons, working with educators to enhance traditional arts in the school setting. Powell has presented lectures, demonstrations, workshops, programs and opportunities for cultural and intellectual exchange.
Portfolio’s community projects and special services have included:
• Silk screening workshop in Sedalia, MO as part of the Scott Joplin Festival
• The “Women Artists Series” with Girls Incorporated, a year long program providing instruction on creative paintings, drawings, pottery, sculptures and murals.
• Consultant for an artist to render a portrait of the first African-American chancellor of the University of Missouri at St. Louis, the late Dr. Marguerite Ross Barnett. The portrait was painted by nationally know artist Thomas Blackshear.
• Oil portrait of St. Louis’ first African-American mayor, Freeman R. Bosley Jr., painted by Leroy W. Allen.
Portfolio has been recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Missouri Arts Award.
The overwhelming impact that Portfolio has had on the awareness and appreciation of black visual art has delivered Powell to the new vision. Powell believes that it is vital that Portfolio assist and add to programs for the advancement of the arts by local, regional and national organizations.
“It is vital to Portfolio Inc that artisans and the artistic education of the people be honored and artistic heritage preserved, while supporting new ideas and providing financial assistance to artists and organizations that support our mission,” he said.
The New Direction: A silhouette for the future
Under Powell’s new vision, funds from the sale of the building housing Portfolio would seed a base for distribution to artist and non-for-profit art organizations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and Atlanta.
Powell projects that to launch the base about $200,000 is needed. Through development efforts, an additional $800,000 would be raised. Grants will be awarded as full and matching grants in the targeted areas. Fifty-five to 75% of funds raised will be distributed to artisans and art organizations; the rest will be for administrative and operational costs.
He is asking $800,000 for the building, which is a restored exquisite Romanesque Victorian house built in 1890 that features ornate woodwork, stained glass windows and six original fireplaces. In addition, the parking lot that the building sits on brings in between $10,000 - $13,000 annually.
A key component of the new direction consists of four fundraising exhibits annually in each of the target cities. These black-tie events will be for guests to purchase art or make a contribution.
“We want these shows to be events where people know they’re at fundraisers and where they can come out with the intent of buying art,” he said.
For more information about the new direction for Portfolio, contact Powell at 314.533.3323. You can e-mail him at portfoliogallery@att.com. The website is http://www.portfoliogallerystl.org/. Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center, 3514 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103.
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