On Painting While Black: Beauford Delaney, Poetry and Presence

Arlene Keizer, PhD, Discussant Forrest Hamer, PhD

Friday Jan 10, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

2nd fridays

Please join us for an evening of art, culture, and conversation as we explore the profound legacy of gay African-American artist Beauford Delaney through the lens of Arlene Keizer, an Afro-Caribbean poet and scholar whose work is deeply engaged with psychoanalytic ideas and cultural criticism. Psychoanalyst and poet Forrest Hamer will be in conversation with Keizer as we look at Delaney’s creativity and art, in addition to his struggle with mental illness, homophobia, and racism. Delaney was an artist central to the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s. He is valued for his vibrant, expressionist portraits and his deep connection to both African American and global artistic communities. He redefined the boundaries of art in the 20th century. In her acclaimed book Fraternal Light: On Painting While Black, Kaiser explores Delaney’s art and life to illuminate the complexities of race, sexuality, mental illness, and the search for self within a deeply divided world.

CE Credits offered: 2

Course Objectives

After completing this course participants will be able to:

1. Identify and interpret the key themes in Delaney's art, including identity, race, spirituality, and emotional expression.
2. Investigate elements of the social pressures on Delaney impacted his mental illness and how these struggles were present in his art and how the presenter weaves her own subjectivity into her poetic understanding of Delaney.

db.pincsf.org/events – 415-288-4050 — 530 Bush St, Suite 703, SF CA USA — pincsf@gmail.com

The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PINC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Visit db.pincsf.org/policies for policies and disclaimers.