Art is the mysterious journey back into oneself, where all knowledge
is stored and kept for renewal and exploration. Art is the
unconscious playtime which reinvents our physical world into a better
essence of what we see and who we truly are.
We come from an invisible labor of love in which the soul can soar to
its ultimate dream. Creating art will always be the renewal of human
spirit .... lt is the air of life ... .lt is the true nourishment of the artist.
WE ARE ALL ARTISTS.
Bio
Trinidad and Tobago, with its West Indian influence, played a major role in the cultural experience and exposure Talita G. Long received as a child. Born to West Indian parents in Brooklyn, New York, Talita became fascinated with the various traditions and cultural diversity of her parents and many family members.
At an early age, Talita began to learn to appreciate Calypso music and the colorful dancing associated with her West Indian family. In her home, music and dancing were a way of life on a daily basis.
Early, Talita started expressing her vocal talents. Talita often spent summers in Trinidad as American-born children of West Indian parents were regularly sent "back home" to visit relatives and become culturally oriented. This is where Talita began to understand and appreciate the celebration of "Carnival"- a week-long series of parties, dancing, eating and a colorful expression of culture and art held in February. People of all nationalities and professions "jump up" during this festive week.
In her teens, her artistic skill blossomed and she soon enrolled at the Art Students League in Manhattan. It was here that her talents began to unfold as her exposure to art history and figure drawing started her lifelong love affair with art.
At 18, a graduation trip exploring Eurocentric art museums, culture and people confirmed that art would be the cornerstone of her future studies and later her career. Although African -American artists in the '60s were not recognized and appreciated as they are today, Talita's advice from friends and family to pursue art was "Go for it, but don't expect it to be easy."
Talita entered one of the most prestigious Black colleges, Howard University, in Washington, D.C. A fine arts major, knowledge that she had accepted her artistic calling was evident after completion of her second year of studies and meeting many African-American artists.
College was delayed when Talita married an established poet, Daughtry Long, a native of Trenton, New Jersey. While she concentrated on her family, Talita continued to draw and paint,thus developing what would later become her life's work when she found out she was expecting a child. Nia Talita was born and 10 months later, unfortunately, the marriage was dissolved.
Undaunted, Talita applied for a full art scholarship to Cooper Union of Manhattan to pursue painting and printmaking. Although ·there was a limited number of colleges specializing in art, Talita and 14 other students were selected out of hundreds of applicants - a direct result of affirmative action. Graduation came quickly and she finished with a BFA in Fine Arts in 1974. Upon graduating from Cooper Union, Talita worked as a graphic artist in the Manhattan CBS Network News Department with Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather for 12 years on a per diem basis. To her surprise, she received the Teacher's Assistant Award to attend the University of Iowa, where she completed MA and MFA degrees. At the University of Iowa, she studied under the guidance of master print maker Maurice Lasansky and painting/drawing professor, Ben Moss.
Talita has taught art for over 10 years for the Unified School District of Los Angeles at Crenshaw Dorsey Adult School; designed art programs for senior citizens, taught painting, water colors and drawing for over six years at the California Institute for Men (CIM). At CIM, she was instrumental in helping inmates develop their creative art skills and self-expression. This program, "Artsreach," is a part of UCLA's Art Extension programs. Additionally, Talita worked with youth offenders in the California penal system.
Because of the success of Talita's programs, she received the Outstanding Teacher's Award from the Department of the Arts at UCLA.
Talita has been an artist in residence with three programs focusing on young children. She created and developed an art curriculum for elementary school children at the Performing Tree, and is an artist in resident at the Country School in Studio City and the Watts Tower, which is part of the City Cultural Center Department of Los Angeles.
In 1991, Talita vacationed in Trinidad and played mass (dancing in a street band in costume) in the Carnival celebration. At that point, she became totally consumed with the artistic and creative expression the islanders created during the many Carnival events. People were dressed in colorful costumes, dancing in the streets and performing during competition, which was held around the Savanna. Soca, a combination of soul and calypso music, has become very popular during this Carnival time.
Singing is also one of Talita's favorite creative outlets. She has been writing and performing professionally and in her church. Her performances wed the artistry of music with her passion for art.
Because of the childhood influence and cultural traditions, Talita's work is born from the impressive artistic West Indian heritage, drawing from the brilliant colors of the people and costumes of Trinidad and Tobago. It is through this use of color and figures that Talita reveals another reality- her deep devotion to experiences, images and culture.
Education
UCLA Extension Certified Teaching Credential in Applied Arts -
1983-1985
University of Iowa- 1974-1978 MA/MFA
Cooper Union - 1971-1973 BFA
School of Visual Arts-
1967-1968
Howard University - 1964-1967
Workshops
Savannah College of Art & Design Lithography - Independent Study 1999-2000
Self Help Graphics - Independent Study Mono Print/Silk Screen/Etching/ Woodcutting
1996-2000
Dartmouth College- Independent Study Mono Print Workshop
1995
Exhibitions
2017 Community Coalition
Group Show Re Image Justice
2005 Artpeace
Group Show Burbank, CA
2005 CA African American Museum
Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2007 Martel Cognac Discover Noblige
Solo Show Beverly Hills, CA
2004 Watts Towers Arts Center “Watts
Up”
Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2002 Bergamot Station GI with Artist
Dale Davis, Panel Discussion
Mark Greenflyld,
Artis Lane, John Outterbridge
and Talita Long | Moderator:
Steve Turner
Santa Monica Museum of Art
Santa Monica, CA
2002 Steve Turner Gallery
Panel Discussion History and Mystery: Mark
Greenfield and Talita Long
Beverly Hills, CA
2002 Advocate Gallery
Group Show Santa Monica, CA.
2002 Steve Turner Gallery
Panel Discussion History and Mystery: Mark
Greenfield and Talita Long
Beverly Hills, CA
2002 Advocate Gallery
Group Show Santa Monica, CA
2001 Women Artist at Sony
Group Show Sony Studios
Culver City, CA
2001 Back Street Gallery “Black Magic”
Group Show Los Angeles, CA
2001 Colored Pencil Society
Group Show West Bend Museum
West Bend, WI
2001 Zeneta Kertisz Gallery
Group Show Venice, CA
2001 Advocate Gallery
Group Show Santa Monica, CA
2001 Cathedral Library
Group Show Palm Springs, CA
2001 Savannah College of Art and Design
Group Show Savannah, GA
2000 Savannah State University
Group Show Heritage 2000 Festival
1999 Faculty Show
Group Show Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA
1999 Articulture Gallery
Group Show Hermosa Beach, CA
1999 Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center
Group Show Selection of Prints from Self-Help Graphics
1998 Watts Tower
Solo Show Los Angeles, CA
1998 Gallery 825
Group Show Los Angeles Art Association
1998 Centinela Probation Office
Group Show The Peoples Art
Self-Help Graphics
1997 Site Gallery
Group Show Cool Art ‘97
The Brewery Studios, Space A-9
Los Angeles, CA
1997 Savannah College of Art and Design
Solo Show Savannah, GA
Above the Horizon Line
1997 Self-Help Graphics Annual Print Exhibition
Group Show East Los Angeles, CA
1997 Ascension Gallery
Group Show Afrodisias
Washington, DC
1997 Los Angeles County Museum
Group Show Rental Gallery
Los Angeles, CA
1996 Riverside Art Museum
Group Show Upstairs Gallery
Aztland and Beyond
Riverside, CA
1994 Watts Third World Festival
Group Show Los Angeles, CA
1993 Hollywood Municipal Art Gallery
Group Show Hollywood, CA
1993 Off the Wall of Time Fine Art Gallery
Solo Show Westchester, CA
1990 Grossmount College
Group Show Hyde Gallery
San Diego, CA
1976 Migraciones
Group Show Una Exhibihicion
De Artistas Grafico’s
Afro-Americans
Teaching
Fall 2003-2008 Art Specialist
Jordan High School
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles, CA
Fall 2001 Art Specialist
Hamilton High School
Communication Arts Academy, LAUSD
Los Angeles, CA
Spring 1999 Art Specialist
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles, CA
Fall 1999-2000 Painting Professor
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA
Fall 1996 Art Instructor
CA State University
Conservatory of Fine Arts, LAUSD
Los Angeles, CA
1996-1998 Art Specialist
LACMA, Sunday Family Day
Printmaking Workshops
Los Angeles, CA
Fall 1996-1998 Artist in Residence
Country School
Private Elementary School
Burbank, CA
Fall 1996-1998 Art Instructor
Crossroads/Grandview Elementary School
Santa Monica, CA
Summer 1996 Art Instructor
Brentwood Art Center
Brentwood, CA
Spring 1995 Professor in Design
Dartmouth College
Junior Fellow in the Studio Art Department
Hanover, NH
1994 Art Specialist
Watts Tower, Cultural Affairs Department
Los Angeles, CA
1993 Visiting Artist
Natural History Museum
Los Angeles, CA
1990-1994 Painting Instructor
St. Elmo Village
Los Angeles, CA
1990 Art Specialist
UCLA Department of the Arts
Arts in the New Age
Westwood, CA
1990 Visiting Artist
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, CA
Fall 1990 Art Specialist
University Palisades High School
Pacific Palisades, CA
1986 Fine Arts Specialist
Performing Tree
Los Angeles Unified School District
In District Elementary Schools
Los Angeles, CA
1986-1992 Art Specialist
Artsreach
UCLA Extension, CA Institute for Men, CIW and
Fred Nelles
Whittier, CA
1983 Art Instructor
Los Angeles Unified District
Adult Education
Los Angeles, CA
1983-1986 Commercial Art and Drawing Instructor
American College for Applied Arts
Westwood, CA
1976-1978 Awarded Teacher / Assistant in Design
Art and History Department
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
1971-1983 Graphic Artist
CBS Evening News
with Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather
New York, NY
1971-1972 Drawing Professor
Rutgers University
Art Department
Rutgers, NJ
Film
1998 “Othello”, Castle Rock Entertainment
Designed tattoos for Actor Laurence Fishburn
Beverly Hills, CA
Publications
2017-2019 Self Published
Talita Long, works from 1978-2017
Drawings, Paintings & Prints
2016 Self Published
“Body of Work” – Talita Long
2005 City of Los Angeles African American
Heritage Month “Savannah Secrets”
Lithograph
2016 Artvoices Art Books
“101”Publisher Terrence Saunders
Oil Painting on paper and water color
1998 The National Blackfine Art Show
Cover Art for Catalog
Television
1971-1983 CBS Network News, New York Graphic
Department Graphic Artist
Awards
2001 Colored pencil Society of America
West Bend, WI
1992 ‘Artist in Residence Summer
Recovery Program’
Certificate of Commendation
from City of Los Angeles, Mayor
Tom Bradley
1986 ‘Artist of the year’
Artsreach
UCLA Extension
Los Angeles, CA
1981 The Pathfinder Fund Cash
Award
Chestnut Hill, MA
1976-1978 Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
1974-1976 Museum Assistant
University of Iowa
1972 Drawing Award
Art Director’s Club
New York
1971-1973 Scholarship
Cooper Union
Articles
2005 Los Angeles Times Calendar Art
Review
“Looking Back to Retrace Black
Artist Forward
Steps”
2005 LA Weekly
“African American Artist in Los
Angeles”
2002 Calendar Los Angeles Times
Art and Architecture for Black
Artists A New
Champion
By Suzanne Muchivic, March 31
2001 Los Angeles Times Weekend
Calendar Section
Thursday February 1
2001 ‘ESSENCE’
Nia Long and Talita Long - Girls
in the Hood
April Issue
1995 Los Angeles Times Watts Art
‘The Culture Club’ Life and Styles
1995 ‘Man of War’, Box Office
Designed Tattoo for Laurence
Fishburn
in the film “Othello”
1994 Watts up Summer-Fall Volume
XIII, No. 4
Sink and Ink Tattoo Design for
Trev Marshall’s
Oceanic Art
1990 Lifestyles
The Can Black Artist Being Black
1981 CNM Africa, The Pathfinder
Fund
Le Compaqnon De L’Agent
DeSante Par Lise
Cousineau
1976 Migraciones
Una Exhibihicion de Artistas
Grafico’s
Afro Americans
1974 THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK
REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 29, 1974
GOOD BLACK POEMS
ONE BY ONE
ART WORK FOR BLACK POETS
WHO THINK OF
SUICIDE
1970 KNIGHT, ETHERIDGE AND
TALITA LONG
(ILLUS.) FOR BLACK POETS WHO
THINK OF
SUICIDE
BROADSIDE PRESS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
2004 THE OWL
VOL 19 N 1 FEBRUARY
PEN AND INK
ILLUSTRATION OF ANGELA
DAVIS BY TALITA
LONG DAVIS USED IN ARTICLE
AFRICA AMERICAN POETS IN
THE RARE BOOK BROADSIDE
COLLECTION