Atlanta is quickly becoming the cultural arts capital of the Southeast, thus the most appropriate venue to launch a world class fine arts exhibition.We will open a world class fine arts exhibition which features special paintings by legendary actor Billy Dee Williams as well as renowned visual artists Jonathan Green, Paul Goodnight and Synthia Saint James. In addition to an assemblage of national artists, we have selected a number of the Atlanta’s most renowned visual artists to create works inspired by the legendary singer and civil rights activist. Be mesmerized by the diversity of talents and aesthetic as each artist presents works around three topical areas: A signature portrait of Nina Simone; a visual interpretation of one of her songs or a visual biography. This exhibition will travel throughout the world.

Fine Art Show

The Themes for the Fine Art Exhibition: This select group of visual artists will create Nina Simone themed artwork in 3 focus areas. The artist will have the liberty to work under the thematic area that best suits the work they want to complete. Details of each theme are listed below.

• Portraiture: Across her lifetime Nina Simone can be defined by the many different hairstyles, clothing choices and other accessories that she dawned with each new musical project. A few of the artists have elected to create a portrait that centers on her ever evolving public persona.

• Visual Biography: Dr Simone’s civil rights activities began essentially when she was 10 years old and continued throughout her life and career. Working under this theme, artists chose to visually interpret those moments.

• Song Interpretation: Nina Simone songs were highly visual and contained very interesting storylines. A number of artists can decided to do a visual interpretation of one of her more than 400 songs.

A complete list of participating visual artists is listed below. Many of the artists are among the best in the Southeast with a number who rank amongst the best in the country.

Jonas Allen Sam Adoquei Ron L. Anderson Georgette Baker Wycliffe (Linc) Bennett Cecil Bernard Nancy Wellington-Bookhart Eric Briscoe Robin Holder Demetrie Broxton Sam D. Burston Danny Bruce Campbell Louis DelSarte Malaika Favorite

Jonathon Green Paul Goodnight Samuel Guilford Earl Jackson TeMika V. Jarrett Zenith Jenkins F. Geoffrey Johnson Brian Joiner Serinity Knight Michael McBride Yvonne Milliner Michael Clifton Morgan Marcella Muhammed Tracy Murrell

Eleanor Neal J. Christopher Neal Barbara Nesin George Nock Mary Lovelace O’Neal Charly Palmer Lee Ransaw Terrance Robinson Vernon D. Robinson Sr. Jonathon Romain Anita Rosenberg Gail Fulton Ross Dr. Chouaieb Saidi Synthia Saint James

Chazzi Shepard Selah Ernest Shaw Jeremy Sutton Jaymes H. Taylor Shuntia Wallace Margaret Warfield Charlotte Riley-Webb Billy Dee Williams Kevin A. Williams Dray Wilmore

No one does it better than Nina. Her name, her grace, her gritty voice—all are distinctly her, distinctly Nina. On April 21, 2010, we will trace back through the hills, valleys, peaks, and under currents of America through the music of Dr. Nina Simone. From her early years to the final days, music, poetry, dance, and live artistry will engage all of your senses so you may see as she saw, feel as she felt, and taste the bitter sweetness of her life and the music she sung. Her legacy and life will be celebrated, remembered. Participants will laugh, cry, sing, and, if you’re funky enough, dance.

What was it like to be the daughter of an icon? During this series we ask that question. We have brought together the daughters of African-American icons to share their experience as Daughters of Destiny. Lisa “Simone” Kelly (Nina Simone) and Deanna Brown-Thomas (James Brown); others are expected to join us.

Nina Simone’s style crescendo connects with the never-ending, sometimes naughty, nuance of her music. Often ahead of the trend or having the audacity to go where few have gone, her Prêt a Porte persona undulated from an ethereal, smoky elegance of a 1950’s nightclub entertainer to a sassy 60’s civil rights songbird. Marching to the beat of her own bongos in bohemian burlesque, Nina corn-rowed, caped and coutured her way towards her rightful place as the cultic queen for the ages.

We will be offering guided tours of this exhibition. For schools groups this will not only be a great experience in Dr. Simone’s music and the civil rights activities; it is also a rich visual arts experience as the students will be introduced to some of the most talented visual artists in the city of Atlanta. The tours will be by appointment only between the hours of 11am and 4pm daily.

If not us then who? If not now, then when? Dr. Nina Simone’s most personal, life-long pursuit was the education of children across the African Diaspora. Through music, interactive exercises and live performances, representatives of the Nina Simone Foundation will share her life and legacy with select students in the metropolitan area. We hope to encourage them to use all of their talents and live successfully knowing that they are Young, Gifted and Black.