Stokes-Simms, organiser of the 'Curator's Eye' at the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Avia Ustanny, Gleaner Writer
THE MORNING begins with a tete a tete, a chat on the phone with her mother, although this woman is hundreds of miles across the Atlantic.
The daughter, Dr. Lowery Stokes-Simms, executive director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, has never married and retains very close ties with her mother who is closest to her.
Mother, 84-year-old Bernice Stokes-Simms, is still very active and keen to share all the important moments and daily joys of her daughter's life.
Most recently, Dr. Stokes-Simms came to Jamaica to organise the National Gallery display, Curator's Eye I: Install/In the Moment/In Site.
Lowery Sokes-Simms was born in the United States in Washington DC, but grew up in Queen's, New York. Her parents, both very educated and cosmopolitan, grew their three children two girls and one boy on a love of the arts.
There may not have been a lot of money, but, Lowery recalls, "the library was free and so were the museums. To attend the opera, cost only a few dollars."
Dad was a trained architect from Tennessee who worked for the New York Port Authority. Lowery therefore grew up knowing about architecture.
"We saw different buildings come into form."
In Lowery's own words, it was a "weird and wonderful" childhood.
At school, Lowery started her own creative efforts with drawing, water colour and ink for which she won prizes in high school. There she also met great teachers who introduced her to art history.
Renaissance painters
At home, there was a special Bible with renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary and other biblical scenes in the middle. This was her introduction to the renaissance painters of Spain and Italy.
For college, it was easy to make a programme choice. A first choice of studio art was soon replaced by a major in the history of art. A first degree was followed by an enjoyable progression to her doctorate. For Lowery, school was an easy matter. Becoming a curator, however, was a different story altogether. For a woman, and a black one at that, this was an unusual achievement. How did she accomplish it?
"It was about being at the right place at the right time," Lowery Stokes-Simms told Outlook. First of all, getting a job in the world of museums as an African American in New York was a saga in itself, in the early 70s.
Fortunately for her, her classmates with whom she graduated kept her abreast of all available openings, and eventually her persistence in applying for her hearts desire paid off.
Presumptuously, the 23 -year-old, on graduation from college, was keeping a weather eye out on how where she could best situate herself so that she could leave a legacy.
"In the 60s we were concerned about making an impact on society," she explains.
Looking around the museums, she realised that it was as a curator that she could become involved in having a lasting effect. In the museum were objects which would retain and transmit meaning for many generations. Lowery Simms wanted to be a part of this.
Work in the museum, she said, was also a perfect way to ensure that people of African descent and other minorities would become represented in a major way.
Lowery Stokes-Simms worked with the Metropolitan Museum of Art the last position she held was Curator, 20th Century Art.
Challenge
And, most recently, she took on another challenge at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
This museum, about 35 years old, was founded in the late '60s to address the cultural needs of the Harlem community. At that time, black artists were not recognised by the mainstream. Even today, this matter of gaining recognition for the work of these artists remains the main mission.
With the Studio Museum facing closure, the Dr. Stokes-Simms has worked with staff whom she describes as "great " to revitalise the work there. The group is now looking at how it can find funding for long-term survival.
Lowery attended graduate school with Dr. David Boxer, director emeritus/chief curator of the National Gallery of Jamaica and has had connections with the Jamaican and Caribbean art scene for decades. Her doctoral dissertation was done on Cuban art.
Variety, vitality
"I have always been impressed by the variety and vitality of the art scene here," she told Outlook.
Locally, her organisation of the 'Install/In the Moment/In Site exhibition featuring 14 installations by 14 local artists, at the National Gallery, has been much written about.
Back in Harlem, her main occupation will again be fund-raising.
It is surprising what she does when she is not trying to promote black art. Lowery collects dolls which are mostly black. She also does needlepoint and is a dedicated collector of pottery, down to hunting in flea markets for special finds.
She also loves the theatre and likes to travel. She remains the primary caretaker for her mom. "We plan trips together," she smiles. They also share a love of books and keep each other abreast of world affairs.
While here in the island, making herself comfortable at the all-suite hotel Terra Nova in Kingston, she did not miss out on keeping Mom updated via 'phone.
In addition to their love of the arts, there is very little, in terms of interests, that the pair do not share.
