Picture Stories: Stepping out in style

The wonderful photos kept coming. For several weeks, black and white photos with a mix of people, events and celebrations turned up on the auction table. An auction-house staffer told me that a dealer brought them in each week. Most were historical photos, a few were portraits, and all were embedded with stories that I couldn’t wait to release.

Over the past few weeks, I have shared some of those old photos and the stories behind them in a series called “Picture Stories.” This is the final installment. You can see all the others at Auction Finds.

‘Stepping out in style’ knows no time or age

picturestories7a

Doris Wooten (in black suit) was "Miss Morgan State University" in 1958-1959. The school is located in Baltimore, MD. At the time, she was a junior honor student from the Bronx, NY. — Doris Wooten (in black suit) was “Miss Morgan State University” in Baltimore, MD, in 1958-1959. She was a junior honor student from the Bronx, NY.

picturestories7e

picturestories7g

picturestories7h

Archbishop James Francis Augustine Lashley, New York, 1949. He was the archbishop and primate of the American Catholic Church Archdiocese of the state of New York, which was founded in 1927. — Archbishop James Francis Augustine Lashley, New York, 1949. He was the archbishop and primate of the American Catholic Church Archdiocese of the state of New York.

picturestories7j

An unidentified woman and her dog.

Mrs. Harbison. Photo by Gilbert & Bacon studio, which was in business in Philadelphia from 1870 to 1925. — Mrs. Harbison. Photo by Gilbert & Bacon, a Philadelphia studio that operated from 1870 to 1925.

Lula Carter, school teacher, San Francisco, 1958.

BUY MY NEW BOOK

“ART WITH HEART: How I Built a Sweet Collection by Buying Cheap at Auction”

I collect art, but I’m not someone who has the means to pay $500,000 for a Charles White or $12 million for a Rembrandt. I’m one of the “rest of us” who want beautiful artwork in our homes but can’t afford to pay big bucks for it.

I found a novel way to build my collection – by buying art for very little money at mom-and-pop auction houses near where I live. I started out buying African American artists whose works spoke to me and were ignored by the mainstream art world. Then I discovered some other neglected artists who called out just as loud.

My book “ART WITH HEART” Is a selection of stories of how I found art that I loved, how I lost out on some, won others, learned some lessons that I share with you – and enjoyed every minute of it.

So, grab a seat next to me as I take you through the moments I spent building a collection that stirred my heart.

Watch the Book Trailer

Listen to and read an excerpt