Gail Shaw-Clemons interview video, 2021-07-26

Item

Identifier: dcpl_dcohc039_03_v.mp4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.

Dates

Creation: 2021-07-26

Creator

Elliott, Claude L. (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Born in Washington, D.C., Gail Shaw-Clemons graduated from Anacostia High School, earned a BFA in Studio Art and MFA in Printmaking from the University of Maryland, specializing in stone lithography. She studied under Thaddeus Lapinski, David Driskell, Ph.D., and Jim Reid. Teaching art afforded her the ability to spend her summers traveling and making art. She participated in artist residencies in Sweden; Ballycastle, Ireland; Washington, D.C.; Soaring Gardens, Pennsylvania; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. After teaching 24 years at the United Nations International School in New York, she moved back to D.C. into the house where she grew up. Shaw-Clemons is currently an adjunct professor at Bowie State University.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Gail Shaw-Clemons reflects on her journey as an African American artist, beginning with her academic studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has been active in artist communities in Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and New York City. As an art educator she taught at the D.C. Children’s Center, in private schools, public high schools for the arts, and on the university level. She produced prints at Robert Blackburn Workshop, New York City and WD Printmaking Workshop, Washington, D.C. She describes the professional, international travel, and artist residency opportunities afforded her to produce work. Exhibition opportunities were available through participation in women artist groups and artist communities.