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THE MAROON TIGER
Page 7
ENews
MOREHOUSE MAN COMMISSIONED TO PAINT
MURAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Wilmer “Chink" Jennings, of Atlanta, who will receive
his Bachelor of Science degree from Morehouse College
in June, has been commissioned by the Public Works of
Art Project of the Civil Works Administration to execute
a large mural which will be placed in the entrance lobby
of the local Booker T. Washington High School. Selec
tion of Mr. Jennings was made by a committee headed by
James J. Haverty, president of the High Museum of Art
of Atlanta and supervisor of the Public Works of Art
Project for the southeastern United States.
In the mural which symbolizes the ideals of the curricu
lum of the modern high school are nine large figures, rep
resenting workers in the arts, sciences, and skilled indus
try. In the background is the skyline of a great city, rep
resenting the achievement of labor, art, and science. The
mural is being painted in three parts, consisting of one
panel, five by eight and a half feet, and two smaller
panels, each five by four and a half feet.
It is expected that this project will be completed by
May 1.
“Chink" has received his entire training in the art
classes of Morehouse College under Hale Woodruff, well-
known Negro artist. During his college years he devoted
much attention to stage design and planned and executed
stage sets for the campus productions of “The Cradle
Song”, “Sun-Up”, “Richard III”, “Loyalties" and “Anti
gone”. He also designed and executed the settings of the
Morehouse College production of “The Merchant of Ven
ice”. Several of his stage settings have won national atten
tion. In addition he has exhibited paintings in the cur
rent show of the College Art Association of New York
City, the exhibition of the Association For the Study of
Negro Life and History at the Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D. C., and the recent exhibition of work of
Negro artists at Atlanta University.
He is the son of Levie Jennings of 183 Ashby Street,
Atlanta, and is a graduate of the Ashby Street School and
the Booker T. Washington High School. In the summer
of 1933 he served as substitute teacher of art in the At
lanta University summer school in the absence of Mr.
Woodruff.
MINISTERS' INSTITUTE TO OPEN AT ATLANTA
ON JUNE 11
In cooperation with the six institutions that are affiliated
with Atlanta University in conducting the 1934 summer
school, the University will hold a four weeks Ministers
Institute from June 11 to July 6, President John Hope
announced recently. Following the principle of rota
tion, the Institute this year will be held at Gammon Theo
logical Seminary. The courses offered are planned to meet
the need of pastors and religious workers irrespective of
denomination. There will be no tuition charge, the an
nouncement stated.
The 1934 Institute will be the second annual school of
its kind to be held. Last year the Institute was held at
Morehouse College and was attended by seventy-five min
isters and others engaged in religious work.
The academic work of the summer school, which will be
conducted by Atlanta University in affiliation with More
house College, Spelman College, the Atlanta School of
Social Work, Clark University, Morris Brown College,
and Gammon Theological Seminary, will begin on June 9
and continue until June 20. Only work of college and
graduate grade will be given. Special consideration will
be given to the needs of the public school teacher and
administrator. The University will conduct during the
summer a school in which the theories of progressive edu
cation will be demonstrated. These demonstration units
will consist of a nursery school, primary and intermediate
grades, all of which will be housed on the Spelman College
campus, and a one-teacher country school which will be
located about fifteen miles from the campus in an actual
rural environment.
During the summer school, the seventh annual rural
institute for teachers and leaders in rural communities will
be held for the purpose of offering an opportunity for those
who register to study rural economics, social problems and
education.
AUTHORS OF AFRICAN STORIES VISIT
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Two well known interpreters of West Africa, Mr. and
Mrs. Herbert Best, formerly of Katsina, Nigeria, spent
several days this week at Atlanta University in the course
of their first visit to the South. Mrs. Best, known pro
fessionally as Erick Berry, has won recognition here and
abroad for her portraits of the natives of Nigeria and for
her books, written particularly for childen and illustrated
by herself, on the folk lore and daily life of these people.
Her husband, for twelve years chief civil officer in north
ern Nigeria, has since his retirement from the British gov
ernmental service won recognition as a writer on African
life.
Nigeria, according to the visitors, is unique in that the
natives have been allowed to retain their land, to maintain
their native religion and civilization and to govern them
selves so far as possible. There are only about four thou
sand white people in this vast province, and at least thir
teen million natives. In northern Nigeria the people are
largely Mohammedan, and by virtue of treaties with Eng
land are allowed to practice their religion unmolested.
Mrs. Best became friendly with the natives and induced
them to pose for her. Her work was largely done in the
market place of Katsina, and in the course of long trips
throughout the province, which she and her husband made
on a motorcycle. She was able frequently to gain access
to the native homes and paint studies of the men, women,
and children. Through these associations she obtained
material she has incorporated in half a dozen books and
many magazine articles. The superb physical types found
among the Nigerians, their rich coloring, the colorful
robes and turbans of the men and artistry of dress of the
women all combine to make them the most satisfying sub
jects for portraits, Mrs. Best said.
During their stay in Atlanta, where they were guests
at the Atlanta University dormitories and of President
Florence M. Read of Spelman College, they engaged in a
series of conferences with groups of students of Atlanta
University, Morehouse College and Spelman College and
addressed several student groups.