2002: 365, 24-7: the many faces of African American theme calendars. (Cover Story).Mass-market calendar publishers and black presses are opening the floodgates of African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. theme products this coming year. Say so long to generic black-and-white calendars. Track your days with an exciting selection of subjects and images that celebrate the enthusiast in us all."When you see a calendar in someone's office, it's a reflection of something they love or something that engages them--a hobby or an interest," says Robin Haywood, director of calendars and book publishing book publishing. The term publishing means, in the broadest sense, making something publicly known. Usually it refers to the issuing of printed materials, such as books, magazines, periodicals, and the like. at Ronnie Sellers Productions, which just published the first calendar of artist Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold (born October 8, 1930) is an African-American artist and author. Ringgold was born and raised in Harlem and educated at the City College of New York, where she studied with Robert Gwathmey and Yasuo Kuniyoshi. . Haywood was introduced to Ringgold's "Women on the Bridge" series a few years ago. Her favorite piece was "Tar Beach." The calendar, Faith Ringgold: African American Artist (Ronnie Seller, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 1-569-06291-9), is a collection of 12 paintings by Ringgold with notes about each piece. The companion address book will be available in January. "There is a market for African American calendars," says Haywood. "At trade shows, people specifically ask us for African American theme products" she added. Cherysse Calhoun of Marcus Books in Oakland and San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden sees the market growing as well. "People come out and ask for ones that have been out for a few years and expect them the following year," she says. I Dream a World (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, ISBN 1-556-70564-6), Women of the African Ark (Pomegranate pomegranate (pŏm`grănĭt, pŏm`ə–), handsome deciduous and somewhat thorny large shrub or small tree (Punica granatum , ISBN 0-764-91576-2) and The Art of Annie Lee
reminder - an experience that causes you to remember something Color, ISBN 1-891-93224-1) calendars always go first." "The calendar market is really big for us," says Sonia Babers, owner of The Black Book Worm in Fort Worth. "I never thought it would mushroom like it has." Her customers are indicative of the trend. In the past, calendars start selling at her store as the holidays approached. Now she gets inquiries as early as September. Her bestsellers are Women (and Men) of the African Ark (Pomegranate, Men, ISBN 0-764-90885-5) and 365 days of Black History (African American Greetings, ISBN 0-764-91553-3). Top sellers at Afro Books in Memphis include the African American line from Pomegranate as well and the semi-nude photo calendars from Rundu (Rundu Enterprises, ISBN 0-962-99877-X). "Those sell a lot," says Pius Eze, bookstore manager. "We've been around for 13 years and every year there are a lot more ethnic calendars," says Eso Won Books owner James Fugate, who says some customers come into his Los Angeles store only for calendars, spending as much as $200 on them alone. "There are also a lot more retailers selling black merchandise. Where we used to order 150 [calendars], we now order about half of that because people pick them up at other stores. We outsell out·sell tr.v. out·sold , out·sell·ing, out·sells 1. To surpass (another) in an amount sold: a book that outsold all others of its kind. 2. those stores per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. , but we still lose business to them," says Fugate. Black Press CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Courtney Hines agrees that the calendar market is booming, so his company Shades of Color is branching out from its best-selling art, swimsuit and sports calendars. They will be introducing a line of porcelain figurines and greeting cards based on the work from their Girlfriends: A Sister's Sentiments calendar (ISBN 1-891-93240-3) by artist Cinde Wallace. "It's a tough market because the big players are out there now," says Hines, "but I don't think their merchandise is going to do well because right now their products are generic." Support your local black booksellers, who will more than likely carry your favorites for 2002. Great newcomers If you loved the book Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, why not treat yourself to the calendar version this season? (Algonquin Books, ISBN 1-565-12327-1). And, who can resist adorable images of little black boys and girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. playing grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. ? You can enjoy them everyday with SoulKidz ... I Love You Because (Day Dream, ISBN 0-768-83831-2). Africana The photography of the African American Quilts calendar (Good Books, ISBN 1-561-48324-9) is so colorful that you can almost feel every stitch on these award-winning quilts. Whether it's the wall or mini-wall edition of Newark Museum's collection of African Textiles (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91442-1, mini-edition, ISBN 0-764-91578-9), these calendars are monthly reminders that art does not only exist on a canvas. Music Calendars are perfect gifts for the music lover who has everything. Jazz connoisseurs will scat over Francis Wolff's photographic archive of jazz greats in The Blue Note Years (Universe, ISBN 0-789-30557-7) or Herman Leonard's collection in Classic Jazz (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91608-4). Reggae music icon Bob Marley is celebrated with a self-titled calendar (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91533-9) of photographs and anniversaries. The Blues (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91448-0) honors another American music classic with 12 black-and-white photos and artist mini-biographies. Track your days while remembering the house that Berry Gordy built. It's the official 2002 calendar from the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit (Universe, ISBN 0-789-30579-8). Returning Favorites Calendar lovers can anticipate favorite titles making a comeback this year: African Kings (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91468-5); Great Black Americans (Holloway House, ISBN 0-870-67875-2); Black Ball: The Negro Baseball Leagues (Pomegranate, ISBN 0764-91447-2); African Ceremonies (Harry N. Abrams, ISBN 0-810-97907-1); and the works of renowned Harlem Renaissance photographer, James VanDerZee (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91584-3). Fine Art Art calendars continue to be a huge part of the calendar market. Egyptian Treasures from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (Harry N. Abrams, ISBN 0-810-97941-1) is an excellent resource for future archaeologists. Also check out the Egypt from the Air calendar (American University in Cairo American University in Cairo, at Cairo, Egypt; English language; founded 1919. It has faculties of anthropology, computer science, economics and political science, engineering, English and comparative literature, management, mass communication, psychology, science, Press, ISBN 9-774-24658-6). The Smithsonian Institute and the Anacostia Museum in Washington, D.C. has put together, Jubliee! A Year of African American Celebration (Universe, ISBN 0-789-30602-6) as its first calendar project. The works of Jacob Lawrence return this time with prints from the D.C.'s Moore Gallery. Entitled Community (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91614-9), it features paintings Lawrence did from 1937 through 1998. Watercolorist Julia Cairns Cairns, city (1991 pop. 64,463), Queensland, NE Australia, on Trinity Bay. It is a principal sugar port of Australia; lumber and other agricultural products are also exported. The city's proximity to the Great Barrier Reef has made it a tourist center. depicts scenes of African life in her calendar, Celebration (Landmark, ISBN 0-768-84000-7). West Indian themes and female figures are the inspirations of Caribbean artist Shan Kelly Cecilio's self-titled calendar (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91419-7). African American Art African American art is a broad term describing the visual arts of the American black community. Influenced by various cultural traditions, including those of Africa, Europe and the Americas, traditional African American art forms include the range of plastic arts, from (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91446-4) features the work of 12 artists from the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Artists include John Biggers, Romare Bearden, Charles White and Hale Woodruff. Swimsuit Shots Skin calendars still heat up sakes. Get 16 months worth of sultry poses from model Nichole Robinson (Day Dream, ISBN 0-76883911-4) Tyson Beckford dresses up and down for the ladies For the Ladies is a extended play by Machine Gun Fellatio. The extended play was released in 2002. Track listing
n. Informal A celebrity. photos stripped from its pages in the Vibe Magazine Calendar (Universe, ISBN 0-789-30604-2) Shades of Color returns with two of their hottest selections: Onyx (ISBN 1-89193238-1), black-and-white photos of well-toned black men, and SBM SBM - Solution Based Modelling : Spirit of Black Men (ISBN 1-891-93242-X), whose images will make your momma blush. Datebooks & Engagement Calendars Iyanla Vanzant's fans will be happy to know that her latest book has been adapted into a date book. Until Today! 2002 (Universe, ISBN 0789-30544-5) is a collection of weekly self-help lessons from the best-selling author and talk-show host. Read a new Bible verse everyday with the Original 365 Bible Verses-a-Year calendar (Workman, ISBN 0-76112254-0). If you prefer an interesting bit of history each day, you'll enjoy the 365 Days of Black History engagement calendar (Pomegranate, ISBN 0-764-91474-X) or the popular item from a black-owned press, Afromation: 366 Days of American History (MYKCO Communications, ISBN 0-96463410-4). Are you tired of carrying a journal and an appointment book? The Sacred Journey 2002 (Pomegranate, ISBN 0764-91574-6) may be a solution. This daily journal not only lets you schedule daily activities, but you can also jot down your thoughts and goals. The 2002 Book Lover's Calendar (Workman, ISBN 0-761-12250-8) has 365 pages of literary notables, anecdotes and reading suggestions at your fingertips "Fingertips" is a 1963 number-one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number-one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States. . Learn about new and old authors before you head to the bookstore or library. Calendar Shopping Made Easy If you are unable to find these calendars in your local or online bookstores, you can order them directly from the publisher. * Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill distributed by Workman Publishing, see below * The American University in Cairo Press, www.aucpress.com * Andrews McMeel, Universal Press Syndicate Universal Press Syndicate, an Andrews McMeel Universal company, is the world's largest independent syndicate and provides syndication for a number of lifestyle and opinion columns, comics, and various other content. , 816-932-6700 * Day Dream Landmark, www.at-a-glance.com * Good Books, 800-762-7171, www.goodbks.com * Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 800-345-1359 (x874)/212-206-7715 * Holloway House Publishing Group, 323-653-8060, www.hollowayhousebooks.com; www.hhbookstore.com * MYKCO Communications, afromation@aol.com * Ronnie Sellers Productions, Inc., 800-625-3386, ww.calendarsite.com * Shades of Color, 800-924-1811, www.shadescalendars.com * Pomegranate Communications, Inc., 800-227-1428, www.pomegranate.com * Universe (distributed by Andrews McMeel, see above information) * Workman Publishing, 800-722-7202/212-254-5900, www.workman.com Cori M. Murray is the assistant health editor at Essence magazine. Last summer, Murray was one of the judges for the 2001 Women's Sports Foundation The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) "is a charitable educational organization dedicated to ensuring equal access to participation and leadership opportunities for all girls and women in sports and fitness. Journalism Awards. She has been a reporter and fact-checker for Vibe magazine, BET.com, escore.com and essence.com. The findings her thorough search of black interest calendars for 2001 appears on page 27. |
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