Charles McGee (painter)

Charles McGee (born December 15, 1924) is an American artist and educator known for creating paintings, assemblages, and sculptures. His artwork is in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. McGee has several large scale public works in the city of Detroit.

Charles McGee
Born
Charles William McGee

(1924-12-15) December 15, 1924
Clemson, South Carolina
NationalityAmerican
EducationCollege for Creative Studies
Known forVisual artist
Awards2008 Kresge Eminent Artist


Early life and education

Charles McGee was born December 15, 1924 into a family of sharecroppers. While helping his grandfather tend the land, "he observed firsthand the order and harmony that exists within nature." [1] He had no formal schooling until moving to Detroit at age 10,[2] where he found that "everything was on the move and it hasn’t slowed down yet."[3] in 2017 he observed, "I learned something not being in school — because life is school . . .I learn something every time I move. Every time I go around a corner, something new is revealed to me.”[1]

As a boy, McGee attended George Washington Elementary and took art classes at the McGregor Public Library in Highland Park.[4] He attended Cleveland High School near Hamtramck and was active as a creative designer and coordinator of float construction for the school's parades.[4] After high school, McGee went to work for Briggs Manufacturing Company in Detroit.[4]

Military Service

In 1943, McGee enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for three years, including during World War II.[2][5] McGee took advantage of the GI Bill to attend classes at the College for Creative Studies, then known as the Society of Arts and Crafts.[1]

Career

McGee regularly taught art at Eastern Michigan University (for 18 years) and also at both the University of Michigan and the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center.[2][6]

McGee's paintings, assemblages and sculptures are held in U.S. and international collections, and are on permanent display at the Detroit Institute of Arts,[7] the Dennos Museum, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.[8]

McGee's work is installed in public settings, including the William Beaumont Hospital of Royal Oak, Michigan and the Detroit People Mover Broadway Station.[9]

He co-founded the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID) in 1978.[10][6]

Detroit as a creative setting

According to the Kresge Foundation, "McGee developed an unwavering loyalty to the city and its residents, and endowed it with much of his artistic energy and artwork. 'Detroit really has been a heaven for me,' McGee explains. 'It has given me dignity and treated me with respect.'”[11]

Awards

In 2008, McGee was named the first Kresge Eminent Artist.[11] Administered by the College for Creative Studies, this award honors one Detroit artist each year for professional achievements, cultural contributions, and commitment to the local arts community.[11]

In early 2019, Michigan Legacy Art Park announced that McGee would receive its 2019 Legacy Award "in recognition of a lifetime of achievements and influences as an artist, teacher, advocate and global citizen."[12][8]

The College for Creative Studies awarded McGee an honorary doctorate for his work as an artist and educator.

References
  1. Najor, Stephanie. "Force of Nature". www.tbdmag.com. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  2. Meis, Morgan (2017-07-22). "Charles McGee's Vibrant Art and the Beauty of Detroit". ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  3. Charles McGee: Metamorphosis and Kinetic Energy, an interview with Nick Sousanis, http://www.thedetroiter.com/nov04/mcgee.html
  4. "Charles McGee, Artist, Philosopher, Grandmont Rosedale Resident". Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  5. Sousanis, Nick. "Charles McGee: Metamorphosis and Kinetic Energy". The Detroiter. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  6. Sousanis, Nick (January 4, 2006). "The Art of Seeing Art". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. Boissoneau, Ross (July 13, 2019). "Legendary Detroit Artist to be Honored Up North". Northern Express. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  9. Staff, Lester Graham, Stateside. "Renowned Detroit artist Charles McGee, 92, designs 11-story mural". www.michiganradio.org. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  10. "Metamorphosis: Nomadic Arts Organization Finds a Home". The Detroiter. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  11. "Detroiter Charles McGee named first-ever Kresge Eminent Artist". The Kresge Foundation. 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  12. "2019 Legacy Award: Detroit Artist Charles McGee". Michigan Legacy Art Park. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
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