This week, Indiana Minority Business Magazine honored 12 of Indiana’s own history makers at an installment of the Golden Laurel Professional Reception series celebrating excellence in the fields of fashion, art and beauty.
“The fashion, art and beauty fields have long been influenced by the innovation and creativity of minority communities in this country. It is most unfortunate that many of these creators go without recognition, largely due to the impact of cultural appropriation,” said IMBM President Shannon Williams. “It was our goal with this season’s Golden Laurel Professional Reception to honor some of our state’s most deserving artists for their contributions.”
Read on for more on the 12 honorees:
Alpha Blackburn
Alpha Blackburn is the retired president and CEO of Blackburn Architects, lead architects of the recently completed National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati. A national award-winning fashion designer and former TV host, Blackburn is a successful businesswoman who has shown her dedication to her community by serving on more than 60 boards and committees. As the owner’s technical representative and co-coordinator for art for the new billion-dollar Indianapolis Airport, Blackburn led the selection, commissioning and installation of their stunning art collection. A cum laude graduate and Distinguished Alumnae of Howard University, Blackburn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in design and a Master of Fine Arts in painting and art history.
D. Delreverda Jennings
D. Delreverda Jennings created the annual “Flava Fresh!” art exhibit series to increase exposure and appreciation for underrepresented and undiscovered artists, particularly women and people of color. Jennings created an ongoing series of collective biographies to tell the stories of Indiana artists of African descent, a project that’s been recognized by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Jennings is a seasoned art adjudicator and grants panelist who has served with several local organizations, and she has lectured at a number of academic institutions about Indiana’s marginalized artists. Select pieces of Jennings’ work are held in private and corporate collections, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.
Jayne During
Six months after being laid off from her corporate job in 2000, Jayne During opened Kuaba, a gallery specializing in contemporary African art. Today, she has not only a gallery featuring the work of artists from such countries as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Brazil and South Africa, but also a purpose that transcends selling art. “The artists are interpreting their environment, what’s going on socially and politically,” says During, who gets to know the artists during frequent trips to Africa. “A lot of people think of African art as the ‘airport art’ that tourists bring back, but there are a lot of really good contemporary artists in Africa.” During, who came to Indiana from Ghana to attend Purdue University and ended up staying, also runs the nonprofit Kuaba Humanitarian Foundation, which builds schools and houses in Zimbabwe. Ten percent of the sale of each piece of art goes to the foundation.
Elan Furs
Elan Furs, owned and operated by John Mirkopoulos, consists of two retail stores selling fur outerwear and accessories, one in Indianapolis and one in Morton Grove, Illinois. Mirkopoulos has been working in the fur business for more than 40 years, since the age of 13. Mirkopoulos opened the Indianapolis Elan Furs location in 1988; the Morton Grove store opened in 1997. In addition to selling fur garments, Elan Furs also repairs and restyles fur items and manufactures custom fur items. Elan Furs regularly contributes to fashion shows and events supporting the African-American community.
Kenny’s Barbershop
Gregory M. Kenny Sr. is the founder and CEO of Kenny’s Barbershop, which opened its first location in 1988. After four years of rapid expansion, Kenny created Kenny’s Academy of Barbering to train barbers to work at and take over his shops. Since opening in 1992, the Academy has graduated close to 1,000 students. Kenny mentors many young men and women in Indianapolis and hosts several community programs, including health fairs. Kenny instructs inmates at Pendleton Correctional Facility, helping offenders find work once they’re released from prison. Since 1988, Kenny has owned and operated 15 locations, most of which are still open today, but under the management of Kenny’s former students.
Berny Martin
Berny Martin is an American designer and the founder and designer of Catou, an internationally recognized line of men’s and women’s professional wear started in 2005. Catou features prominently in Midwest Fashion Week, which Martin founded in 2006 when he saw a need for a Midwest outlet to showcase designers. Midwest Fashion Week events take place throughout the year and have help Martin and his team form community partnerships to raise more than $500,000 for nonprofits. Catou has been featured on the runway during Paris Fashion Week, New York Emerge Fashion Week, Brooklyn Fashion Week, Chicago Fashion Week and African Travel Association Fashion Show.
Sparkle Myers
Makeup artist and licensed esthetician Sparkle Myers has built a sought-after bridal and wedding makeup service, in addition to creating popular cosmetics line MakeUp By Sparkle Beauty & Cosmetics (MBS). Myers’ skills have graced the faces of Prince and Madonna, and she owns and operates two brick-and-mortar cosmetic studio/spas in Indianapolis. Myers’ has been featured in several publications and during a segment on NBC’s “Today” show. An Indianapolis native, Myers graduated from Marian College and earned her MBA from Anderson University.
Tony Radford
Versatile mixed-media artist, independent curator and art instructor Anthony “Tony” Radford has been called the “Ambassador of African-American Art in Indianapolis” after creating Indianapolis Public Library’s annual Meet the Artists event to spotlight the talented African-American artists living, working and creating in the Indianapolis community. Radford co-founded the now-defunct African-American arts association “INDY Renaissance,” which was nationally recognized. Radford’s life as an artist, activist and independent curator of Meet the Artists was recently showcased in D. Delreverda Jennings’ biography series. Radford is a longtime art instructor for Young Audiences of Indiana, has worked intensively as an art facilitator with Indianapolis youth and facilitates art workshops for the Indianapolis Public Library.
George Ryder
Visual artist, sculptor and painter George Ryder said his art is “the sum total of my life experiences as an African-American who grew up with limited wealth.” Using that less-is-more mentality, Ryder embraced the practice of found art, reimagining discarded items. In his work, Ryder aimed to reflect Black culture while capturing the essence of his subjects. Ryder attended the Herron School of Art and Design — becoming the first African-American to receive a full scholarship — while also working full time at International Harvester. Ryder opened Ryder Graphics Inc., a graphics, type-setting and print shop, in 1970.
Andrea Smith
Indianapolis-based artist Andrea Smith studied traditional photography at Broad Ripple High School. After attending Purdue University’s School of Engineering, she decided her passion for photography would become her career. She began to expand her knowledge in the field of digital photography at Ivy Tech and taught herself techniques to deliver bold imagery. She uses distinctive lighting to capture the true essence of her portrait subjects, bringing to life qualities often overlooked by others. Smith divides her time between traveling and working in the studio as the lead artist at Studio 57 Photography, covering notable public figures and trends. When she is not pursuing commercial work or following her own artistic projects, Smith volunteers with organizations including The Artitorium, Flashes of Hope, Outreach Indiana and Harvest Girls International.
Danielle Smith
Fashion enthusiast-turned-expert Danielle Smith is CEO of Fresh Fettle Fashion Events and Creative Consulting, which she founded in 2009. Fresh Fettle’s signature services have shined with clients such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sears/Kmart, Adidas, Kroger, Scott’s-MiracleGro, Anheuser-Busch, Indianapolis Colts, and Wiley Publishing, just to name a few. Before securing a stellar fashion savvy reputation and founding Fresh Fettle, Smith earned a degree in apparel, merchandising and design from Alabama A&M University. Since graduating, Smith has been a sought-after fashion stylist, freelance writer and on-air lifestyle expert.
Amani Tre Niner
Amani Tre Niner is multifaceted entrepreneur and entertainment icon who has achieved his grandeur by staying the course and consistently conquering anything placed in his way. He is a self-taught, nationally recognized tattoo artist and the founder of Animation Art Studio, an art gallery and body modification parlor located in the historic Tarkington neighborhood. Recently, Amani Tre Niner has emerged as a social media influencer, who’s entertaining yet educational #EenbodyCanGetIt video series has been viewed by millions of people, challenging them to demand more out of life while keeping their sense of humor.
