Columbia professor to speak about artist

By: Jessica Henning

Posted: 2/21/08

Robert O'Meally, the Zora Neale Hurston professor of English at Columbia University and former director of Columbia University's Center for Jazz Studies, will lecture Thursday at Texas A&M. The lecture, "Romare Bearden's Odyssey: An African American Artist's Interpretation of Homer's Journey," will be in the J. Wayne Stark Gallery at 7 p.m. O'Meally will give an account of Bearden's life, including his art studies at institutions such as Boston University, NYU and the Sorbonne of Paris. Bearden shows influences of African, Byzantine, Chinese, European and Japanese art styles in paintings, drawings and collages. Coordinators said O'Meally's lecture relating to Bearden's works promises an evening of striking art and thought-provoking discussion. The event is backed by "Callaloo," a literary and cultural journal of African Diaspora arts and letters which is sponsored by A&M. Charles Rowell, "Callaloo's" founder and editor, said he hopes the Aggie family will help welcome O'Meally to A&M. The lecture admission is free and open to the public with light refreshments to follow.