Richmond Barte' - Major Gay Figure of the Harlem Renaissance

James Richmond Barthe' (1901-1989) was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and eventually became a major force in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930's.  He began as a painter, but one of his teachers suggested that he try sculpture, and it led to great things.  Starting his career in Chicago, Barthe' moved to New York in 1930.  He was rather matter of fact about being gay, and in one interview he lamented that he never found a life-long relationship with a gay Black arts figure like himself.  Today's Friday night art lesson features Barthe's male nudes, but it should be noted that they are a relatively small portion of the great artists overall work.