Betty Blayton facts for kids

Betty Blayton (born July 10, 1937 – died October 2, 2016) was an amazing American artist and teacher. She was also an activist who worked hard to help others. Betty Blayton was known for her paintings, prints, and sculptures.

Her art was often called "spiritual abstractions." This means her artworks didn't show real objects. Instead, they used shapes, colors, and lines to make you think and feel. She wanted people to look at her art and reflect on their own thoughts and feelings.

Betty Blayton helped start important art places in New York City. She was a founding member of the Studio Museum in Harlem. She also helped create the Harlem Children's Art Carnival. This was a special place where kids could learn about art.

Early life and education

Betty Jean Blayton was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1937. Her parents, Alleyne and Dr. James Blayton, were very active in their community. Her father opened the first hospital for Black people in his area. Her mother worked hard to make sure everyone had a chance to get an education.

Betty went to school in Virginia and North Carolina. When she was ready for college in 1955, Virginia had unfair rules. These rules, called Jim Crow laws, kept Black students from attending all-white universities. Also, no public Black college in Virginia offered the art degree she wanted.

Because of this, Virginia had to pay for her to go to any school she chose. This was to follow a rule called "separate but equal" for education. So, Betty went to Syracuse University for free! She graduated in 1959 with a degree in painting and illustration. After teaching for a short time, she moved to New York City.

Career and contributions

Betty Blayton made a huge difference in the art world of New York City. She worked as an art educator and helped start many organizations. From 1968 to 1994, she advised the City of New York Board of Education. She helped create art education programs for public schools.

She also supervised a program for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This program helped young people in city neighborhoods connect with art. Betty Blayton co-founded and led the Children's Art Carnival at the Harlem School of Arts. One famous artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, was one of her students! Betty believed that spirit and creativity were more important than perfect technique in art.

The Children's Art Carnival faced challenges when it lost government funding. But Betty worked hard to find other ways to keep it going. She also helped teenagers visit MoMA. When some of her students were not allowed into the museum, she used her connections to fix the problem.

Betty Blayton had an idea to create an art museum right in her students' community. This idea led to the creation of the Studio Museum in Harlem. She was a founding member and served on its board for many years. She also helped start Harlem Textile Works.

Exhibitions

Betty Blayton's artwork was shown in many places. Her art was featured in solo shows, which means only her work was on display. She also participated in group exhibitions with other artists. Her art was shown in museums and galleries across the United States, including New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. Her work even traveled internationally, being shown in London and Ghana.

Some notable exhibitions included:

• "Magnetic Fields" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC (2017-2018).
• "Looking Both Ways" at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Virginia (2015).
• "BETTY BLAYTON: Jewels of Thought - Major Work and Concept Studies 1970-2010" in New York (2010).
• "So It Is With Us: BETTY BLAYTON, 40 Years of Selected Works" across three galleries in New York (2008).
• "TWO - Tonnie Jones and Betty Blayton" at The Studio Museum In Harlem (1974).

See also

In Spanish: Betty Blayton-Taylor para niños