Frank E. Cummings III facts for kids
Frank E. Cummings III, born in 1938, is a talented artist and a professor of fine arts. He teaches at California State University, Fullerton. Cummings is known for creating beautiful wooden objects and furniture. He uses special materials and gets ideas from the spiritual meanings of objects found in Africa.
Early Life and Education
Frank E. Cummings III was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1938. He studied art and earned his advanced degree, a Master of Arts, from California State University, Fullerton, in 1971.
In 1973, Cummings received a special award called a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This grant allowed him to travel to Ghana in Africa for two months. While there, he explored how the challenges faced by African Americans were similar to the struggles people faced in Africa. This trip helped him understand more about identity and culture.
He returned to Africa in 1981. During this trip, he showed his artwork in several countries, including Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, and Malawi.
His Artwork
Frank E. Cummings III had his first art show all by himself, called a solo exhibition, at the Long Beach Museum of Art in 1974. This show was named Sensitivity. His artwork is still shown at this museum today.
Many important art collections have pieces made by Cummings. For example, the Lipton Collection has many of his wooden vessels. His art can also be found in famous museums like the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. His work has even been displayed in the White House Collection of American Craft, which shows amazing handmade art from America.
Where You Can See His Art
- Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, New York, NY
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
- Center for Art in Wood, Philadelphia, PA
