Beauford Delaney
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WIF Founder and CEO, Monique Y. Wells, “fell in love” with painter Beauford Delaney in 2009.
Prior to that time, she was peripherally aware of Delaney and his art because of her work as the co-owner of the Discover Paris! travel service (now known as Entrée to Black Paris). She became intrigued by the Knoxville, TN native’s poignant story while researching an article on African-American gravesites in and around Paris.
Wells’ interest in Delaney was the catalyst for the creation of the Wells International Foundation (WIF) and the impetus for WIF’s inaugural event – the Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color art exhibition that was held in Paris, France in February-March 2016. The exhibition, in turn, was the launchpad for numerous WIF programs and projects that bridge our Arts, STEAM Education, and Travel/Study Abroad Strategic Focus Areas.
Past Projects on Beauford Delaney
Dallas High School Students Love Humanities and Paris
In August 2021, Antonia Moran and fellow Upper School educators at the Episcopal School of Dallas launched a student group called the Interdisciplinary Humanities Club (IHUM). It was inspired by WIF's work to promote and preserve the legacy of Beauford Delaney and the...
2019 Summer Intern Presents Project to University of Tennessee Knoxville Students
2019 Summer Intern Maija Brennan and I were pleased to accept an invitation by University of Tennessee Knoxville's Dr. Mary Campbell to visit her art history class in Paris. Maija is completing work on her internship project - a digital exhibition of...
Art and Chemistry Project: Beauford Delaney’s Influence
By Alexa GriffithUniversity of Tennessee Knoxville Before my trip to Paris in 2017, I received a scholarship to complete an art research project. I looked for inspiration throughout my trip studying art history, which I must say, is not hard to find in Paris. Despite...
Classes Duo Kids Back to School in Knoxville
As reported by Dawn Kunkel, Nature's Way art teacher All images courtesy of Dawn Kunkel Classes Duo students at Nature's Way Montessori School in Knoxville returned to class on August 6. They are already working on Beauford Delaney-inspired lessons in...
Oil and Water – A STEAM Lesson through Painting
Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville participants continue to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) through the work of Beauford Delaney. Over the past couple of weeks, the students have been learning about the different...
Classes Duo and STEAM Education – Part 2
The Classes Duo video conferencing program that is connecting Jean Zay Elementary Public School in Paris, France and Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee is yet another project that organically combines two or more of WIF’s Strategic...
Classes Duo and STEAM Education – Part 1
The Classes Duo video conferencing program that is connecting Jean Zay Elementary Public School in Paris, France and Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee is yet another project that organically combines two or more of WIF’s Strategic...
Classes Duo – Timeline
Follow our progress as the Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville project unfolds by clicking on the timeline below! For the French version, click HERE. Traduction des entrées de septembre 2018 - mai 2019 réalisée par Mylene Calvete, Céline Poinson et Jérôme...
1st Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville Session a Success!
Students from Jean Zay Elementary Public School in Paris, France and Nature's Way Montessori School in Knoxville, TN met "face-to-face" for their first Classes Duo* video conference on Friday, January 12. The meeting was an outstanding success! The...