“Not Far From The Tree”

As part of the Black History Month celebrations on the campus of Prairie View A&M University the School of Architecture and The Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture presents and art exhibition of works by Dr. Clarence Talley, Sr. and his daughter Crystal Ann Talley. The exhibit title “Not Far From The Tree” showcases some 21 works in a variety of media. 

Dr. Talley is no stranger to PVAMU and the surrounding communities. He is widely recognized for his artistic, ministerial, and professorial work. His philosophy of art, he says, is simple. “Art is everything and everything is art. It is a life perspective that I have tried to pass on to students and my children.” 

“This exhibition,” Dr. Talley explains, “is just another means of doing that. My daughter’s work is just a testimony to what God has placed in her; how she uses it, and how I and my wife help nurture her, is still unfolding. I am thankful and happy to know that the paint brush has not fallen far from the tree.”

Crystal seriously began to hone her skills while attending Waller High School, Waller, Texas. There she studied with art teachers Lea Kohn and Jo Ann Chunn. Under their tutelage, Crystal was a Best of Show recipient in the local school competition of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Since graduating from Waller High, Crystal has attended the Western Art Academy courtesy of the Rodeo; and she’s studied at Prairie View A&M University.

Crystal is now enrolled at Texas State University where she is a painting major. Much of her work, as seen in this exhibit, is realistic and experimental. As a student of the arts Crystal says, “I am still trying to find my way, learn as much as I can, work as often as I can, and hopefully along the way discover who I am as an artist.” Crystal doesn’t have to look far for inspiration, her father and mentor, is a constant reminder of what is possible.

“Not Far From The Tree” will be on view in The Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture, the Nathelyne Archie Kennedy Building. The exhibit will run from February 9 through March 2009. 

To see more of Dr. Talley's work visit www.clarencetalley.com

God Will Buy Your House No Matter How Ugly It Is

The pristine environment the Lord placed man and woman in was meant to be that way forever.

But something happened. “What happened?” What happened to get us in the mess that the world is still in?

Well, man fail short. Man sinned. Man gave in, or should I say woman gave in to sin (1 Timothy 2:14). And the man caved in to the woman.

Nevertheless, the eternal bliss God had designed for Adam and Eve and their progenitors turn into a time-filled-life of sorrow and pain.

Things turned ugly. And the pristine was no longer pristine. The former paradise as Adam and Eve had known it had become just that, “former.”

From a well kept garden to one of thorns and thistles. Adam and Eve’s former abode lush and filled with every desire, they could come to desire, was no longer to be.

The charge in the garden paradise was to be fruitful, multiple, replenish, keep and refrain from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 1:28, 2:15, 17). This charge guaranteed stability. This charge guaranteed eternal bliss. Keeping this charge meant that man’s home would forever be in a paradise, where, that which is ugly could not reside.

Ugly, in an insidious way, nonetheless made its way into the perfectly planned community God had designed for man.

Being all-wise and ever-ready, God quickly move forward with His buy-back-plan. It was a plan instituted before the foundation of the earth. You see, the actions of Adam, Eve, and the serpent, came as no surprise to God.

Things had gotten ugly; but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were prepared. They boldly declared: “We buy ugly houses.”

No matter the condition of the house whether there are missing shingles, leaky roof, cracking foundation, mole and mildew, termite infestation, it does not matter. God buys ugly houses.

The stain of sin on all of our lives has left us, from Adam to those yet unborn, looking like ugly dilapidated buildings in the eyes of God. That’s the bad news.

The good news, however, is that all of us, all of mankind, red and yellow, black and white have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).

No one has to remain ugly, dilapidated, and weather-beaten. No one, in other words, has to remain in the clutches of sin. God specializes in renovation and restoration (Psalm 23:3).

The renovation and restoration process takes place when you confess that God is in the business of buying ugly houses.

Romans 10:9 put it this way: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

With that confession, spoken from your lips and believed in your heart, God begins the transformation process that takes your run-down-sin-stained-life and transforms it into the image of His Son.

The lying, the evil thought, the corrupt living, the unwholesome talk, the bitterness, rage, and anger which brought your life, into disrepair are all renovated and transform by God.

Jesus Christ made all of this possible when He who knew no sin became sin for us; “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

There is nothing uglier in the eyes of God than sin. And sadly, we all have sinned and come short. Again, the good news is God can take that which is ugly and make it pleasing and acceptable in His sight (Isaiah 1:18).

Even in this bad housing market, God still buys ugly houses.

God Bless the President of the United States

The historic month of January now gives way to February in which we as a nation celebrate Black History month.

And never, again, will the celebration of African Americans contributions ever be the same.

At last, an African-American, Barack Obama, won the heart of the nation (and the world) and thus the highest office in the land: President of the United States of America.

Obama’s rise to the White House has come after years of toll and struggle by many who have sacrificed to push this nation in a direction where all its citizens are treated equally; and where all are given equal access and opportunity.

Obama’s rise, once again, proves that with hard work, faith, and perseverance that all things are possible.

Like the great freedom fighters of old, grandma and grandpapa believed that such a day would come. So many, however, did not live to see what Obama has accomplished.

We who are witness of this historic event, especially African-Americans, should be bubbling over with joy and pride.

For God has lifted us all out of the dark dungeon of slavery and the horrific injustice that has long plagued us as a people and has brought us into a light so marvelous that its reality seem surreal.

Obama’s rise is something many have testified that they did not believe would happen in their life time. Obama’s rise caught many off guard and unprepared for such a succession. So remarkable that Obama’s rise marks history like few events have ever done.

The history I have lived growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in Louisiana is a history of America that God did not intend.

Yet there were many things that gave me hope and inspired me to keep on keeping on: Negro History Week as it was called then is one of them. To sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” kept kindled in me a hope that some day a change would truly come.

Now with the rise of Obama and this year’s Black History Month celebration, I joyously thank God for moving in a mysterious way. I thank God for positioning Barack Obama, who happens to be a black man, in the gateway of change: change that America so desperately need, change that many Americans desperately want.

It is my prayer that the tidal wave of change that has managed to lift our collective boats of hope is the kind of change that is pleasing to God Almighty. For without God, president Obama will fail. Without God, we will fail. Without God, America fails.

Much of what was said on the campaign trail, in his acceptance speech, and in the inaugural address points to a president whose heart is seemingly in the hand of the Lord (Proverb 21:1). Wisdom to move forward and to make this nation a better nation for all people will take God directing the steps of our new president.

Obama cannot do it alone. National governance, need divine guidance and the prayers of the people. Therefore, as we celebrate this inimitable Black History Month lets not only lift our voices in song but also prayer.

Pray for our president, pray for our nation, pray for our world, and just maybe God will be pleased and raise us all up to where He would have us to be.

Happy Black History Month