Wednesday, January 8, 2014

January 17th, 2014, the Fosty Brothers Arrive in Muskegon to Tell How African - Canadians Invented Modern Game of Ice Hockey.

Many are looking forward to the "Black Ice" visit to Muskegon for many reasons.

Dear George & Darril Fosty, 
 
I was excited to learn that Muskegon will benefit from hearing the "Black Ice" story from the Fosty brothers at the annual Unity Breakfast. If my memory serves me correctly, Kadir Nelson, author of "We Are The Ship", an art book telling the story of Negro League Baseball, proceeded your invitation to speak at this breakfast.
 
Indeed, I see that Mr. Nelson addressed the breakfast in January 2011. Mr. Nelson's paintings were on display in coordination with this event and the Muskegon Museum of Art has begun a collection of them. In fact, Mr. Nelson has given at least one canvas to help the collection grow apace. The museum in known for aggressively collecting African-American works of art. In fact, the museum purchased Henry Ossawa Tanner's "The Holy Family" as its second purchase of art. It is cataloged as 1911.1, the first object of art purchased in the year of 1911.
 
As a six year veteran of the sport of "Muskegon Watching", I'm wondering if there's a story that moves forward in the world of illustration. The story your research has revealed is as worthy of illustration as that of the Negro League Baseball. On the other hand, it is a well known fact that the Tuttle family has strong interests in sports marketing, and the family has helped build the Muskegon Museum of Art a financial legacy good for another one hundred years. Can one help but see an amazing coincidence? 
 
Muskegon is as hockey obsessed as any town in Upper or Lower Canada, with two major rinks plus a sports complex where pond hockey is celebrated, when the weather cooperates. Be prepared for a very warm welcome during this month of Artic incursions. We should have known when all the Snow Owls started to turn up in December.
 
 
 
 
Val James was the First African - American to Play in the National Hockey League.
 

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