Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAAD, Inc.
Presents
THE 'SAMELLA'
Second Annual Achievement in the Visual Arts Award
presented to
WILLIAM E. PAJAUD, JR.

Date: Saturday, November 6, 2004
Luncheon and Exhibition
Time: 11:30 AM
Place: Radisson Hotel, Culver City, California
Ticket Deadline: Saturday, October 23, 2004
Advanced Purchase Only No Tickets sold at the Door
Contact: Stephen De Windt, Public Relations Director
(626) 296-9228, CAADPR@AOL.COM
Participating Gallery: M. Hanks Gallery, Santa Monica, California

The Center for the Arts of the African Diaspora, Inc. (CAAD, Inc.) will present the Second Annual 'Samella' Award to Mr. William E. Pajaud Jr.

William E. Pajaud Jr. has enjoyed a long and prolific career as a watercolorist. From the 1950's through the present, he has produced many fascinating works that portray and evoke a spiritual kinship with his people. Powerful images of women and children, and scenes from his native New Orleans gives us a heighten sense of history. Timeless rituals and themes that revolve around jazz, second lining, death, religion, and love offer us an uncanny insight into the lives of ordinary people. Pajaud comments on life's cyclical journey: "My primary need is to show my 'gut reaction' to our efforts to cope with the cycles of life and death. The aesthetic results of attempting to communicate these universal concepts is to me almost coincidental."

Pajaud was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother was an educator and his father was a renowned musician with the Eureka Brass Band, which played at various functions and marched at funerals in New Orleans. He began to produce art early when a life threatening illness left him at death's door for three months in the hospital. Osteomyelitis, a disease of the bone, had doctors, at one point, considering amputation. Befriended by an old cartoonist while in the hospital, Pajaud began a creative path that led him to a career in art.

In 1957, the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, one of the largest black-owned insurance companies in the United States, employed Pajaud. He became the art director in public relations. During the course of 30 years, while on a limited budget, he amassed an amazing collection of African American art for the company. With his keen business acumen and empathy with fellow artist, he acquired one hundred eighty pieces in the golden State Afro-American Art collection of paintings.

A brilliant watercolorist, Pajaud's knowledge of black musical history informs his work. In Second Line, 2000 Pajaud's memories of New Orleans funeral processions characterize the heightened emotional charged atmosphere such events display. The solemn mourners occupy the background of the painting, while the lively expressive movement of the band engages the viewer in the frontal plane. An old aphorism in the African American community states that one should cry when a baby comes into the world and rejoice when one is leaving. Joy and pain occupies two planes in our lives in binary opposition to each other. Party Time, 2000 is concerned with expressive forms and their relationship to jazz music.

The 'Samella' was created to honor Dr. Samella Lewis's legacy in the field of African American art, and the art of the Diaspora. It's purpose is to give recognition to those visual artists who have exhibited an exemplary effort to promote the awareness of the African and African-American artistic heritage.

CAAD, Inc. applauds Dr. Lewis for her outstanding achievement and the monumental gift of her legacy to the field of African-American art and art of the African Diaspora; and to Pajaud's tireless devotion as a artist and curator which have preserved, documented and celebrated the achievements of African Americans. His efforts have truly elevated him to the status of African American icon. His immortality is assured. And what is immortality other than reminiscences, which refuse to disappear, like the sense of New Orleans, which continue to haunt his memories and ours.

For ticket information, please contact Stephen De Windt at (626) 296-9228, or CAADPR@AOL.COM.