Faces of Distinction a series of works celebrating Black History Month by Alice Hill Seifullah

Notre Dame College ’s Clara Fritzsche Library will host “Faces of Distinction,” a series of works celebrating Black History Month by local artist and designer Alice Hill Seifullah. The exhibit will include paintings, pencil sketches and pen and ink drawings reflecting Seifullah’s experiences in her lifetime of being African American and according to the artist, “interpretations of historical, cultural and inspirational moments honoring the cause.” A professional artist for over thirty years, Seifullah has had a varied and colorful career in many aspects of art. She has worked as a fashion illustrator, courtroom illustrator, commercial artist and freelance graphic designer. Seifullah is also an accomplished portrait artist whose commissioned works hang in homes, businesses and galleries throughout the United States . She has exhibited extensively in Greater Cleveland, San Francisco and Chicago . In addition to these ventures, for nearly ten years, Seifullah was also the proprietor of Portraits Plus Art Studio where she showcased her works plus the works of others. She now operates her vintage clothing business from her home and bases her design and consulting work from there as well. In addition to these endeavors, Seifullah was recently named the new gallery director at the East Cleveland Theater and taught in the Upward Bound program at Cleveland State University during the summers of 2004 and 2005.

A native Clevelander, Seifullah’s natural talents as an artist became apparent at an early age and she was awarded a scholarship to Saturday classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The daughter and granddaughter of prominent Cleveland ministers, Seifullah received a strong spiritual foundation that informs her work. Coming from a musical family, she has sung in the choir at Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church and plays the violin with the Melting Pot Inspirational Orchestra. However, art was her calling. She attended Ohio State , majoring in fine arts, and the Cooper School of Art, where she obtained an Associate Degree in Fashion Illustration in 1971. In 1973, Seifullah had her first one-woman show at Karamu House, the nation’s oldest African-American cultural institution. Other art projects and exhibitions throughout Greater Cleveland include the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Clinic, the Jewish Community Center, the Cleveland Board of Education and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport . In 1994, she was selected to design former Mayor Michael White’s Inaugural program cover. In 2003 Seifullah exhibited her work in Ohio State University ’s Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center and Bricker Hall commemorating Women’s History Month. The show was an extensive showing of 49 pieces and marked a homecoming of sorts for the artist.

Seifullah is known for her versatility as an artist and is skilled in a variety of media, qualities that may be attributed to her many years of experience in different facets of art. She is adept in pen, pencil, watercolor, oil and acrylics and has won numerous awards for her work. Once inspired, she works quickly and has built up a large body of work. A skilled portrait artist, Seifullah is capable of a photo-like realism in her sketches, yet there is an ethereal quality to her work. She likes painting in an impressionistic style and describes her technique as “painting from soul.” Seifullah’s strong religious foundation that she received while growing up may be seen in the religious themes evident in the show. This is exemplified by a portrait of her grandparents, David and Alice Hill. Her grandfather was a prominent figure in local African American history, having founded the Mount Sinai Baptist Church in 1927. One of the pieces entitled “Madonna and Child” reflects the work of Mary Cassatt, one of her greatest influences, in both its subject matter, and delicate color palette. This piece was selected for the 2005 Christmas card of the National Right To Life Society.

This show marks a return to the Clara Fritzsche Library for Seifullah, whose powerful “Reflections of the Soul” exhibit was on view in spring of 2003.

Since that show, Seifullah has amassed quite an impressive array of accolades. In November 2003, she was commissioned to paint a portrait of the late Dr. John A. Carrabine, former Department Chair of the Chemistry Department at John Carroll University . The unveiling of the portrait was the focal point of the dedication celebration of the John A. Carrabine Computer Laboratory in November 2003. In 2004 Seifullah’s commissioned portrait of Dr. Howard A. Mims was unveiled during the dedication ceremony of Cleveland State University ’s Howard A. Mims African American Cultural Center . She is also featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who In Black Cleveland.

A native Clevelander, Seifullah and her husband Alan, Chief Communications Officer of the Cleveland Municipal School District and former press secretary to Michael White, reside in the Greater Cleveland area. They are the parents of five children-Jihad, Malik, Tarra, Tariq and Ian and grandparents of Jasmyn and Lena.

The exhibit will run from February 9 th through March 24 th, 2006 and can be viewed during library hours (Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-10 p.m. ; Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ; Sun 1 p.m.-10 p.m. ). An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 9 th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact Karen Zoller at 216-373-5267.