Isabella Flores
Eugene Robinson is an American journalist, author, and chief political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News. He is also a former associate editor and columnist for the Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Robinson frequently appears on MSNBC's Morning Joe as a liberal political analyst. The painting that hangs on the wall behind him during his interviews is titled Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin. It was painted by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson, a Harvard-educated economist and professional painter. The painting was inspired by a photograph believed to have been taken between 1910 and 1920, depicting Robinson's great uncle, Alonzo Smith, overseeing a crew of students laying bricks for a campus building at Claflin University. The Robinsons donated the painting to the university in 2016, and it now hangs in Tingley Memorial Hall.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | "Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin" |
| Artist | Avis Collins Robinson |
| Subject | Photograph of Smith and a crew of students laying brick for the foundation of a campus building |
| Date of Creation | Unspecified; inspired by a photograph believed to be taken between 1910 and 1920 |
| Medium | Water-based paint and fabric |
| Dimensions | 8 ft. x 5 ft. |
| Appraised Value | $100,000 |
| Donated To | Claflin University |
| Year of Donation | 2016 |
| Displayed At | Tingley Memorial Hall, Claflin University |
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What You'll Learn
- The painting is called 'Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin'
- It was painted by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson
- The painting was donated to Claflin University by the couple
- The painting was inspired by a photograph of Smith and a crew of students
- Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
The painting is called 'Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin'
The painting behind Eugene Robinson on MSNBC is called "Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin". It was painted by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson, who took up painting less than a decade ago. The portrait was inspired by a photograph of Smith and a crew of students laying bricks for a campus building at Claflin University, which is believed to have been taken between 1910 and 1920. Smith was Robinson's great uncle. The painting was donated to the university by the couple and unveiled during a ceremony in 2016. It now hangs in Tingley Memorial Hall, covering a wall near the Office of the President and the Board Room.
The painting highlights the connection between two legacies rooted in Orangeburg, South Carolina: Claflin University and the Robinson family. Robinson was born in Orangeburg and has deep ties to the university. His mother worked at Claflin for over 45 years as the head librarian, and his father also worked at the university before opening an office for the Social Security Administration in Orangeburg. Robinson's sister has been an adjunct professor in the School of Business, and Robinson himself is a native of the city and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
Avis Collins Robinson is a Harvard-educated economist and former deputy director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs at the Environmental Protection Agency. She has produced several other paintings, including portraits of families, labourers, and iconic items from the dark days of slavery. Her work often integrates antique quilts and broadcloth with acrylic paint, as seen in her commissioned portrait of Abraham Lincoln, which has been on display at Ford's Theatre since 2009.
The portrait of Alonzo Smith is a large piece, measuring 8 ft. by 5 ft., and it is valued at $100,000. It is a significant addition to the historic Tingley Hall and Claflin University, celebrating the university's proud legacy as the first in South Carolina to open its doors to all students, regardless of race, class, or gender.
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It was painted by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson
The painting behind Eugene Robinson on MSNBC is called "Alonzo Smith, Black Mason Building Claflin". It was painted by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson, and donated to Claflin University by the couple in 2016. The painting depicts Robinson's great uncle, Alonzo Smith, who was the foreman of a crew of students laying bricks for the foundation of a campus building at the university. The painting is inspired by a photograph believed to have been taken between 1910 and 1920, when Claflin offered a course in masonry.
Avis Collins Robinson is a Harvard-educated economist and former deputy director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs at the Environmental Protection Agency. She took up painting less than a decade ago and has produced several other paintings, including portraits of families, labourers, and iconic figures from the history of slavery. Her work often incorporates water-based paint and fabric, adding to the uniqueness of her artwork. Robinson and his wife have strong ties to Claflin University, with several family members having worked or studied there.
The painting "Alonzo Smith, Black Mason Building Claflin" has garnered significant attention due to its prominent placement behind Eugene Robinson during his appearances on MSNBC's "Morning Joe". Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, known for his liberal political analysis and commentary. He frequently appears on MSNBC and NBC News as a political analyst and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
The painting's unveiling at Claflin University in 2016 was a notable event, with an appraised value of $100,000 at the time. The large-scale portrait, measuring 8 feet by 5 feet, now hangs in a prominent location near the Office of the President and the Board Room in Tingley Memorial Hall. The donation of the painting by Robinson and his wife, Avis Collins Robinson, highlights the deep connection between the Robinson and Smith families and the university's proud legacy.
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The painting was donated to Claflin University by the couple
The painting that hangs on the wall behind Washington Post syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eugene Robinson during his interviews on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" is titled "Alonzo Smith, Black Mason Building Claflin". The painting was donated to Claflin University by Robinson and his wife, Avis Collins Robinson, who is also the artist behind the portrait. The painting was unveiled during a special ceremony in 2016 and now covers a wall in the hallway near the Office of the President and the Board Room in Tingley Memorial Hall.
Collins Robinson's inspiration for the painting was a photograph of Smith, who was Robinson's great uncle, and a crew of students laying bricks for the foundation of a campus building. It is believed that the photograph was taken between 1910 and 1920 when Claflin offered a course in masonry. The painting highlights two extraordinary legacies rooted in Orangeburg, South Carolina, that have been intrinsically connected for a long time. One is the legacy of Claflin University, which was founded in 1869 as the first university in South Carolina to open its doors to all students regardless of race, class, or gender. The other is the legacy of the Robinson family, which has strong ties to the university. Robinson is a native of Orangeburg and his mother, the late Louisa S. Robinson, worked at Claflin for 45 years as the head librarian. His father, Harold, also worked at the university before opening an office of the Social Security Administration in Orangeburg. Robinson's sister, Ellen (Ricoma), has been an adjunct professor in Claflin's School of Business.
The painting has brought national attention to Claflin University and is considered a valuable addition to the university's art collection. Collins Robinson's use of water-based paint and fabric adds to the uniqueness of the artwork, which was appraised at $100,000 at the time of the presentation. The donation by the Robinsons is a testament to their support for the university and its artistic and educational mission.
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The painting was inspired by a photograph of Smith and a crew of students
The painting that hangs on the wall behind Washington Post syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eugene Robinson during his interviews on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" is titled "Alonzo Smith, Black Mason Building Claflin". The painting was created by Robinson's wife, Avis Collins Robinson, who is a professional painter and Harvard-educated economist. The portrait was inspired by a photograph of Smith, who was Robinson's great uncle, and a crew of students laying bricks for the foundation of a campus building at Claflin University. The photograph is believed to have been taken between 1910 and 1920, a time when Claflin offered a course in masonry and was known for brick-making.
The painting holds a significant connection to Robinson's roots, as it highlights the legacy of Claflin University, which was founded in 1869 as the first college in South Carolina to admit students regardless of race, class, or gender. Robinson's mother, Louisa S. Robinson, worked at Claflin for over 45 years as the university's head librarian, and his father, Harold, was also employed by the university. Robinson himself is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and attended high school there, where he was one of the few black students in a previously all-white school.
The painting, which measures 8 ft. by 5 ft., was donated by the Robinsons to Claflin University in 2016 and hangs in a hallway near the Office of the President and the Board Room in Tingley Memorial Hall. Collins Robinson's use of water-based paint and fabric adds a unique touch to the artwork, and it was appraised at a value of $100,000 at the time of its presentation. The painting not only showcases the artist's talent but also serves as a reminder of the deep connections between Claflin University, the Smiths, and the Robinson family.
The portrait has garnered national attention due to its prominent placement behind Eugene Robinson during his appearances on MSNBC. Robinson, a respected journalist and political analyst, has been a regular presence on MSNBC and NBC News programs, offering insightful commentary and analysis. His contributions to the world of journalism were recognized with a Pulitzer Prize in 2009, and he continues to be a prominent voice in media and current affairs.
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Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
Eugene Harold Robinson is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. Born in 1954 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Robinson was raised in pre-segregated Orangeburg, witnessing the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. He pursued a career in journalism, becoming a city hall reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor at the Washington Post. Robinson was the first African American co-editor-in-chief of The Michigan Daily while studying at the University of Michigan.
Robinson is a renowned political analyst, frequently appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe" and other programs such as "PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton" and "The Rachel Maddow Show." He is also a syndicated columnist, with his writings appearing in 262 newspapers through the Washington Post Writers Group. Robinson's talent and hard work were recognised with the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, honouring his columns centred on then-Senator Barack Obama's first presidential campaign.
In addition to his journalistic achievements, Robinson is also an author. He has written several books, including "Coal to Cream: A Black Man's Journey Beyond Color to an Affirmation of Race" and "Last Dance in Havana: The Final Days of Fidel and the Start of the New Cuban Revolution." Robinson's writing provides insightful perspectives on race, politics, and culture, reflecting his extensive experience and dedication to his craft.
Robinson has also contributed to the arts, along with his wife, Avis Collins Robinson, who was an artist and economist. They donated her painting, "Alonzo Smith, Foreman, Black Mason Building Claflin," to Claflin University, highlighting the connection between the university, the Smiths, and the Robinson family. The painting, inspired by a photograph of Smith and a crew laying bricks, holds significant value, with an appraised value of $100,000 at the time of donation.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the painting is "Alonzo Smith, Black Mason Building Claflin".
The painting was created by Avis Collins Robinson, the wife of Eugene Robinson.
The painting depicts Robinson's great-uncle, Alonzo Smith, and a crew of students laying bricks for a campus building at Claflin University.
The original painting was donated to Claflin University by the Robinsons and is displayed in Tingley Memorial Hall, covering a wall near the Office of the President and the Board Room.
