UNCF (The United Negro College Fund) is the largest minority education organization in America, serving more than 60,000 students nationwide through scholarships and other programs. On September 28, SVA hosted a reception for The Art of Giving Back, a new fund-raising initiative launched by UNCF aimed specifically at providing scholarships to talented minority visual arts students enrolled at its 38 member colleges and universities. Held in the Visual Arts Gallery, the event featured an art sale and exhibition of works by over 40 African-American artists, including Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, Glenn Ligon, and Faith Ringgold.

Rose Viggiano, chair of the MAT Art Education Department at SVA, was among the community leaders on the advisory committee for The Art of Giving Back, which was curated by Natalie Jones, former curator of the AT&T Corporate Collection. The Art of Giving Back is on view online through October 31, 2011. To view or purchase works, which include paintings, mixed media, and photography, visit www.artleadership.com.

Images: (top) Reception for The Art of Giving Back at the Visual Arts Gallery. (bottom) From left: SVA’s Provost Jeff Nesin, Executive Vice President Anthony P. Rhodes, and Visual Arts Gallery Director Francis Di Tommaso. Photos by Joshua Zuckerman.