DATE: Friday, August 15, 1997               TAG: 9708130121

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 08   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

                                            LENGTH:   26 lines

HISTORIC BLACK COLLEGE PRINTS GO ON DISPLAY IN PORTSMOUTH

A new series of prints of historical black colleges and universities, published by a Portsmouth native from watercolor paintings by Michael Billups of Washington, will be shown for the first time in Hampton Roads at the Art Atrium II Gallery, 629 High St.

A special preview of the Icon Collector's Editions is scheduled 4-7:30 p.m. Aug. 9.

The first three prints in the series feature Howard, Norfolk State and Hampton universities. Scenes from other schools will follow with each print limited to an edition of 450.

Cynthia Giles, who grew up here, is the owner and publisher of the Icon Collector's Editions in Mitchellville, Md. She will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the prints to each institution.

Edith Rollins-Buffalow, also a Portsmouth native, is the distributor of the prints through Ramee Art Gallery in Washington, a business she owns with her husband, Sydney Buffalow.

Art Atrium II Gallery is owned by another Portsmouth native, Joan Rhodes-Copeland.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu