WELDON, N.C. – Halifax Community College (HCC) will host a stamp dedication in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service as part of Black History Month festivities on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. The event is free, open to the public and will begin at 11 a.m. in The Centre. A reception will follow.
The following stamps will be dedicated during the ceremony: C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson, Wilt Chamberlain, Jimi Hendrix and Edna Lewis.
About the Stamps: C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson
Referred to as the Father of Black Aviation, Chief Flight Instructor of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson, was immortalized on a stamp March 13, 2014. The dedication ceremony took place in his hometown just northwest of Philadelphia.
Anderson also has been referred to as the Charles Lindbergh of Black Aviation for his record-breaking flights that inspired other African-Americans to become pilots.
Illustrator Sterling Hundley of Richmond, Va., used a combination of acrylic paint, watercolor, and oil to create the stamp art. His portrait of Anderson is based on a photograph from a 1942 yearbook of the Tuskegee Institute's flight training school in Tuskegee, Ala. Hundley added headgear used by pilots in World War II. Art director Phil Jordan of Falls Church, Va., designed the stamp.
The C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson 70-cent First Class stamp is the 15th stamp in USPS’s Distinguished American Series. Available in sets of 20, it is good for First-Class Mail weighing up to 2 ounces.
About the Stamps: Wilt Chamberlain
The Postal Service celebrates the life of basketball superstar Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999). On the court, he was a force of nature. The 7-foot-1-inch center dominated the NBA for more than a decade, setting a plethora of individual records. As a pro, he led his teams to two NBA championships, and in 1962 he scored an NBA record 100 points in a single game.
These two Forever stamps showcase artwork by Kadir Nelson, who created two portraits of Chamberlain. One is based on a photograph of Chamberlain in a Philadelphia Warriors uniform, the other based on an image of Chamberlain in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. The word "Wilt" is featured in the top right or left corner of each stamp, along with the "Forever" denomination and "USA" in the bottom right or left corner of each stamp.
"Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999)" appears on the left side of the pane. Photographer Ken Regan's image of a leaping Chamberlain in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform is featured on the right side of the pane. The flip side of the pane features biographical information about Chamberlain.
The Wilt Chamberlin Limited Edition Forever Stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.
About the Stamps: Jimi Hendrix
Combining influences from rock, modern jazz, soul, and the blues with his own innovations, Hendrix created a unique style that influenced musical artists of his era and continues to inspire musicians into the 21st century. Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. The stamp celebrating his legacy is being released as part of the Music Icons series.
The artist created the selvage and stamp art with acrylic paint and colored pencils. His choice of colors and designs introduced elements of movement and rhythm with an almost musical flow, paying homage to the 1960s without directly imitating the era's art. The stamp sheet, designed to resemble a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve, features a painting of Hendrix's face surrounded by colorful swirls and small icons that reference song lyrics or aspects of Hendrix's life. The stamp art shows Hendrix in performance.
While Hendrix is remembered as one of the most innovative guitar players of all time, he was also a gifted songwriter, combining visionary, sometimes haunting imagery with deft pop hooks. In 1993, Hendrix was awarded a posthumous Grammy for lifetime achievement. Through Hendrix's mastery of the guitar and use of controlled feedback as a melodic element, he revolutionized and redefined popular music. His music sounds as innovative and fresh today as when it was first released, winning legions of new fans.
Rudy Gutierrez created original art for the stamp and the stamp sheet. Art director Greg Breeding was the designer.
The Jimi Hendrix Forever Stamp was issued March 13, 2014, and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.
Known as "the Grande Dame of Southern Cooking," Edna Lewis (1916–2006) found wisdom in the customs and patterns of her rural Virginia childhood. Born on April 13, 1916, Lewis brought quintessential dishes such as shrimp and grits or roast chicken to the plates of diners in fine restaurants. She convinced her fellow Americans to take a second look at Southern cooking while also serving as one of the first voices to reemphasize the importance of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
She published "The Edna Lewis Cookbook" in 1972, and at the encouragement of Judith Jones, Julia Child's editor, she began to write books that combined recipes and cooking tips with her personal recollections. The New York Times proclaimed that her classic 1976 book "The Taste of Country Cooking" "may well be the most entertaining regional cookbook in America."
During the 1980s and early 1990s, Lewis lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and New York where she worked as a chef at various restaurants and wrote "In Pursuit of Flavor," a 1988 cookbook that included nearly 200 recipes and her own recollections and commentary.
Lewis died in 2006. In 2009, she was honored as an African American Trailblazer by the Library of Virginia. January 2012 saw the creation of the Atlanta-based Edna Lewis Foundation. The foundation fosters educational initiatives, offer leadership and food-industry awards and host an annual conference — all in keeping with Lewis's positive spirit.
Lewis is one of five chefs featured as part of the Limited Edition Celebrity Chefs Forever stamps released on Sept. 26, 2014. The stamps feature digital illustrations by Jason Seller of Chicago, depicting chefs in a style intended to resemble oil paintings. Art director Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamps.
Available in a pane of 20 that features all five chefs, the Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.
For more information about the event, contact Bonnie Benthall at (252) 536-7234 or Dr. Dianne Rhoades at (252) 536-7239.
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