The Friends of Education of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), hosted a lively conversation with art world heavyweights Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, Clifford Owens and Xaviera Simmons—a group of artists that have cultivated successful careers globally.

The New York event’s discussion explored the idea of collaboration and its importance in their practice. In a digital age where artists are collaborating virtually, the topic proved to be a necessary conversation, as the process can create a variety of challenges that at times seem insurmountable to tackle—or so was determined by some attendees. However, there were strong views on how collaborations have the ability to foster community and a heighten sense of awareness of the creative process.

Do you feel the digital age has harmed the art world?

The latest issue of Arise Magazine has finally hit the newsstands!

The new issue (issue #14, to be exact) includes a bunch of goodies for your enjoyment including a sneak peek into Arise Fashion Week 2012, a conversation with Beyonce about motherhood, and an interview with UK singer—and Centric favorite— Estelle talking about her new album All of Me, out next month.

However, the highlight of this issue has to be the interview with Blair Underwood, who’s dishing on his upcoming role in the Broadway revival of A Street Car Named Desire.

(New York, NY) The Rush Philanthropic Foundation for the Arts (RUSH Arts) held their third annual Gold Rush Awards at the Bombay Sapphire East House of Imagination this past Wednesday [October 19th].

Hosted by Russell and Danny Simmons, the event honored the contributions of art world staple and philanthropist Sherry Bronfman (pictured above center), who has been a staunch supporter of emerging artists of color for many years.

The private event also celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Rush Arts Gallery, which has provided a dynamic platform for artist from around the world—Sanford Biggers and Kenhide Wiley among them.

For those of you looking to build or start your own art collection, Rush Arts has created a limited edition portfolio of art curated by Ingrid LaFleur starting at $300. Go here for more information.

Photos courtesy of Johnny Nunez

(San Francisco) At yesterday’s Web 2.0 Summit, 90’s rapper turned tech-media mogul M.C. Hammer announced that he will be launching WireDoo, a web service that will serve as a search engine that will provide “deeper type of search” results for users.

The website is currently in the BETA stage and will be fully launched by December 2011.

Do you think it will it be able to compete with the likes of Google or Bing?

(New York, NY) The Friends of Education of the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), hosted a conversation with iconic sculptor Richard Hunt and filmmaker Charlie Hurn (Wild Style) at the museum.

Guest for the evening’s festivities were treated to an exclusive sneak peek of Richard Hunt Sculpter, a new documentary directed by Charlie Hurn.

The organization, whose mission is to cultivate a greater appreciation for African American artists, presented the conversation as a 40th anniversary celebration of  Hunt’s first solo show at the museum. 

The MoMA purchased their first sculpture from Hunt in 1956 while he was still a junior at the Art Institute in Chicago. The Chicago native later went on to become the first African American to have a major exhibition at the MoMA in 1971.

(New York, New York) Even though Fashion Week has come to a close in the city, the stars still have plenty of reason to strut their stuff  in their finest ensembles.  The MET Museum recently hosted their 2nd annual Multicultural Benefit Gala, an event spearheaded by the museum’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative. This year’s theme, ”An Evening of Many Cultures”.

This year’s event honored a number of notables including  Broadway’s newest star Samuel L. Jackson (he’s starring in the Kenny Leon directed “The Mountain Top”),  Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower De Niro.

Guest in attendance where also treated to a viewing of the MET’s new exhibition Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures. The exhibition features over one hundred masterpieces highlighting West and Central African art.

Other notables in attendance included Estelle, Spike Lee, Lynn Whitfield, Rosie Perez, LaLa Anthony, Desiree Rogers and Angela Bassett.

Photos via The Metropolitan Museum of Art and WireImage/Dario Cantatore

Executives at NBC Universal have come under fire for not holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to diversifying the programming on their network. As part of a deal to complete their merger with Comcast earlier this year, NBC Universal committed to highlighting more people of color in prominent roles in their network. But things haven’t changed much. 

Judging by their fall 2011 lineup—Free Agents, Grimm, Prime Suspects, The Playboy Club—none of them feature a minority in a major role. Long gone are the days when NBC’s programming reflected a different perspective. The Flip Wilson Show, Sanford & Son, Diff’rent Strokes, 227, Amen, The Cosby Show, and A Different World—remember the time? 

What do you think it will take to have more diversity on NBC and network television in general?

In a move that seems long over due, iconic rocker Lenny Kravitz,  graces the cover of Uptown Magazine’s style issue. Kravitz, who’s the father of actress Zoë Kravitz,  gives readers a sneak peak into his world of rock-n-roll.

Click HERE for behind the scenes pics from photoshoot.  

Dominican bombshell Arlenis Sosa is on the cover of the latest issue of Arise Magazine. The 22 year old stunner has become a major force in the fashion world hitting the runway of everyone from Alexander Wang to Jason Wu.

The new issue will include a sneak peek into the magazine’s triumphant return to New York Fashion Week, via the African Collective show; Jill Scott dishing on men and motherhood, and UK based rapper Tinie Tempah in Lagos.

Arise (Issue 13) hits newsstands this week.

$10 dollars a month, might not sound like a huge amount, but for  Petals-N-Belles, Inc, that amount—matched with the donations of others—could change the lives of  several young girls. The organization has launched ‘PETAL-TO-PETAL’, a pledge challenge that is seeking to engage 500 supporters to sign on for the monthly commitment for one year. The donations will go towards supporting the organization’s  fall/winter 2011 programming curriculum—that focuses on mentoring and empowering.

Recently the organization hosted a  summer “friendraiser” at New York’s Hotel Chantelle to celebrate the launch of the initiative.  Hundreds of guest—from Amanda Diva to celebrity DJ Jasmine Solano—came out to support the cause.

Over $1,000 dollars (that’s 100 pledges) was raised at the organization’s ”friendraiser” event with the hopes of raising thousands more over the next year.