Carmelita Pittman's Page

2002 Artists For A Better World International
"OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AS AN ARTIST" Awardee

Carmelita Pittman

"For outstanding contribution of your art and creative abilities towards the creation of a better world through dedicated service as a community volunteer."
Carmelita Pittman: Native Angeleno, of multicultural heritage, with strong artistic parentage and background, her prococious art ability made its presence known by age four. Her mother also was a natural artist whose pastel drawings on the sidewalk at the age of four were carefully preserved by the neighbors who admired and walked around them. Always the class artist, eventually Carmelita was surprised by art scholarships throughout her school years including being selected to represent her school at Otis Art Institute while in the 7th grade where she studied under prominent artist Joe Magnani. She balked at first at the introduction to her of abstract art and sought tutelage and refuge under her mother who taught her the tradition of the Renaissance masters at home. Pursuing another route resulted in her creation of a realistic oil portrait which was exhibited by Otis Art Institute for a year. Other scholarships followed including The Ross Payne Sperry Award which her professors at the University of Southern California conspired to surprise and present to her at the art reception which included her artwork on exhibition at Fisher Gallery. This scholarship took care of one semester while she attended U.S.C. and she later graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She also graduated with a Masters of Science Degree from Pepperdine.

She became a premier art instructor for Los Angeles Unified School District mostly teaching in South Central L.A. and also for a brief period in Northridge before taking her sabatical. She served several years as art department chairperson at Horace Mann Jr. High School. Other school assignments included Foshay,Manual Arts and Crenshaw High School. Her students brought honor to the school with their achievements of numerous art scholarships under her guidance. Kacy Reneau, in the 8th grade at the time received one of the first awards of its kind to attend a special State art program in Valencia. He was presented his award at the time by actor Arnold Schwartzenegger, now the current Governor of Calif., Angelica Houston, and the late Walter Matthau. Other commendations included recognition from Mayor Tom Bradley and a surprise community award presented at a luncheon by principal Robert Kladifko for her work with her art students at Horace Mann Jr. High School which produced a mural covering the entire front wall of the school.

Although the mural is no longer in existence it was listed in Robin Dunitz's book entitled "Street Gallery". Carmelita Pittman was also selected by the secondary area art supervisor James Burk to serve on the committee to update the Art Curriculum Guide published in 1990. One of her proudest achievements was receivng a grant from Educational Partnerships for her production of a school wide project, the Afro Expo, which engaged all disciplines from art to mathematics,to recognize the cultural and historical contributions of Africa to America. Her classroom became a model as an environment replicating an African village which became a museum of artifacts and student art work based on African art. Her desk, covered with African fabric and plants as well as the student tables covered with their tie dye fabrics and plants, plus her peacock rattan chair at the desk, the swinging beads which hung at the entry door transported everyone into another world. At one time she also taught social studies in this setting. She lead her students on tours such as the Ibu exhibit at the Wright Gallery at U.C.L.A. and later introduced prominent figures such as Jimi Solanke of Nigeria, and Chief Olu Durotimi who involved the students in her production of the Afro Ballet which contained costumes sewn by the parents, sets produced by the students, with the stage production guided by Carlo Fouchet, a leading choreographer, and music by prominent musicians. This actually proceeded the Afro Cultural movement which later evolved into a prominent annual festival currently listed amongst the top city attractions. However she also included multicultural teachings and included expeditions to such locations as the J.Paul Getty Museum in Malibu with groups of at least 60 youngsters at a time.

Many other productions included award assemblies with celebrity role models encouraging the students to study and be respectful of themselves and others. At one point she became Ms. C."Rappin"Pittman with the School of Cool which she recorded with half of one of her classes during the 80's. With the aid of the student body who campaigned to get airplay, the record made the top forty on the charts. This was in addition to a previous recording which she wrote and her husband Jerry Pittman produced entitled " Rosebud" and " Is'nt It Lonely" which also made the charts. At this time she also began a long association as co-founder of the Annual Pre-Grammy Music Industry Gala of 23 years founded by Vonny Hilton Sweeney, a music industry mogul. This became a black tie event which offered a networking opportunity blending Grammy nominees and recipients with upcoming undiscovered talent of which many have since become household names such as Babyface.

After a stint of more than twenty years as an art educator she"graduated" from the classroom in 1989 as an entrepreneur with her mother, Juanita Zara Espinosa Uddin, and opened "Phoenix Rising Art & Antiques" in the Antiquarius Building in the Beverly Hills area for a few years until her mother retired. The business was visited by celebrities such as Beth Midler, Goldie Hawn, Barbara Streisand, Michael Jackson, Warren Beatty, George Hamilton, Jacqueline Smith, Meryle Streep, James Spader, and clients included Shadow Stevens, Robert Dadi, Patti LaBelle who along with her assistants scooped up nearly all of the aligator purses, and Diane Carroll who preferred to wrap her own present to give to her husband.

But one of her former colleques, Mr. Richardson, now vice-principal of Inglewood High School recalled Carmelita Pittman's skills as an art educator and pulled her out of semi-retirement when she was invited to teach "at risk students" in the Inglewood School District once a week in a special location. Many of the students were in gangs or aspiring to be in one including the notorious "Bloods". But a touching moment was when she took these youngsters on a field trip to perform on stage with the Godfather of Soul, James Brown at the Greek Theatre where she acted once again as the "Rappin' School Teacher" while Mr. Brown performed " Killin' is Out, School is In" June 2001. She also included students from the Celebrity Centre who had performed in the Annual Rose Variety Arts Show, annual benefit for the Rose Breast Cancer Society.

The Rose Breast Cancer Society is a 501.c3 non-profit organization which she founded in 1998 in memory of her artistic mother, Juanita Zara Espinosa Uddin who gave her unconditional love. In turn, Carmelita Pittman has vowed to fight breast cancer through the arts and now has made the world her classroom by offering education of the prevention and intervention of breast cancer. Currently the organization is aligned with the Vibrance Medical Group of Beverly Hills which offers infra red thermography, a safe, quick, painless, FDA approved, radiation free breast cancer screening procedure. The Rose Breast Cancer Society is currently offering FREE certificates valued at $300.00 for the infra red thermogram consultation. Information about the Annual Rose Variety Arts Show which is held annually at the Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood, CA and certificates can be obtained by calling 310-274-1130 or visiting www.rosebreastcancersociety.org

She is also a member of Artists for a Better World and received an award for Outstanding Contribution as an Artist, and recently received a Commendation 2005 from councilman Tom LaBonge, and Mayor James Hahn for her work through the establishment of the Rose Breast Cancer Society. The Hollywood Arts Council, Sharing Friends of the Arts, Salute America, honorary art group Kappa Pi of U.S.C. are included in her list of associates. The Rose Breast Cancer Society has also been endorsed by Congresswoman Diane Watson and Senior Senator Pasqual Bettio, who are both honorary advisory members of the Rose Breast Cancer Society. Other associates of the organization include prominent community leaders such as Barbara Cordova Oliver, and George Alger of AFABW.