In Memoriam: Peggy Cooper Cafritz

Dear ACC Members and Supporters,

​It is with deep sadness and profound regret that ACC must announce the loss of our dear friend, patron of arts, and inspirational muse to thousands of students and artists of the District of Columbia and elsewhere, Peggy Cooper Cafritz.

​As ACC has been announcing, with great anticipation, her graceful presence at our upcoming monthly meeting to promote her new book, we now find it difficult to contain our emotion to the news.  The book, "Fired Up! Ready to Go!: Finding Beauty, Demanding Equity: An African American Life in Art. The Collections of Peggy Cooper Cafritz",  is scheduled for official release on February 20th.  Indeed, the upcoming ACC meeting was scheduled to be her first book talk before she launched her national tour.

Peggy Cooper Cafritz at her home, in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, in 2015. (April Greer/For The Washington Post)

An obituary for Ms. Cooper Cafritz can be found at the following link on the Washington Post website.

Although the content of ACC's meeting will obviously be altered in light of the present circumstances, we hope, if it should not offend, that for the very short term, until our prayers for her spirit on her journey home and for her family have come to quiet resolution, and when we have consulted with her loved ones, and resolve to offer our participation in a fitting remembrance and tribute to a remarkable woman, that we may linger with her spirit a little longer and leave unaltered the announcement you see below.

​As long as there is a creative spirit to be encouraged and nurtured, we are certain that there will her spirit be as well. 

Peggy, we will miss you!

​From all of us at the Anacostia Coordinating Council

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

We at ACC beg your pardon as we present, as yet unaltered but with the deepest respect, the following meeting notice of our monthly meeting, in light of the passing of our dear friend, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, who was to attend.

Anacostia Coordinating Council February 2018 Monthly Meeting
Presented by Anacostia Coordinating Council and Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place SE
Washington, DC 20020
11:45 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

The ACC February 27th meeting speaker will be ACC member and estimed co-founder of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, discussing her new book, "Fired Up! Ready to Go!: Finding Beauty, Demanding Equity: An African American Life in Art. The Collections of Peggy Cooper Cafritz", that will be released on February 20th.

After its release, the book will cost $75 but if it is pre-ordered the cost is less.  "Fired Up! Ready to Go!" is available at area booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others.

Peggy is one of the nation's foremost collectors of African American art. When her house burned down in 2009, it resulted in a devastating loss of art in that genre, but the collection had been briefly featured in the article "Art House: Supporting Talented Young Artists of Color by Cathleen Medwick".

Lunch is provided. You are encouraged to bring your colleagues and consider making a donation to the Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) and/or becoming an ACC member for only $25 a year.

Click the picture below for a copy of the event flier.

Keep abreast of all events, exhibitions and programs at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum website at http://www.anacostia.si.edu.