Uncrowned Community Builders

Rosetta E. "Monique" Smith was born January 28, 1953 in Cleveland Ohio. She is the eldest of five siblings.

In her first decade of life, Rosetta witness in living color strict Jim crow laws, school segregation, the separation of families, prayer taken out of public schools, and a slew of race riots at their worst. While the nation was deeply polarized, Rosetta managed to survive much of the turmoil by learning to read, swim, skate, bike, and to handle drawing materials.

Between 1963 and 1970, Rosetta endures four foster homes, eleven elementary schools, one middle school, and two senior high schools. The constant changing of schools was equally caused by family separation and de facto segregation and other discriminatory policies within the Cleveland public schools. Where upon a rigorous busing systems was in place.

Between 1971 and 1978, On the bright side, Rosetta was taken to numerous museums, art galleries and concert halls. Although very shy, she became an active member of the Karamu House, the oldest African American theater in the United States. She went on to direct and to perform in her first youth initiative, the Woodland Branch Library Drama Club.

Before graduating high school and attending Cuyahoga County Community College she noticed the disparities in her community. This endeared her to life-long volunteer service and youth advocacy.
New discoveries gave Rosetta the impetus to further her studies. Soon she was accepted into the departments of Fine Arts and Theater at the University of Minnesota. Among her many encounters were her periodic attendance in church settings. In 1975, during a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting at U of M, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.

On August 18, 1979, she married CMSAF (Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force) Leonard Dwight Smith. Together they became transplants of Niagara Falls New York. Where they have two biological children, two grandchildren and aided in the raising of a number of foster children. This year will mark their 40th wedding anniversary.

Rosetta believes that education and family values go hand-in-hand, both are as important as breathing. She is the recipient of a B.F.A. with an Art History minor from SUNY at Buffalo and she held a K-12 Teaching Certification for the State of New York from Buffalo State College. She acquired both with Cum laude status.

Over the years, Rosetta's many achievements as an activist, an educator, youth advocate, and community events coordinator, as well as her participation and contributions as a visual artist and playwright have earned her numerous awards and recognitions.

A quick appraisal of Rosetta's artwork shows that her canvases are usually a combination of juxtaposing elements such as, flat forms, hard and soft edges, silhouetted figures that intersect objects, cartoon figures, geometric shapes with translucent paint that introduce color changes. She uses vibrant and contrasting strokes of colors that glide boldly across the composition emitting a semi-abstract impression with symbolic meanings. Primarily she works in both two and three-dimensional formats using either oil or acrylic paints.

A detail account of art exhibitions, community contributions, written works and publications, including her written plays and performances are as follows:

2018 "Artist of Color" annual Black History Month Art Show for Niagara Falls Arts & Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, NY
2017 "Home and Garden Show" artist exhibit Niagara Crossing Hotel & Spa, Lewiston, New York
2016 "Paint n' Sip" instructed painting class, 24 Below Gallery & Café, Niagara Falls NY
2013 "Fiber and Art Exhibit" River Gallery North Tonawanda, New York
2012 "Annual African American Art Show" annual participant of Black History Month Exhibition for Niagara Falls Arts & Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York
2011 "Annual African American Art Show" annual participant of Black History Month Exhibition for Niagara Falls Arts & Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York
2010 Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, art display and gift shop vendor, Niagara Falls, New York, "Annual African American Art Exhibit" annual participant of Black History Month Exhibition for Niagara Falls Arts & Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, "Juneteenth of Buffalo Festival" vendor, Buffalo, New York
2009-Present "Art Jewelry Maker" and numerous other artists exhibits, Pencil in the River North Tonawanda, New York
2009 "Featured Artist of the Year" contributing artist of artwork and jewelry displayed at the Hot Stuff Southern Cafe' Niagara Falls, New York
2008 "Sip n See" featured artist Halifax County Arts Council, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, "Home and Garden Show", Halifax County Arts Council, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
2003 "Art Carnival" artists exhibition at the Burchfield-Penny Art Center, Buffalo, New York, "Streams of Consciousness in a Strange World" curator and featured artist Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, "2nd Annual Art Festival" artist, honorable mention for table display, Niagara Falls Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, "24th Annual Juried Exhibition" artist, State University College at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, "Birdhouses" contributing artist and Board of Director, Niagara Arts Council, Niagara, New York
2002 "5th Annual Winter Fundraiser "Reflections" an art exhibition of artistic mirrors," contributing artist and Board of Director, Niagara Arts Council, Niagara, New York
2001 "Art Wheels" contributing artist, Burchfield-Penny Art Center, State University College at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 1999-2000 "Annual local artists exhibition" Niagara Falls Public Library, New York
1998 "Women's Art Show" Juried show, Carnegie's Art Gallery, North Tonawanda, New York
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
2018 "Children's Art Exhibit" juried artwork, Niagara Falls Chapter of the Links Inc., Niagara Falls Arts & Cultural Center, New York
2017 "Youth Inspired Theatrical Group" a Christian Based initiative, New Hope Baptist Church
2013 "Holiday Art for Children" Community Action Organization Head Start Program, Buffalo New York
2010 "Animal Art Safari" director of children's artwork display for CAO Deck Academy Head Start, Buffalo, New York
2009 "Candidate for Office" Candidacy resulting in 352 votes, City of Niagara Falls School Board, New York
2007 "Creating Circles of Peace" designer of logo for Youth Violence Prevention Task Force of Gates County, North Carolina
2006 "Education Ball for Scholarships" program coordinator and contributing artist for Communities In Schools of Northeast, North Carolina
2005 "Papier-mâché 3-Dimensional Sculptures" visiting artist and instructor for Halifax-Weldon Youth Center, Weldon, North Carolina
2005-2008 "Volunteer Service" National Volunteer n Service to America (VISTA), Americorps, Northeast, North Carolina
2004 "Winter Arts Education for Young Adults" teaching basic animation, The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York
2002-2004 "Annual Fundraiser" contribution of artwork and service to Niagara Arts Council, Niagara Falls, New York
2002 "Diversity in Art - Through the Eyes of Youth" contributing artist and service for The Niagara Falls Chapter of the Links, Inc., Niagara Falls, New York
2000-2001 "Freedom Trail Festival" Book Corner Window Display, Niagara Falls, New York
1998 "Painted Wall Mural" City Missions Soup Kitchen, Niagara Falls, New York
1997 "The Past Forms the Future" Black History Month artists exhibition Month, African American Business Group of Niagara Falls, Inc., (AABG)
1994 "Seventh annual Kidfest" participant and Board of Director, Niagara Arts Council Niagara Falls, New York

PUBLICATIONS

2007 "A Historical Moment in the Town of Weldon" author and illustrator of children's book, (publication TBD) as a contribution to children through Communities In Schools of Northeast, North Carolina
2001-2002 "Tour guide and desktop publisher" for Motherland Connextions touring company, Niagara Falls, New York
2002 "The Rhythm of Black Culture - a night of music and elegance" brochure designer for advertisement, Black Student Union, State University College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
2001 "Fashion Show" brochure designer for advertisement, Black Student Union State University College at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
1995 "2nd Choir Anniversary Souvenir Journal" publication, Word of Life Ministries, Niagara Falls, New York 1992 "Students Review Spike Lee Film Malcolm X" contributing author for "The Spirit" Niagara County Community College



WRITTEN PLAYS and LIVE PERFORMANCES

2018 "How We Survived" playwright and director, Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York, "Conversations with Madam Ambassador" playwright and director, Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York, "Glow 4 Jesus" playwright and director, Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York , "Glow 4 Jesus Part 2" playwright and director, Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York
2017 "Faith Led the Way" playwright and director, Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York
2012 "Who Will Tell Our Stories?" playwright and director, New Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York
2010 "We Prefer Green, Thank You Very Much" playwright and director, Wood Box Theater Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York
2007-2008 "CIS of the Northeast Monthly Newsletter" author and program coordinator, Communities In Schools of Northeast, North Carolina
2004 "A Place in the Clouds" playwright and director, Wood Box Theater, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York
2003 "A Salute to the Woman of the Civil Rights Movement" a variety show featuring "Hotel Heaven" director, event coordinator, and actress, Wood Box Theatre, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, "To Kill a Mockingbird" as Calpurnia, Theatre in the Mist Lewiston, New York
2005 "Black 2 the Future" live production, set designer, Peace Queen Edutainment Movement, Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York

AFFILIATIONS
2017-Present Member, Albright Knox art Gallery
2011 - Present The Board of Christian Education, Director/Coordinator of Inspired Youth Theatrical Group, former Scholarship Committee member, New Hope Baptist Church, Niagara Falls New York
2001-2003 Arts Facet Chair/Event Coordinator, The Niagara Falls Chapter of the Links, Inc., Niagara Falls, New York
2002 Member and Resident Artist, Niagara Falls Art and Cultural Center, Niagara Falls, New York, Member, National Education Association
1993-99 Board of Directors, decision making committee, Niagara Arts Council Arts Niagara Falls, New York

AWARDS

2010 Trailblazer Award, The Niagara Falls Chapter of the Links Inc.
1999 Cum laude of State University of New York at Buffalo
1995 Golden Key National Honor Society, SUNY at Buffalo
1995 Student Senate Achievement Awards NCCC
1994 Recognition and Achievement Award for Community Service, NCCC
1993 Empire State DuPont Scholarship, NCCC, Minority Honor Foundation Scholarship, NCCC
1992 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, achievement award, NCCC

EDUCATION

Cuyahoga County Community College, Cleveland Ohio
Halifax County Community College, North Carolina
Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, New York
State University of New York at Buffalo, New York
State University of New York College at Buffalo, New York
University of Minnesota at Minneapolis

HOBBIES

1985 "Women's Softball League" 914th TAG NCWSL Bobby Weber Champs
Swimmer, walker, travel and sightseeing, amateur photographer