World Renowned Artist, Karl Wilkes

Columbia Metropolitan Airport to Recognize World Renowned Artist, Karl Wilkes. (Cayce) Columbia Metropolitan Airport will recognize world renowned artist, Karl Wilkes, on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 11:30am in the Airport Terminal in honor of the work he displayed for the airport's commemoration of Black History Month. Airport Executive Director, Dan Mann, will present Wilkes with a plaque on behalf of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Karl W. Wilkes is the International African American Arts Award Winner and served as the late Rosa Parks' personal artist for several years. Currently, he is in the midst of his "Aspire to Rise tour" as a part of a White House Initiative which allows him to visit all 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation and present his famed art piece, "History Lesson #5 Masterpiece Edition Heritage Series." Of his support of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport exhibit, Human Resources Director and Aviation Employee Network liaison, Chappelle Broome, says, "We, the airport, are very appreciative of having the artwork of an artist of his caliber in our Airport this past month." Wilkes' works have affected many people and cultures both known and unknown, and he often donates much of it to help raise money for under privileged children and other causes such as research for breast cancer and diabetes.