Sidney Poitier, John Outterbridge to receive museum honors

The California African American Museum will bestow honors on actor Sidney Poitier and artist John Outterbridge at its annual gala this fall, museum officials said. Poitier and Outterbridge are to receive the museum’s Lifetime Achievement Awards at a dinner on Oct. 6.

Outterbridge is a Los Angeles-based artist who has focused on sculpture, assemblage and installations during his lengthy career. He served as the director of the Watts Towers Arts Center in L.A. from 1975 to 1992. His work was featured prominently in exhibitions during the Pacific Standard Time initiative, the recent survey of Southern California art organized by the Getty.

His past honors include being named a U.S. Gracie Fellow for Visual Arts in 2011.

Poitier’s acting career is highlighted by a number of classic films including “Lilies of the Field” -- for which he won an Academy Award -- “The Defiant Ones,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

Last year, the California African American Museum gave its lifetime achievement awards to musician Herbie Hancock, artist Betye Saar and choreographer Donald McKayle. Other past recipients include boxing great Muhammad Ali and artist Artis Lane.

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