Freeholders Honor Viki Craig for Contributions to African-American Art in Morris County

Published on January 22, 2020

The Morris County Board of Freeholders this week honored the late Viki Craig for her three decades of community service in creating and fostering the annual Art in the Atrium exhibit of African-American art in Morris County.(JPG, 526KB)

Freeholders Deborah Smith, Stephen Shaw and John Krickus presented a special county resolution to the Craig family -- husband Charles, daughters Simone and Lauren, and granddaughter Victoria Charleigh -- at Monday's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. interfaith community breakfast held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Morristown.

The freeholders also announced that after a one-year hiatus, art exhibitions in the halls of county government in Morristown would resume starting with the March 20 opening of the annual African-American Art Show.

Victoria "Viki'' La Beaux Clark Craig, who passed away on Dec. 27, 2018, was remembered in the county resolution for joy, positive spirit, and inspiration she brought to all county residents.

The Resolution:

Whereas, Viki Craig was the Founder and Executive Director of Art in the Atrium, a non-profit organization that she began in 1992, along with her husband Charles Craig, that was dedicated to exhibiting works by emerging and established African-American artists; and which was held annually in the gallery of the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, and which became New Jersey's largest exhibition of African-American art; and

Whereas, her project flowered as Art in the Atrium expanded over the years to all four floors of the county gallery, and included seminars, jazz brunches, collectors' workshops, and the co-sponsoring of artist residencies in the Morris School District, benefitting 200 to 500 students each year, and awarding an annual scholarship to a student artist; and

Whereas, Viki's life was one fully lived -- Masters' Degrees in Childhood Education and Education Administration; respected educator in the Morris and Plainfield School Districts; mentor to countless teachers; charter member and former President of the Morris County Chapter of Jack & Jill of America; recipient of Jack & Jill's Sanderal S. Brown Distinguished Mother Award; and named as an Inspirational Woman by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement, among many others; and(JPG, 39KB)

Whereas, church and family were vital to her life; and she was an integral part of the community of the Bethel A.M.E Church of Morristown, where she was a member of the Bethel Quilters and Superintendent of the Sunday School; and she had a loving marriage to her husband, Charles, and was blessed with daughters Simone Renee and Lauren Michelle, and granddaughter Victoria Charleigh, and had so many good and loving friends across Morris County; and

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey, mourn the loss of Victoria (Viki) La Beaux Clark Craig but we also offer thanks for a life well lived, and for her dedication, devotion and outstanding service to her family, church, community and to Morris County.