A Great Artist of Detroit

So for a long time I have seen how under appreciated Detroit artist are. There has to be an end to this because the most amazing artist I have met have come from my city and I have been all over the world. When a man of talent, many degrees and amazing work is cast in the shadows of the art world it is a huge problem. Now I want to see your knowledge of such a man, I will show you some images of art works from a man that graduated from CCS, moved on to receive his Master's degree from Yale and participated in the highly esteemed Artist in Residence program at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

So do you have any idea, If you know anything of Detroit art, this is a man that should be at the top of your list. Do some research if you have no clue and I am not giving his name until someone provides it for me. Uplift the grand Talent of Detroit artist and Detroit will have a revival like no other. Why do you think New York, L.A, Atlanta, Chicago, Florence, Rome, and Amsterdam are such major cities and hot spots. What do all these places have in common? It should be very easy to figure out, history tells all their stories with a common factor.


If you don't know now you know.
peace.

AFRO-COBRA, co-founder Wadsworth Jarrell speaks at the DIA

I had the pleasure yesterday in attending a lecture being held by the Friends of African and African American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The person of high esteem that graced us with his presence and presented us with his wisdom and life in the arts was Wadsworth Jarrell. His work spoke volumes in the 60's, 70's and 80's when he formed as a co-founder the Afro Cobra movement. A revolutionary African American art group that wanted to bring to the art world a presence and representation of an African American context and aesthetic. The bright colors and interwoven compositions are brilliant in his work. He spoke on his travels, his life and his amazing career. Once the lecture was finished I had the great opportunity of meeting with the man and talked to him about art, his life and his ideas. Within that hour or more of conversation he provided me with valuable information that will last a lifetime. Unknowingly, I found that he was also signing copies of a new published book which I purchased of course and got a personalized signed copy.


Throughout the evening I was able to sit next to the man and have great conversation with him and his brother in law, who is also an artist. Mr. Jarrell is a very down to earth man and is cool as hell. I have found a new friend and a better mentor.

Thank you for the opportunity Mr. Jarrell.

Dope Hip Hop video of Common and Pharrell. Check it.

THE ROOFTOP PAINTING

So I have been working on quite a few pieces as of late. This painting is a self portrait of me contemplating my city and showing my love for Detroit. I am still not finished with it because I am working from life on the rooftop and it is very tenuous. I have to go at the same time of the day every time I paint so the sun will create the same shadows. I believe this may be the hardest task that I have taken on in a while.

I also have to carry all my supplies to the rooftop up an escape ladder which is crazy but I will finish it soon. Keep on the lookout. If you dont know now you know!

Check it out, If you dont know now you know. This is a video to promote the childrens book i illustrated, "Mama Got Rhythm and Daddy Got Rhyme".

Go to your local bookstore and request the book if they do not have it already. Thank you people much love.

Here is the finish


Hello all, this is a piece that I am working on for the artprize competition in Grand Rapids. It is the first year of the competition and it is the worlds largest prize competition. People have been referring to it as an American Idol type of competition. First place is 250000 dollars and man that would be so lovely if it landed in my lap. You can check out the competition and my profile on artprize.org. Its a voting competition but the only thing is you have to be on location to register to vote, which sucks.

This piece that I am working on focuses on the lives and families of inner city people. The mother is in agany because she sees a police officer that is approaching her porch. I really wanted to leave it to the viewer to decide what has happened, so the policemen could be backing up from telling her some bad news. Essentially she has found out that her son has been killed and her brother , friend, husband, or cousin is holding her for comfort. The reason I have so many options for the man in the image is because everyones living conditions are different. She could be living in a home with alot of relatives and he is there for the news.

I will post the finish soon, be on the look out.

This is a painting I am currently working on its almost finished. It is a story from the bible about a concubine that gets ravished. When you read the story you will find that the owner of the home just surrenders his woman without even hesitating. It was a really fascinating story so I had to do a painting.

Judges 19:22

"While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him." Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly. Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. Please let me bring them out that you may ravish them and do to them whatever you wish. But do not commit such an act of folly against this man." But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them; and they raped her and abused her all night until morning, then let her go at approach of dawn. As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man's house where her master was, until full daylight.
When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold. He said to her, "Get up and let us go," but there was no answer. Then he placed her on the donkey; and the man arose and went to his home. When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel. All who saw it said, "Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel and speak up!"



So yeah the story really shows how men saw women as objects and things that were disposable.
The finished piece coming soon.

Ellen Kayrod Gallery

This is an annual invitational exhibit that features the work of artists of all ages who are active members of the Detroit art community. Participants in this year’s Intergenerational Community Exhibition are:

Christine Bossler, Barbara Dorchen, Jerome Ferretti, Ray Katz, Emily Linn, Nicole MacDonald, Mario Moore, Sabrina Nelson, SiouxTrujillo, and Anahli Vazquez. The artists range from the young and emerging to the established veterans, and their work includes body ornament, paintings, sculpture, installation, assemblage, collage, drawings and photography.

The show had a nice turn out and there were many people that came to the show who enjoyed my work. You know now its just a matter of getting my artwork beyond Michigan.

By the way the show is still up so go and check it out people, I believe it will remain up until November folks.

CHILDREN'S BOOK RELEASE

This is the cover for the new children's book that is being released on the 28th of June at the Ford center for performing arts in Dearborn. The author(Robin Morris) and I will be signing the books and a reading will also take place on this day. This was a laborious process for the children's book. So please come out and support me. The time for the signing is from 4-6pm, books will be available for sale.

The children's book is about an African American family in Harlem New York. The daughter of the parents ,Mama Rhythm and Daddy Rhyme, likes R&B but does not understand why here parents like jazz and blues. The parents take there daughter on a trip to the Jazz museum at Lincoln Center and the daughter falls in love with the music as she meets Dizzy, Duke and many other Jazz greats.

So this is the cover that i have been working on for an author in chicago who new book coming out is  "Know Thyself for success: Empowering African Americans through Self-Knowledge". I think this image will grab peoples attention what about you?

This is an old piece but i wanted to look back because i graduated from college on thursday. Yes i am an official CCS ALUMNI! CONGRADULATIONS TO ALL MY PEERS.

AQUARIUS PRESS  Books & News 10-Year Celebration: 1999-2009 www.aquariuspressbookseller.net   "Sneak Peek" from New Children's Book                            This gorgeous image is from the upcoming children's book by Robin Morris, Mama Got Rhythm and Daddy Got Rhyme.   Meet Author Robin Morris and Illustrator Mario Moore! Sunday, June 28, 2009 4-6 p.m. Ford Community & Performing Arts Center 15801 Michigan Avenue Dearborn, MI  48126   RSVP thru June 25 here AQUARIUS PRESS Featured at Ann Arbor Book Festival May 15-16   Aquarius Press Authors, and their most recent anthology, It's Worth the Struggle: Inspiration for Contemporary Authors, will be autographing copies of the book at the Ann Arbor Book Festival (see details below).    This anthology reveals the emotional ups and downs of writing, from fear of failure to haunting childhood traumas to the struggles of parenting as a working writer.   Other Aquarius Press titles will also be available. Owner Heather Buchanan will conduct a mystery writing workshop during the Writer's Conference Friday morning. Join Heather, Sharon Stanford and Desiree Cooper at the Breakfast with the Authors Saturday morning in the Michigan League. $20   ***SPECIAL EVENT--Detroit Free Press Columnist Desiree Cooper will sign copies after the Author's Breakfast Saturday morning.   FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND SCHEDULE, VISITwww.aabookfestival.org   Have You Seen This Yet?   Online Premiere for The Land of Silent Morning Video Trailer   On our YouTube Channel  $14.95 in Aquarius Press online store Order on Amazon.com In This Issue "Sneak Peek" Special Event Video Trailers/Web 2.0 News Member of IndieBound Independent Bookseller www.indiebound.org   Spring 2009 Catalog Click here     NEW! Video Book Trailer Production  for Authors & Self-Publishers    Promote your book in a powerful way. With a combination of images, music and a narrative script, book trailers reach a wider audience of readers. Just like movie trailers, video book trailers hook potential readers with a preview that makes people want to buy immediately. Take advantage of our introductory rates (1/3 the cost of BookSurge) and we also have installment payment plans. Let Aquarius Press take your ideas to the next level.www.aquariuspressbookseller.net Visit Our Blog Click here     Join our Mailing List! NEWS     Poets Antoinette Brim and Karen S. Williams have been nominated for the Shenandoah Poetry Prize.     UPCOMING APPEARANCES Thursday, April 30-- H. Buchanan, K. Williams, and Robin Morris at Discovery Arts & Tech Academy, Inkster, MI   Friday, May 8--H. Buchanan, K. Williams, and Felecia Studstill present "Daughters of the Great Migration" at the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, MSU, Lansing.   Saturday, May 16--Aquarius Press booth at Ann Arbor Book Festival, Ann Arbor, MI (details above)   Saturday, May 30--"Memoir Writing Workshop" with Kateleen K. Washington, Troy Public Library (Details TBA)    Friday, June 19 --"Self-Publishing as Entrepreneurship" After-Work Affair at International Bazaar, Detroit 5-8 p.m. (Details TBA)    Saturday, June 20--H. Buchanan, Dr. Roberta Wright at the 144th Juneteenth Celebration at the Charles H. Wright Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

So this is the publisher i am working with and a childrens book that i illustrated. It is coming out  in June, I meet with the publisher and author next week to finalize the design

So this is something i was working on for myself. I might sell it but then again i might not. I wanted to do my own presidential portrait of Barack Obama, I didn't want to have a theme with him conquering some historical task or jumble him up with Martin Luther King or other historical figures. I just wanted to paint and that's what i did, for those of you who do not know, the presidential portrait of Obama,the one commissioned by him and that is at the white house, is a photograph. Hey maybe i will bump into Obama one day.

Some things left Out

So this is something that didnt get published in the metrotimes i was featured in. I understand because it was not art related but i believe it is something people should know about Detroit's Finest.

"Tell me something weird, or share an interesting story about yourself?"

Ok so one adventurous Friday night in city of Detroit my uncle, my cousin, my uncles girl and I all went to Floods for my older cousin’s 30th birthday. Everything was cool until one of the gentlemen in the club kept staring quite hard at my uncles female friend and he would periodically approach her and say a couple of words and my uncle is the type of guy that doesn’t pay to much attention to his lady friends so I didn’t intervene he was having a good time with his cousin and aunty. The night progressed and we all had a few drinks and the lounge was about to close. Everyone was leaving and it was just the workers at the lounge, a few stragglers, my uncle, my two cousins, and the girl and like 9 guys. One of the guys was still talking to my uncle’s friend (I will refer to her as the girl from now on). So im ready to go and so is my cousin who is on the other side of the lounge at the door. My uncle is still talking while I get my coat on and I get ready to go but the girl is still in the chair as the dude talks to her. So I tell her and motion her to come on because we are leaving and she pays me no mind and then all the guys that were with the one that is talking to her surround the girl. In my head I think damn, shit is about to go down, so I call to her again and then motion her to come, then I walk in the middle of the 250 pound 6 foot crowd of guys and tell her to come on. She begins to yell at the dude in front of her and says f him and what not. I have to pause the story here because I need to tell you where the girl is from, she is from the south and knows nothing about Detroit guys and also doesn’t know when she should keep her mouth shut. So after I call her and that’s not working I grab her chin and turn it towards me and tell her to come on, so she snatches away from me and stands on the stool and cusses at the guy in front of her. Before she could get to into becoming a Detroit thug she gets clocked right in the face and the fight is on. Basically I get punched, my uncle gets jumped because he is in the army and he wanted to show off I suppose (keep in mind he is half the size of these dudes but he still holds his own) and my cousin seeing all the commotion and the 9 guys beating us down, mainly my uncle lol, comes over and gets hit in the head with a bottle. So we leave the club and the girl is in the car with my cousin who’s birthday it was and my uncle, my cousin, and me were in my uncle’s truck. So we jump on the freeway headed home and then my uncles realizes he has to go back to get his phone because he left it there. I come off the exit of Mack and 75 where the McDonalds is and turn left to get back on the freeway and then my uncle says we are being followed. My female cousin pulls up beside us and says the same thing and then out of nowhere we get flicked by the cops and the car that was following us pulls off. We pull over on the first side street and there are 3 Detroit police patrol cars and 2 state police sheriff vehicles. So the cops get out and approach our truck, they are mad as hell, guns blazing at the truck. I am in the driver seat, my cousin is riding passenger and my uncle is in the back. There are like 4 cops on my side and 3 on the other side, one cop comes to me and points the gun at my head and tells me to unlock the doors and roll down the windows and put my hands out the window at the same time. So I calmly say this is not my truck and I don’t know how to operate most of the stuff, because I don’t want to end up on the news with my brains splattered everywhere, so he continues to yell at me as I manage to roll down a window or two. They continue to say the want the guy in the back with the white jacket on. My uncle opens the door and has his hands in the air as they tell him to get out, my uncle says to the officer over and over again that he is military and he is getting his id. The cop doesn’t care and says “I don’t give a fuck if you’re military”. They drag him out from the other side and my uncle says he is not resisting arrest as an un-uniformed officer punches him in the face. So then I get handcuffed and taken to the front of the patrol car and I’m asking what we are being pulled over for, he says someone called and stated we had a gun at the bar. My cousin is still in the passenger seat as he yells at the cop without a uniform and names drops some head of the police force so he doesn’t get cuffed. He then ask the officer his badge number and name and the officer says, “I aint no cop”. So as I talk to the officer standing in front of me they bring my uncle over and slam his head on the patrol car and I manage to explain everything to the officer or rather they should be explaining and he understands that they were dead wrong. The last thing they say to my uncle before we get in the car is “thank you for serving our country”. You better believe there is a painting coming about this!

METRO TIMES FEATURE OF SIX YOUNG ARTIST, look inside it

So this is a great Article about six young artist in the Detroit area and yours truly is one of those six. Check it out http://www.metrotimes.com/arts/story.asp?id=13847

SOMERSET MALL WHERE THE PLAYAS BALL!!!

This is for the somerset mall here in troy, michigan. Its another competition for the illustration department. I wanted to use the old Hudson's shopping department store as the iconic building for  somerset mall to look to. It is the past looking at the present and the present looking back

Ok Folks this is for the Detroit Zoo competition, Good luck to me. The Illustration department was hectic trying to get these things finished

SOME ART FROM THE HEART!!!

This is some older work, I'm new to the Blog game so i decided to begin, well from the beginning.