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.