Tuesday, July 10, 2012

BIO / artist statement

Bio:


my flesh is California

my roots grow upward from Texas

and Louisiana

Barbados

Ireland

Germany

my spirit vibrates

in African frequencies

been professin’ painter fifteen years

Shona style stone sculptor

ten years

visual

artist

lifelong

prefer candlelight

over incandescent or florescent

running into my people on the street

over driving

and smoking over drinking

first art instructors:

Uncle Butch

Grand Daddy Early

Pops’ photography

Isley Brothers

Mama’s craftwork

long black cadillacs

and panthers

afros

Chuck D.

reached into my ears

and opened my eyes

El Haj Malik El Shabaz

modeled clear conviction

Picasso

Mondrian

Gladys Knight

the whole Harlem Renaissance Movement

moves me

Basquiat

Curtis Mayfield

NWA

Village Bottoms massive

our collective

I paid academy of art college

to instruct their instructors

was humbled and blessed

with careful guidance

at Laney college

made family by Nicolas Mukomberanwa

at home in Africa

still a nigga

to galleries and police

at home

in america

my art speaks

these experiences

intending to be

beautiful and attractive

harsh and cold

rich textured

smooth and refined

hot like fire

coexisting

within one body of work

with many varied chapters

visual music

soul stirring imagery

raw-ass mindfunk

blackstrap molasses

straight to the bloodstream

I been called on

to do this

by ancestors

forever

and I

will

not

stop

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