Black Art: In the Absence of Light- Trailer
Hey, this doc inspired me today to draw like I haven’t in a long time. If you haven’t seen it, check it out!!
Te gusto? Check out my last inspiration board
Black artists Tag
10 Years of Revision Path!!!!
Ey, we gotta give big props and credit to Maurice Cherry who has spent the last decade researching, contacting, featuring, interviewing Black designers and artists. I started listening to the show off and on when my friend Qa’id Jacobs was a featured guest(2016). I knew Qa’id from Brooklyn and was astonished at the time to see a podcast dedicated to Black artists and designers like this. It did NOT exist back then. But folks Like Andrea Pippins, John Jennings, Kimberly Bryant, Goldi Gold, Craig Brimm, Gabriele Smith, and Dawn Okoro were working HARD even back then.
If you’re interested in architecture, graphic design, illustration, UI UX, etc go to the website and listen to some of these episodes. LINK
Listen to this episode about the history of Revision Path where he breaks down some of the hardships he’s faced over the years and some of the triumphs. Thank god he has kept it going!
Thank you Maurice!!! Who himself is a great designer. This is his company.
Dig this? Check out Black Work Talk podcast or these Business Podcasts
Inspiring Artist – Bisa Butler (born 1973)
Bisa Butler!! The first time I heard of this artist was through MC Black Thought on his interview series last year when the pandemic started. I had been seeing her incredible work and thought it was oil or acrylic when I saw it. Come to find out she sews and collages these incredible images together. Wow, so dope. Doesn’t matter what your discipline is, just peep her work and support because she’s a living artist who is still pretty young.
Yo, if you’re new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Again go to her site and check her out.
I love this woman’s work and if you didn’t catch the last inspiring artists check them out:
Inspiring Artist – James Van Der Zee
One of the coolest things about the library, the bookstore, record store, or just stepping out into life is the happy mistakes. It’s when you find someone or something that you didn’t intend to find. Case in point, I was searching for one book the day I found another; the Book of the Dead by James Van Der Zee (1886-1983). I’m not going to go into the full history of the incredible photographer but you can look up videos or books about him. He took some amazing and haunting photos of soldiers, weddings, musicians, dancers, his city of Harlem, and the dead. Check out some of the photos I can find on a search. I still have 1 or 2 of his images in a sketchbook of mine from 15 or 20 years ago.
Inspiring Artist: This is a way for me to share some of the artists who inspire me both dead and alive. Check out their work.
The last artist I mentioned was Alberto Mielgo (Nsfw).
If you like photographers check out Jamel Shabazz or some photos of my daughter by Kristen Murakoshi
Black is Beautiful 2021 – Little Richard
There have been so many articles written about this brother recently that I’m not sure I can add much historical value. So I’ll start with the first time I saw him. It was in a film called “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” which I watched with my Grandmother Doris. In the film he yelled at the police and his white neighbor about unequal treatment and in real life Black artists deserve more.
Little did I know this man had been making music since my Grandparents were teens being that they were born around the same time. Born in 1932 in Macon Georgia, Richard was one of twelve children. He learned to play in the church like so many Black musicians. The hollering Pentecostal church believed in worship through music and speaking in tongues. He began making hits in the mid 50s before anyone was making Rock.
He is the king of “Rock N Roll”. In his career he released over 24 albums, acted in over 30 films and TV shows, and he’s featured in over 200 TV and films soundtracks. He has been inducted into the Blues, Rock n Roll, Apollo, and the Naacp hall of fame. He toured the US through the chitlin circuit and across Europe. He aided, helped, and birthed artists like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Preston, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Elvis, Pat Boone, Jerry Lee Lewis, and more. His style pioneered a whole new genre of music which young people are STILL enamored with today. His style was unapologetically fly, queer, and gender blending.
If we love Black artists like Janelle, Thug, Andre, and Frank for doing their thing and living their true selves, we have to look back and view the life and career of Little Richard. Blues, Rock, Gospel, and I am grateful for him.
Sources: Wikipedia, Arsenio Hall, American Bandstand, The Guardian, Imdb
Did you catch the painting of Sister Rosetta Tharpe?
Or the last one from 2021-Willy T Ribbs
Black is Beautiful 2021 – Phase2
Rest in peace to the legendary artist known as Phase2. Lenny Wood aka Phase2 was born in 1958 and grew up in the Bronx, NY. He started drawing as a kid and would enter the world of Writing or “Graffiti” as some know in 1971 around the birth of hip hop culture. Writing has so many pioneers but Phase is known for developing the “bubble letters” style so many have grown to love. Starting first on paper, then walls, then trains Phase2’s also developed and was one of the great pioneers of “wild style” lettering. His work has influenced writers in the millions all over the country and across the world. For that alone he is a King. But there’s more.
Phase is one of the graphic artists alongside artists such as Buddy Esquire and Eddie Ed to literally design hip hop’s early flyer style and aesthetic. His designs using starts, symmetry, and geometrical shapes are still being used today. He created one of the first Graffiti zines called International Graffiti Times in the late 80s. He had a major role as did so many writers in the early design of hip hop logos and albums as well as flyers. Add to that , he went beyond visuals and rhymed, danced, and DJed under many names. Check out his record “The Roxy”. Shout out to his crews UGA-“United Graffiti Artists” and “Electrified Movement”.
I first came across his work in the film Beat Street and so many graff magazines and books. Automatically you could see his thinking was light years beyond most. And his name Phase2 alluded to “the next step” or constant growth. He’s said to be influenced by Romare Bearden, Jack Kirby, and countless writers such as LEE 163. Do yourself a favor and check out AIGA’s “Eyes on Design” interview with him by Jerome Harris, the book “Yes Yes Y’all”, and i’m sure i’m missing some info. Please feel free to comment with further research for budding artists to follow. Writing or Graffiti Art was pioneered by Black and Brown artists from Philly and NYC.
Sources: Throw it Up, Video Graf, The Source, Museum of Graffiti.com, AIGA
In case you missed the last Black is Beautiful piece, here are a few:
Video: Sketchbook tour 1
Wow, I’ve been “thinking” of making a sketchbook tour video for a minute, bout time I did one. Check it out. You use sketchbooks? Holler at me, I’d love to see.
Here’s a collage of characters from last year:
Inspiring Artist – Paul Davey (Mattahan)
Paul Davey is one of my favorite artists. He paints and draws digitally mostly. And he captures young Black women exquisitely! I don’t know much about him except, that he is super talented. You can check out more of his work here: http://www.mattahan.com/
Have you ever seen the work of Syd Mead (RIP) ?
Who is She? 27 – Kara Walker
Kara was born in Stockton California in 1969. She grew up there until she went to college at Atlanta College or Art, and later Rhode Island School of Design. She is currently a professor at Columbia in NYC. The first time I saw Kara’s work was at Parsons in New York City while finishing up my BFA there. Her piece “event horizon” caught my eye and it wasn’t until I was taken on a tour of art galleries in Chelsea that I saw an entire show of her work. There I was blown away because I’d never seen someone do art like that. I kept wondering how the hell she got these uppity art folks to let her get down like that, speaking on racism and the treatment of Black folks in such a in your face, no apologies, satirical way. Kara has worked as a painter, but she’s best known for the paper cut outs she’s done. Most recently, her show “Domio Sugar” had hella people I know posting about its use of similar subject matter and the scale to which she took the sculptures. She’s had over 40 solo exhibitions in places like Oakland, Austria, The UK, Spain, Italy, and so many other places across the U.S.
You can purchase this piece. Email me at info@robdontstop.com 8″x8″ mixed media on paper
Sources: Art 21, Wikipedia, WalkerArt.org
Blacks in the Arts- Blog Feature
Go here to read the interview
Please go check out “Blacks in the Arts” a project/blog of two Howard students working in film. The blog is starting out and has interviews and profiles of black artists working in various mediums. I’m honored to be a featured guest there.