Since 1970 The Black Creativity Juried Art Show has spotlighted, the heritage and contributions of African Americans in the arts from Chicago and around the country. I’m happy to have some work featured in it. Last time I did it it was like 1998. I was a sophomore at SAIC and I was just starting to take music more seriously and embarking on making my first solo album with pianist/producer Kenny keyz. My mom helped submit my work to the WGCI Black Art Calendar. This was a big deal as it had established artists and Poets (like Malik Usef, Robert Earl Paige) with newbies like myself and Damon Lamar Reed.
A perk of being in it was you also got to show your work at the Museum of Science and Industry during the Black Creativity Juried Art Show. So, I was more than honored to be selected to be in the show this year after submitting my art for the first time to the national call for artists. This year’s show has some pieces. Come see it for yourself and bring someone with you to the @msichicago Thank you NBC’s @leeanntrotter, Rolling Out, The Defender, Hyde Park Herald and all the other outlets that stopped by to cover the show and feature my art.
My painting in the show is called "Meet me at Dr. Wax" , a dearly missed record store that was in Harpers court in Hyde Park. It was instrumental in championing a lot of our music and showing us how to make a living selling our albums as young rappers and producers. The painting is also commenting on the simplicity of life in the early 90s, as you see the two people waiting for a friend in front of the store. No cellphones so you have to have a Walkman, magazine or make new friends to pass the time as you wait. Thinking back on meeting up with my friends sometimes 15 minutes late or the worst an hour in a half lol.
This painting is also the cover for my last album Mookie on the Southside available on vinyl and streaming.
Comentarios