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The Black Arts: And Now For a Word From …. You
JacksonBlazer writes, "By Jon Hart I’ve been talking at you for a few months now and I figure you might want to talk back at me. What I would like to talk with you about this month is your favorite arts achievement by an African American. This achievement can be in any part of the arts: music, painting, sculpture, film, literature, comic books…whatever. I’m extremely interested to know what value art has had in your life. "
Now there are some simple rules for your submission. What I need to know from you are the following: what you have chosen (I’ll need the title and the artist), why you have chosen it, and an excerpt or description of your favorite African American art achievement. Then, I need you to email your selection to theblazernews@yahoo.com (please write art choice in the subject line) or, if you don’t have a computer, mail them to Jon Hart c/o of Jackson Blazer, PO Box 806, Jackson, MI 49204. Please state in your email or letter that it is alright to publish your selection. Include your whole name and a phone number or email where you can be contacted. Some entries may need to be edited to fit for space or for any technical changes. Entries need to be received by June 27, 2008. I will publish as many entries as possible. I will go on a first received and complete basis. If you get yours in first and it meets all the requirements herein described, expect to see your choice in the paper. To play fair, I’ll put my favorite entry first so everyone can see what I’m talking about. My favorite African American art achievement is by the painter Jacob Lawrence. Lawrence painted several different painting series during his life. Each series detailed historical events or his personal philosophies. My favorite of the series is his John Brown series. Lawrence’s colorful and simple style accentuates the stark story of Brown’s push to end slavery by any bloody means necessary. While Lawrence’s interpretation of Brown’s story is a bit heavy handed, the paintings deliver a harrowing message of martyrdom and resistance. When I was in college, I loved to look in the art books at this stuff and read about Lawrence’s philosophy of painting. I discovered about five years ago that Michigan’s own Detroit Institute of Arts has the paintings in their collection. They are rotating the series three paintings at a time to preserve their fragile state. I’ve seen them many times in person now and I never tire of their powerful images. A last word, your description doesn’t have to be as long or wordy as mine. It just needs to tell the importance of the work to your life. I look forward to reading and publishing your selections. Check me out on Jacksonpop.com where I’m doing a local music forum. Just surf over to Jacksonpop.com and choose blogs from the top menu. Once you’re there, select By Local and you’ll be able to read mine and some of my guests’ take on Jackson’s local music scene.
Posted on Jun 23, 2008 15:43pm. (Return)