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
.
WAXIN GRIEF handcarved stone sculpture
art collectors. culture makers. people who love themselves.
CELLPHONECULTURE
burn hollywood, burn, i smell a riot goin on, first they guilty, now they gone... yea, i'll check out a movie, but it'll take a Black one to move me!
at somebody elses house...
2000 seasons. the healers. wild seed. invisible man. matigari. the 48 laws of power.
Doris Jean Rae, Early Crudupt, Russell Albans, Elanor Albans, Nikolas Mukomberanwa, Mama, Pops, Uncle Butch, Uncle Harrold, Auntie Barbara, Auntie Pauline, Uncle Harreld, Uncle Melvin, Uncle Fred, Carolyn, Ahsabi, Indigo, Fela