~EMORY DOUGLAS . . The Art of the Black Panthers
always remember: ‘REVOLUTIONARY’ does NOT mean . . . terrorist.
witness our world after 9/11: terrorist equals . . FASCIST, BRUTALLY REPRESSIVE, HYPER-VIOLENT & the very anti-thesis of . . freedom, liberty, speech, art & LIFE !!
at least, that’s my take away – from the new Black Panther documentary.
my other take away – was the discovery of this artist: EMORY DOUGLAS.
I had seen his work, but wasn’t aware of the total story – Minister of Culture for the BPP, the Black Panther Party from 1967 thru 80s – his art defined a generation & then took off and became global symbols for freedom.
there is a wonderful, vivid, and profoundly informative video clip on Mr. Douglas, his historical take on the Black Panthers – and the times they rose up from, his own involvement, as well personal first person background about his art-making.
WATCH: EMORY DOUGLAS: The Art of the Black Panthers . . on VIMEO
this video was produced & directed by . . DRESS CODE out of NYC.
dresscodeny.com
@dressscodeny
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
EMORY DOUGLAS . . is still very much around, and his work is being exhibited globally.
I’d like to see another exhibit – in NYC.
super talented, super articulate, and for all appearances well-grounded & easy going . . but very, very focused, his oral history of the BBP movement, and his own work – this video clip is a gift. to us all, and it’s al the more remarkable by its non-strident tone & the first person narration.
oral history: priceless.
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
his first formal foray into ‘art’ – was in a school print shop & the format of woodblock prints – made a lasting impression.
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
his early depiction of cops . . as PIGS standing on 2 feet – went on to transcend the Black Panther Party & became a universal symbol for the abuse of power.
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
his use of markers to ‘mimic’ the heavy black outlines of woodblock printing – reminded me of the very popular use of makers, ink pens, and Sharpies – today. esp among ‘sticker’ & cartoon artists. and illustrators and legions of graphic artists in general . . across the board. this is where art is today, in every sense Mr. Emory is a very much . . living artist.
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
his words – are just as stirring as his art.
he says: art is a LANGUAGE – and that’s why it’s so POWERFUL.
image: EMORY DOUGLAS – DRESS CODE VIMEO
sticker art – or what ?!!!!!!!!!
art – as COMMUNICATION.