defining a black aesthetic: what makes black art black?

Defining A Black Aesthetic

What Makes Black Art Black?

2:19 17:19

My Favorite Things as created

My Favorite Things by a creator

Hard Knock Life as Created

Hard Knock Life by a Creator

2:39 3:58

As with everything, we begin with the Spirit

We start with the belief that God is the creator of everything

And by everything that means us

and by us, we mean everybody

As God is multi-dimensional, each of God’s people sought and found their own pathway on God’s earth

Cultural Worldviews

African American

Hispanic: FATEEuro-American: DOMINION

Asian American: HARMONY

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This is the tale of God’s people from the African Diaspora and the pathway they took and the art they have created along the way…

As with everything, we begin with the Spirit

2 things of the Spirit we believe inrhythm

Is substancecreativityis process

We are rhythmic

The many are oneCircadian RhythmUltradian RhythmsCellular RhythmsBiorhythmsBrain Waves: beta, alpha, theta, deltaParasympatheticSympathetic Nervous Systems

Our combined rhythmic patterns are the reality and metaphor of our uniqueness: our soul

And together we are a polyrhythmic, soulful people

From cradle to grave, we, God’s creation, have the inalienable duty from God to celebrate our creation by being creators ourselves

Creativity is our individual birth right and finding pathways to express our unique rhythm is our way of glorifying God

Creativity is the spiritual expression of our rhythmic uniqueness

The essence of Black Culture

1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are – the soul of your rhythm -- to God

The structure of Black Creativity

As August Wilson said: You have to find your song and sing it

Whatever creative pathway you embrace, you must master its tools so that you can fully express God’s glory in whatever way you are moved to do so

2. As you are always evolving your product must also

1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are to God

The structure of Black Creativity

Improvisation is one’s uniquely ever-evolving rhythmic style

The Result: A Lifetime of Defining One’s Self-image through Stylistic Improvisations

3. Your creativity connects you with other creators that God has created

2. As you are always evolving your product must also

1. Your creativity is about expressing who you are to God

The structure of Black Creativity

With Black Art, everyone is simultaneously audience and artists…we are ALL creators and observers of God’s Glory

Expressing God’s glory each in our rhythm is a circle of Love

The highest expression of Black Creativity is God’s Glory and that soulful prayer is Love

Cultural Worldviews

AA: CREATORS

Hispanic: FATEEuro-American: DOMINION

Asian American: HARMONY

The use of the Black Cultural Toolbox for creative expression

The definition of Black Art

Black Art Pillars

Black Cultural Toolbox Story-telling, Uplift

versus The Real (the good, the bad and the ugly of life), Juxtaposition of Forms, Rhythm, Improvisation…

Double Consciousness, Right Now, Early Adopters, Relativity, Community is family, Communal-Individual Expression, Naturalism, Celebration Always, Social Science, Mind-Body Connection, Emotional Embrace…

And what about technology? How does it fit in?

The technology for creative expression is ever-evolving but what has remained the same in Black Art is the felt-need to be expressive

The Digital Century is tailor-made for the Black Creative POV of audience as artist: It is Black Arts on Steroids

A Black Artist’s American Dilemma

Serving Two Masters: The Spirit or Manna