Saturday, July 10, 2010

Most Current Community Poll Results


What are your favorite art styles?

  1. Abstract: 13 (44%)
  2. Cubism: 1 (3%)
  3. Expressionism: 3 (10%)
  4. Impressionism: 1 (3%)
  5. Pop Art: 3 (10%)
  6. Realism: 9 (30%)
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*Illustrated to show personal preferences of art collectors and others interested in artwork.

2 Inspirational Slave Songs:

"I’VE BEEN ‘BUKED AND I’VE BEEN SCORNED"

I’ve been ‘buked an’ I’ve been scorned, children
I’ve been ‘buked an’ I’ve been scorned
I’ve been talked about, sho’s you’re born

Dere is trouble all over dis world
Children, dere is trouble all over dis world

Ain’t gwine to lay my ‘ligion down

Children, ain’t gwine to lay my ‘ligion down


"NO MORE AUCTION BLOCK FOR ME"

No more auction block for me
No more, no more
No more auction block for me
Many thousand gone

No more peck of corn for me…

No more driver’s lash for me…

No more pint of salt for me…

No more hundred lash for me…

No more mistress’ call for me...


*Both songs came from the cite below:
http://www.negrospirituals.com/song.htm

Friday, July 9, 2010

SON OF FREEDOM!





ARTIST: Aaron F. Henderson
MEDIUM: Gouache on Paper
DIMENSIONS: 22"x30"
PRICE: $2000

For inquiries or payment options, contact us by phone at 404.964.4891 or email us at sales@premierart.net.


Aaron is a narrative artist whose works are often inspired by historical accounts or original stories.

NARRATIVE


This series is based on the legend of Ganga Zumbi, which occurred during the Transatlantic slave trade. Ganga Zumbi was the general of Queen Nzinga's army in Angola. Queen Nzinga fought for many years to prevent the Portuguese from overtaking her nation. As the Portuguese fought they began to make headway and started capturing some of the Angolan people. Legend states that the Queen told Ganga Zumbi to allow himself to be captured and enslaved, so that he could free his fellow country men. He followed orders and began to free the captured. They slowly built their own army in the jungles of Brazil. They built communities in the rain forest and the warriors painted their faces to ward off their enemies. The faces in this series are tribute to Ganga Zumbi and his army. It is said that Ganga Zumbi was never captured and to this day is freeing oppressed people around the world.

--Aaron F. Henderson

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

My Mind Stayed On Freedom

The extensive use of spirituals in the struggle for freedom during slavery left a deep imprint in the cultural memory of African Americans and their allies. It is therefore not surprising that during the 1960s and 70s, many of the freedom songs sung by the multi-racial cadre of Civil Rights workers were essentially new versions of old slave spirituals with updated lyrics that expressed the specific needs of the Civil Rights Movement.

The historian/activist/singer Bernice Johnson Reagon recalls the way in which singing evolved as an important tool during the Civil Rights Movement:

"Most of the singing of the civil rights movement was congregational; it was sung unrehearsed in the tradition of the Afro-American folk church . . . The core song repertoire was formed from the reservoir of Afro-American traditional song performed in the older style of singing. This music base was expanded to include most of the popular Afro-American music forms and singing techniques of the period. From this reservoir, activist song leaders made a new music for a changed time. Lyrics were transformed, traditional melodies were adapted and procedures associated with old forms were blended with new forms to create freedom songs capable of expressing the force and intent of the movement"

With this kind of inspiration, Aaron F. Henderson and other artists began creating artwork pieces that express this past time and their culture.

Provided is a link with a sample slave song.

http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/Freedom/civil.cfm


Saturday, July 3, 2010

Corporate Sponsorship!


Currently, Premier Art LLC. is looking out to local Atlanta businesses for Sponsorship!

This financial aid goes toward helping the company in means of framing the artists pieces, paying for exhibits and appearances, as well as materials including brushes and paint.

These things surely do not come by as inexpensive and the offering would mean a great deal to Premier Art LLC. If you are interested or know someone that is interested, please do not hesitate to contact Onaje Henderson at
onajehenderson@gmail.com. Also, in the subject box please put "Corporate Sponsorship".

Thank You!


Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Featured Premier Art Artist- Reginald Laurent!


For years, self-taught artist Reginald Laurent avoided developing a signature style out of concern that doing so would hamper continued exploration of his abilities. However, when one of his paintings won third-place in a juried exhibition, Laurent realized that a signature style – abstract art – had asserted itself.

Drawing on his knowledge of fine and modern art, Laurent creates large, colorful, and detailed works that he describes as “visual smorgasbords,” ranging from “feasts of color and movement” to “simplistic images that convey a universal vibe.”

A Chicago native now living in Atlanta, Laurent especially likes creating abstract art because the genre allows him to reveal a side of himself that, “is not gauged by my race,” adding that, “If viewers like the art, then what difference does my color make?” Laurent acknowledges his artistic ability as God-given, saying that, “At times, I merely hold the brush.”.


Collectors of Laurent’s work include Ambassador Andrew Young; Bishop Eddie L. Long, Pastor, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; and Mike Glenn, Commissioner, World Basketball Association.