This guy sounds so cool! I wonder if he's ever posted here. I sent him an email to invite him to JWN.
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/95809/
Artist Jess Black, known for his abstract expressionism and more recently his international PETA campaign, will release a new collection of work that explores the oppression he experienced as a Jehovah's Witness during his childhood. This collection is about his personal truth.
The collection will tackle issues taught within the religion that include the end of the world, sexual freedom, medical care and disfellowshipping. Black states that while the idea of the collection has already angered people, it is about his own personal truth, not about anyone else's. He explains,"I'm not suggesting that all of my experiences were bad. I am not placing judgment on how anyone is living their life. This is about my truth, my experience. But here they are judging me. I think that is telling. I refuse to edit my life anymore. I think I am a good person and I refuse to apologize because they think otherwise."
Black is coming off of a successful show in Beverly Hills, CA at the David W. Streets Gallery and is looking forward to painting this new collection. He explains,"Traditionally I have painted for myself but I try to be cognizant of what collectors like, what they want. This time every single painting will be just for me. I hope that honesty will come through and resonate with collectors." The entire collection will be rendered throughout the summer with a venue announcement this Fall.
Bold mine.
Before a single piece of art was created, Jess knew what this art collection would be called. He stated,"Whenever we would get new bibles we were asked if we wanted it leather bound in black or red?" The collection will be titled,"Leather Bound in Black or Red"
Black (JessBlackart.com) was raised in Des Moines, IA and was known as a prodigy for his mural work as a young teenager. At age 17 Jess moved to New York where he modeled and pursued a music career. He continued to paint for a growing list of private clients. After almost 10 years Black moved to California and has made art his passion and his career. In late 2010, Black was named an emerging artist and one to watch in 2011 by a juried panel of University professors.
