James Brown, Jr.
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Mercury Retrograde Series# 7
We Wear the Mask, Silk fabric, Silk paints,textile and fabric markers and pens, 44 x 36.25 in., 2015
$10,000
We Wear the Mask, Silk fabric, Silk paints,textile and fabric markers and pens, 44 x 36.25 in., 2015
$10,000
"The uses of strips reflect a heritage of textile making throughout African Diaspora."s
About The Artist
Artist Statement
I created this series from my original works of hand painted silks. Each image, design,icon and symbol is cut into strips. The uses of strips reflect a heritage of textile making throughout African Diaspora.The name of this series is Mercury Retrograde. Planet Mercury is the ruler of our mind, intelligence, memory and all types of communication. Retrograde is a pause in the movement of the planet causing a time period to reflect. The main mission of this series was to complete things unfinished.Merging thirty plus strips stitched together forming a picture plane of dynamic energy. This energy did not allow the eyes or mind to focus. It was over stimulating the sense. This disturbance in the creative process was resolved. Textile fabric color markers and
pens were layered on top of the original silk paintings as needed.Carnival/ masquerading comes alive when accompanied by music and dance. Transforming into its spiritual and social energy forces to heal, to educate, to help, and entertain the community. I’m using the Yoruba philosophy/cosmology as a role model.
As an artist I celebrate Carnival as designer of this facial mask, full costume or a large float.
Bio
Born in Harlem in 1939.
1958, Brown’s art education began at the Art Students League then School of Visuals during the 1960’s; 1984, BA in Fine Arts University of South Florida; 1987,MFA, Howard University.Brown’s creative process changed drastically after his MFA experience, from watercolors to textile /fibers. Both of his parents worked with textiles from upholstery fabrics to lace and silks. Brown uses techniques of stitching; embroidery, silk painting, appliquéing strips and felting; both wet and needle. Brown’s textiles have exhibited at the Annual Smithsonian Institution’s Folk Life Festival, Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum, The Arts Club of Washington, Traveling exhibition “Through the Needle’s Eye” Embroiderer’s Guild of America, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, Corcoran Gallery of Art. 2012-2013 Brown was selected as one of ten Washington, DC artists to participate in ArtCart: Saving the Legacy project of the Research Center for the Arts & Culture, Center for Creative Aging.
I created this series from my original works of hand painted silks. Each image, design,icon and symbol is cut into strips. The uses of strips reflect a heritage of textile making throughout African Diaspora.The name of this series is Mercury Retrograde. Planet Mercury is the ruler of our mind, intelligence, memory and all types of communication. Retrograde is a pause in the movement of the planet causing a time period to reflect. The main mission of this series was to complete things unfinished.Merging thirty plus strips stitched together forming a picture plane of dynamic energy. This energy did not allow the eyes or mind to focus. It was over stimulating the sense. This disturbance in the creative process was resolved. Textile fabric color markers and
pens were layered on top of the original silk paintings as needed.Carnival/ masquerading comes alive when accompanied by music and dance. Transforming into its spiritual and social energy forces to heal, to educate, to help, and entertain the community. I’m using the Yoruba philosophy/cosmology as a role model.
As an artist I celebrate Carnival as designer of this facial mask, full costume or a large float.
Bio
Born in Harlem in 1939.
1958, Brown’s art education began at the Art Students League then School of Visuals during the 1960’s; 1984, BA in Fine Arts University of South Florida; 1987,MFA, Howard University.Brown’s creative process changed drastically after his MFA experience, from watercolors to textile /fibers. Both of his parents worked with textiles from upholstery fabrics to lace and silks. Brown uses techniques of stitching; embroidery, silk painting, appliquéing strips and felting; both wet and needle. Brown’s textiles have exhibited at the Annual Smithsonian Institution’s Folk Life Festival, Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum, The Arts Club of Washington, Traveling exhibition “Through the Needle’s Eye” Embroiderer’s Guild of America, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, Corcoran Gallery of Art. 2012-2013 Brown was selected as one of ten Washington, DC artists to participate in ArtCart: Saving the Legacy project of the Research Center for the Arts & Culture, Center for Creative Aging.