Our Tribute To US...

Jonathan Green

is considered by many art critics and reviewers to be one of the most important painters of the Southern experience. Green’s work, which has been exhibited at major national and international venues, reflects a deep sense of history and place.

A mature artist in his forties, he has been noted in hundreds of art reviews and publications, perhaps the most noteworthy inGullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green, by the University of South Carolina Press. Like other master artists such as Edward Hopper, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Jacob Lawrence, Jonathan Green captures and records an essential part of American culture.

 Born and raised in Gardens Corner, a rural community not far from Beaufort, Green attended Huspah Baptist Church, a reincarnation of the Tabernacle Church founded by Robert Smalls. From an early age, he was made aware of history and celebrated his cultural inheritance, he said:

“In the Windy City, where he attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he became active in politics, then disenchanted by the city’s political turmoil, he said. Still, it left him with a clear notion that art must take politics into account.

After 10 years living in Chicago and more than two decades in Naples, Fla., Green is coming home to the Lowcountry.

The artist, widely known for his use of intense colors and emotional explorations of Gullah culture, will take up residence on Daniel Island by the end of July, he said: 

 ”The move is partly a consequence of a restless artistic temperament. I’m returning to Charleston because I think I’ve done enough in Naples as an artist and resident,” he said. “I have to move around a little bit … to gain experience and knowledge.”

Green, whose work has been featured at the Gibbes Museum and other institutions, is an art activist, promoting the idea that art education should be an intrinsic component of any school curriculum.

“People just don’t understand the importance of the arts,” Green said.

“Black culture in particular is poorly represented in the world of visual arts, yet exposure to painting, a universal language everyone can understand, is a critical way to learn about identity, faith, history and contributions to society, he said.

“We focus strongly on everybody else’s culture,” he said, adding that it’s time to do a better job presenting black culture.

That’s What I’m talking about! (whb2)

Starry Night

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890)

The erratic behavior, cutting off a part of his own ear, the whole falling in love with his cousin thing, you’ve heard it all before. The kat was crazy right? 

There is a very thin line that separates genius from insanity, Vincent tiptoed right on the edge of that line. He was troubled, a tormented soul for sure, anti social no doubt, sickly and misunderstood his whole life, but crazy…

Let’s start with his ear, there is some evidence that his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin cut Vincent’s ear with a sword during a fight they had while living in france. After the fight Vincent was hospitalized for the injury to his ear. When he recovered he went back home but complained about suffering from hallucinations. 

The medical profession in the 1800’s was primitive compared to what we have now, his doctors diagnosed him as crazy and he was admitted to a asylum for a year. Where he painted the painting you are looking at now. A few months after his release Vincent took his own life.

Crazy is the label that follows him to this day.

Now it is believed that Vincent Van Gogh suffered from acute interstitial pneumonia or AIP syndrome. 

He painted some of the most famous paintings of our time. Starry Night they say is worth over 100 Million dollars, yet Vincent lived in poverty. He sold but one painting while he was alive.

His greatness was not recognized until after he had died.

Peace Vincent

WHB2

Salvador Dali

M.C. Escher

Julian Beever

Julian Beever