Who am I? What am I doing here? And what does it mean to be an artist? All of these are relatively lofty questions, but not impossible to answer. In a fit of madness, or genius, we will often look to the forebears for guidance, only to experience what can best be described as a creative moment of clarity. The good thing is that such an epiphany doesn't require reading, or sobriety. The illustrious Washington Post, in conjunction with its yearlong series, Being a Black Man, has conducted a handful of video interviews with prominent Black men in the Baltimore/D.C. area. Of the creative stripe, we have Go-Go master Chuck Brown, and artist and educator David Driskell.
Driskell, a distinguished professor emeritus from the University Of Maryland Department Of Art, is also probably just as well known for his role as the personal art consultant for Bill and Camille Cosby, which is well-documented in the book The Other Side of Color. Although brief, Driskell's reflections are succinct. He touches on all of the exposure integral to his artistic development, his role as an educator, and the nature of the beast that we call Black art.
So, if it is enlightenment that you seek, or validation of the path that you're on, you need look no further than Dr. Driskell. But don't take our word for it see for yourself.
