08.13.2011 Adia's Angel is a painting that is dedicated to my soon-to-be-born second daughter, Adia-Rose, who is due in November. I painted a guardian angel for her as I did for her older sister when we were expecting her. Adia's Angel is one of the paintings hanging in the windows of Grand Street Community Arts for the Boarded Up program. If you're in the Albany area come out to GSCA on Friday, September 2 for the fourth annual Boarded Up Exhibit and Auction. GSCA is located at 68 Grand Street, Albany, NY.	Adia's Angel (Protect Our Roses) 21x37 Paint on Plywood
06.20.2011 TAYLOR MURAL PREVIEW: In 2010 the folks at Troy Alley Action and the tenants association of Troy's Taylor Apartments asked me to design a mural and assist members of the community in painting it. During the winter students from Troy's School 1 after school program got very involved. Assisted by their incredible history teacher, Rita Cao-Garcia, they contributed words and ideas which would become vital parts of the mural. Last Friday we had an amazing day of painting. The energy that the kids brought to the mural helped take it to the next level. I'm happy to say that the mural is almost finished. I will post photos of the entire wall (which is at least 100 feet long) when it's finished, but for now, here are some photos I took last Friday of the work in progress.
04.03.2011 This weekend the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region is holding it's 10th annual conference. Check out the list of events here and come out if you can. The conference's theme is Abolishing Slavery In the Atlantic World: The 'Underground Railroad' In the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Events include workshops, lectures, cultural performances, and walking tours of local underground railroad sites. I will be a part of the art exhibit being held at the Rensselaer County Historical Society, Saturday April 9th from 6:30 to 8:00. Moses will be one of the new pieces that I'll be showing. If you're in the area come and join us.	Moses (Harriet Tubman) - 16x22 India Ink (SOLD)
02.09.2011 "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton Not all cops are bad. The problem is, the good ones and the bad ones wear the same uniform. In addition, labels such as good and bad tend to blur when men and women following orders become the instruments of state sponsored suppression of human rights. The title of this piece was inspired by a Boogie Down Production song in which KRS ONE gave voice to the feelings of mistrust that many oppressed people hold towards the police. As the world watches the rampant police brutality suffered by the people of Egypt during their battle against government corruption, we are reminded of the danger of unchecked power. This is not a condemnation of law enforcement in general. It is a snapshot seen through the eyes of the victims of individuals corrupted by their own power. Peace.	Who Protects Us From You? 11x16 Mixed Media
11.12.2010 PROCTOR’S PANELS: Debra Lockrow, of Artcentric Gift Gallery and R.P.I. joined forces to organize local artists for another Proctors art project. I was one of seven artists who contributed large paintings on plywood panels to beautify the facade of the abandoned Proctor’s Theater on 4th Street in Troy, NY. Each piece of art depicted a piece of Troy’s history. My piece was a tribute to Liberty Street Church, an important meeting place for the Capital Region”s underground railroad, and abolitionist, Henry Highland Garnet. You can read about the project and the unveiling in this Troy Record article. There is also an embedded video of the seven panels. Support public art!
11.08.2010 ROY’S BIG DAY: Roy’s G Biv’s Big Day is a children’s book written by Donnell Stewart and illustrated by myself. It is available online at Amazon in hardcover and Kindle editions and at Barnes and Noble. Follow Roy on his big day with mom as he learns about the colors of the rainbow and is introduced to Navajo culture. An educational and fun journey for parents and children.
09.16.2010 PEACE CALENDAR: Time flies. We are more than halfway through 2010. If you're looking for calendars for next year you should check out Syracuse Cultural Workers' 2011 Peace Calendar. Not just because my painting is the July illustration, but also because the peace calendar promotes important grassroots movements. Year after year the Peace Calendar makes visible and helps legitimize several of the thousands of grassroots struggles for justice that occur daily around the world. Made invisible by commercial media, these struggles give us hope and a sense of solidarity– both critical ingredients in ongoing social change work. Get yours. Peace!	Revolutionary Voices 11x14 Acrylic on Paper
09.04.2010 MORE NEW ART & LATE NEWS: So, last Friday I was part of Outside the Margins, an incredible event at Grand Street Community Arts where I shared the stage with the Readnex Poetry Squad. If you haven't heard of them check them out. They're crazy talented, socially conscious hip hop artists and cool peoples—next time someone is bashing hip hop tell them to listen to Readnex and be quiet! I did live art while they rocked the stage. Iron Lion was the painting that I did that night. The energy of the squad's stage show found it's way into this painting. I was honored when emcee, Jarabe Del Sol decided to buy the painting. I miss it already, but I know it's found a good home. Good times.	Iron Lion 24x30 Acrylic on Canvas
09.01.2010 NEW ART: It's been a busy summer. I recently finished some illustration projects and completed these new pieces. I Cannot Forget has been 4 years in the making. I wrote about it on my blog. Peace and Love!	I Cannot Forget • 18x14 Acrylic on Paper Make Me Wanna Holler • 14x22 India Ink
06.13.2010 COLLEGE and EIGHTH: Here is the cover for College and Eighth, a recently released memoir by author Herbert Hyde. I painted the cover illustration for the book. It was a pleasure to work with Herb on this project. He is a genuine person who always has an interesting story to tell. He is also a great writer and humble on top of that. His book is a memoir which details his experiences growing up poor in a Troy neighborhood (College and Eighth) which no longer exists. In his book he takes us along with him on his journey from early childhood through middle school. The book is filled with funny, sad and poignant moments and Herb's conversational narrative voice always keeps things flowing. College and Eighth is available at Bread and Jam in Cohoes, Marra's Pharmacy and Harmony House Marketplace. You can also contact herb at collegeandeighth@gmail.com to order a copy. I recommend this book. It's a good read written by a good guy. Troy Record Article Lynne Allard's blog	College and Eight Cover Illustration
04.29.2010 TOO SWEET: Steps of a Giant is my newest painting. It was inspired by the incomparable John Coltrane's song Giant steps, a tune that never fails to lift me up. This painting will be one of the many works of art at this Fridays weekend-long re-opening of Kismet Gallery. The gallery has been sorely missed by the local arts community since it's closing in 2008 and is a fitting place to hold Too Sweet and Seldom Seen III. What's the event about? I'm glad you asked. On Friday April 30th, Michael Fiske, Dwell and oneUnit of Kismet Gallery will regroup for one weekend in their old home to curate an art and music event that will benefit Joseph’s House & Shelter of Troy, NY. The art show will feature work from Capital District artists, as well as artists from across the nation. All work featured in the show will be created on recyclable materials culled from the streets that otherwise would have been disposed of and forgotten. We hope this will serve as a symbol of an often forgotten segment of our community, the homeless. Kismet Gallery is located at 71 4th Street, Troy NY. Please come out and support a good cause!	Steps of a Giant (Coltrane) • Acrylic paint/ found object
02.03.2010 Over the next few months I'll be donating half of any money made from the sale of prints through my online stores, marcuskwame.com and marcuskwame.etsy.com towards relief efforts for the people of Haiti. Upon the sale of a print the donation will be made to American Red Cross or the Haiti disaster relief charity of your choice. If you're not interested in prints, cool, but please do your part and donate directly. I suggest one of the charities on this list put out by the American Institute of Philanthropy. These are the top rated aid organizations. As with any charity it is important to research how the money will be used. The impact of the earthquake was worsened by the poor infrastructure and rampant poverty created by years of injustice and neglect perpetuated by many world governments. The world should not have turned it's back on Haiti before and we most certainly can not afford to now.
02.03.2010 ART & POETRY: This Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 I will be part of a group show at 4 Central in Albany, NY. I will also be reading poetry at 8:00 pm. The art exhibit is part of Albany's First Friday, but it will be open all weekend. Come out this weekend to 4 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
12.03.2009 Yesterday was the unveiling of of seven large paintings which now adorn the boarded up facade of Proctor's Theater in Troy. One of the seven pieces was my Lady Day painting. Below are photos of the other artists' beautiful work. I really enjoyed being a part of this project. Thanks to Debra Lockrow for making it happen with RPI. You can read more in this Troy Record Article. You can also see more photos of all the art at my blog.	Photo Credit: Debra Lockrow
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