Kickstarter Campaign - PRINTS!
I have found my true calling with "365 DAYS WITH DAD." For the entire year of 2012, I will paint a new image of fatherhood every day, depicting positive images of "present" black men interacting with their children. This project is in honor of my dad whom we lost in 1984.
My original paintings depict black men because I personally know the hurt black children feel when dad is not present, whether by choice, incarceration, divorce, death or whatever other reason there may be.
This is not just an opinion. According to Children-our investment.org, homes without fathers ultimately affect children in numerous tragic ways:
- 90 percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
- 71 percent of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes and
- 85 percent of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes
As you can see, many children need to see strong images of fatherhood. And though the statistics are staggering, I am also doing this project to honor Black fathers like myself: who are there for their children, committed to their families, and dedicated for LIFE to the needs of their children. This statistic, these images, are not reflected in popular culture for whatever reason. I'm changing that.
These paintings are 365 examples of the life experiences black youth should have (or already DO have) or can provide for their own kids when they become parents.
When I was an art student at Grambling State University, a professor told me, "If you want to reproduce an image that won't sale, make it one on fatherhood."
Well let's see about that...
I'm starting this project to prove that statement incorrect. With this Kickstarter project, I plan on using the funds generated to reproduce the images I create during this year--and sell them for an affordable price of $20--because every home needs art, not just the affluent ones. And so many homes NEED theses images.
I will also be speaking at inner-city schools in my area and across the country and giving away these images to the students at no charge.
Without the Kickstarter funds, I can not reproduce the images. Please support my "calling" and also support an initiative designed to make the world better--one painting at a time.
Which prints will you be doing first?
We are going to base which four images to start with on the responses they have gotten or conversations they have initiated. We are going to go back to week one and start from there. Depending on the success of this Kickstarter campaign, we could quite possibly be in the position to create more than four images. Remember....the year has just started and you will have new favorites weekly. I know, because that keeps happening to me. So we may not pick your #1 favorite this first go around, but once we get the ball going, I'm sure it won't be long before we get to at least one of your favorites.